Knight Rider (2008)

[Spencerian]

NBC revived the Knight Rider story by creating a continuation series (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight_Rider_(2008_film)). Talk about it here!

[aylinn]

Oh mein Got! David Hasselhoff is back :D

[Spencerian]

Is it me, or is Glen Larson enjoying a new wave of popularity without lifting a finger?

Story revivals, in my opinion, aren't recommended. They typically are a pale, pitiful, often terrible camp-ridden imitation or parody of the genuine article (The Dukes of Hazzard movie, the Brady Bunch movies, Disney's Underdog, et al.). When done right, there's still not only the suspension of disbelief, but the dissolution of the ghosts of the prior program. The Re-imagined Series and its miniseries pilot suffered from this challenge, more so because it was a "re-imagining," better known as a "reboot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reboot_%28fiction%29)" (toss out all characters and form new characters and storyline, etc.)

NBC's new Knight Rider 2-hour movie was a continuation. That is, we zip ahead in the original series' storyline (with tweaks) to a new car (voiced by Val Kilmer and not William Daniels (http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/William_Daniels) this time around), an awesome Ford Mustang, new support staff and a new defined enemy...a private security (read: mercenary) firm hellbent on profiting from the end of the world. The evil guy's not-so-subtle name is "Blackriver" (similar to Blackwater Worldwide, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwater_Worldwide) involved in some controversies in their work in Iraq).

As a past fan, I stuck around to see how they revealed the various plot points and determine if the show as a continuation or a reboot. I was happy to see the latter. The car is absolutely great, although they had to really work harder on the technology to sell it as something special. It's harder to wow an audience about car tech when we carry it around with us in today's world. Our cars today still can't quite drive themselves, but they can park themselves (http://auto.howstuffworks.com/self-parking-car.htm), warn us of an imminent crash and provide navigation information.

In the end, the movie was a nice popcorn movie that worked well enough. David Hasselhoff appeared as the new car driver's dad to make the "passing of the torch." It would have been more interesting to see his older Michael Knight character drive away in the old KITT, but (as the start of the movie appears to suggest) the old KITT is "dead", dismantled and forgotten.

I liked it. I give it a 7.5 out of 10 Red-Eyes.:tos-cylon:

[Spencerian]

Oh mein Got! David Hasselhoff is back :D

He never (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baywatch) really left us (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Got_Talent), for good or bad. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sings_America)

[Kregano]

I thought it was pretty good, although I kinda had a hard time with following the backstory and found it implausible for the old scientist guy to build KITT in his garage (I'm betting that KITT was mostly built in a secure lab and the old guy only had it to do final programming or something). The actors did pretty well having little to go on, although the writing could use some work.

The Blackriver thing was a bit heavy handed; seriously, call Darkriver or something not as blatantly obvious.

[Spencerian]

I thought it was pretty good, although I kinda had a hard time with following the backstory and found it implausible for the old scientist guy to build KITT in his garage (I'm betting that KITT was mostly built in a secure lab and the old guy only had it to do final programming or something). The actors did pretty well having little to go on, although the writing could use some work.

The Blackriver thing was a bit heavy handed; seriously, call Darkriver or something not as blatantly obvious.

The original KITT was indeed built under more secure circumstances. It appears that the scientist was the senior scientist at Knight Industries. It seems that KI faded into history or receivership, leaving the scientist to tinker on his own.

Why he would build/modify a new car in his garage is bewildering; that is a weapon in the hands of the wrong people, and the resources necessary to do so is way beyond the garage tinkerer.

Why anyone would know of this car is a greater mystery, and seems rather contrived.

For those who didn't recognize the scientist, here was one of his recent roles (http://en.battlestarwiki.org/wiki/Michael_Robert).

[Joe Beaudoin Jr.]

