Planet 8 Podcast

Episode 82: Shang-Chi Shakes up Planet 8

 Welcome listeners to our latest episode, where we review the latest Marvel Studios film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings! In this spoiler-filled episode, we'll discuss the comics that formed the basis for the film, the kung fu films that influenced and shaped it, and how it ties into the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe. Plus, there will be the usual nonsense that you've grown accustomed to.Created by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin back in 1973, Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, was on the leading edge of the martial arts craze. Inspired in large part by the ABC TV show Kung Fu, Englehart and Starlin developed the idea of the noble Shang-Chi, who rebelled against his father, the villainous Fu Manchu, who had trained him to be a living weapon. Premiering in Special Marvel Edition 15, Shang-Chi took over the title and had a long successful run for many years. He would frequently show up in other characters' titles as well, such as Spider-Man and Iron Man. He was always a street-level character, using his martial arts skills to fight bad guys in stories with more of an espionage tone.The film takes the basic idea -an idealistic hero whose father is a criminal overlord - but very little of the comic book background remains. Despite this, it's highly enjoyable. It borrows heavily from Jackie Chan films at the beginning, but then moves on to take more of a Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon approach. Much of the movie's strength comes from its characters. Shang-Chi, as portrayed by Simu Liu, is very likeable and has a sort of everyman quality, despite turning out to be a master of kung fu. The actor actually does many of his own stunts and fight scenes. Awkwafina plays Shang-Chi's best friend, Katy, who provides some comic relief as well as a stalwart friend to go on his journey. The ever amazing Michelle Yeoh appears as Shang-Chi's aunt and quite a martial artist herself. And a major surprise to us, Ben Kingsley makes a return appearance as Trevor Slattery, the besotted actor who played the Mandarin in Iron Man 3. He has some of the funniest scenes in the movie, and they don't feel gratuitous or over the top. The titular ten rings, which in the comics were actual rings that the Mandarin wore on his fingers, are arm bands here. These rings can be used in a variety of ways, which is shown by the different ways