It's on Hulu (http://www.hulu.com/embed/iRi7xkFgo_eVZB0Hq-uwhw), if anyone wants to watch it. :)

[Shane]

It's on Hulu (http://www.hulu.com/embed/iRi7xkFgo_eVZB0Hq-uwhw), if anyone wants to watch it. :)

Thank god. :p

[aylinn]

Of course, of course!! Unavailable in my country! :mad:

[Shane]

Ok. So far good, but where does Hasslhoff come in on all of this? This looks like a reboot, not a "story continuing".

And a quick reply... so far this is getting a rating of "lame" meter.

[Shane]

0 out of 10 stars. Who writes this stuff anyways?

[Kregano]

The writing is about what you would get in an average mindless action flick, certainly not what we've come to expect from BSG. There's a possibility that some character development/backstory was cut out to include commercials and to keep the movie running within the alloted time, but I doubt it. I have little doubt that there will be a show;hopefully the writing might improve as the show moves along.

[OrionFour]

Is it me, or is Glen Larson enjoying a new wave of popularity without lifting a finger?

Actually this new Knight Rider was created out of conflict with Glen Larson. In short, Larson owns the film rights to the series, and NBC Universal owns the television rights. For a couple years now Larson and Hasselhoff have been pursuing a film adaptation of the series, and NBC, being the whiny bitches that they are, weren't very happy that they weren't brought in. Their response was to fast produce the television movie you just saw, with the "official" movie still years off (I say official because if it's a continuation and Glen Larson is not involved then I don't consider it canon). If my info is still up to date, last I heard, Larson was working with the Weinstein Brothers and the movie is still in pre-production, but I haven't heard anything new in a while.

[Spencerian]

Actually this new Knight Rider was created out of conflict with Glen Larson. In short, Larson owns the film rights to the series, and NBC Universal owns the television rights. For a couple years now Larson and Hasselhoff have been pursuing a film adaptation of the series, and NBC, being the whiny bitches that they are, weren't very happy that they weren't brought in. Their response was to fast produce the television movie you just saw, with the "official" movie still years off (I say official because if it's a continuation and Glen Larson is not involved then I don't consider it canon). If my info is still up to date, last I heard, Larson was working with the Weinstein Brothers and the movie is still in pre-production, but I haven't heard anything new in a while.

Thanks for the information. Seems that the film rights to both BSG and Knight Rider just aren't panning out for him.

I enjoyed it for the thrill ride of it. The movie didn't go into a lot of exposition or depth (and the original show was the same) and launched the viewer right into the action. The show was also one big annoying ad for Ford, but I could overlook it.

Just because the show's original creator isn't involved doesn't make it "noncanonical" or canonical. Larson made Galactica 1980, right? J.J. Abrams is directing a Star Trek movie. Doesn't make other director's work inconsequential. It's really the production companies that own the rights that define that canonicity now. I don't think I care either way so long as it makes sense and is enjoyable.

[OrionFour]

Thanks for the information. Seems that the film rights to both BSG and Knight Rider just aren't panning out for him.

I enjoyed it for the thrill ride of it. The movie didn't go into a lot of exposition or depth (and the original show was the same) and launched the viewer right into the action. The show was also one big annoying ad for Ford, but I could overlook it.

Just because the show's original creator isn't involved doesn't make it "noncanonical" or canonical. Larson made Galactica 1980, right? J.J. Abrams is directing a Star Trek movie. Doesn't make other director's work inconsequential. It's really the production companies that own the rights that define that canonicity now. I don't think I care either way so long as it makes sense and is enjoyable.

Yeah that's a good point. Maybe I should reword it a little bit. It's just that you have two continuations that go in different directions and it... just doesn't feel right, you know what I mean? But then again from the looks of it, the movie seems to be tinkering on the border of production hell anyway. It was supposed to come out this year but it's already been pushed back to 2010.

I enjoyed Knight Rider when I was a kid, like all others for the talking car with Cylon lights. I always kind of thought it was funny how Michael was always recklessly sending KITT into dangerous situations and KITT was always like, "I don't know, Michael, driving through a concrete wall might cause unnecessary damage." :lol:

http://www.aintitcool.com/images2006/kr2008.jpg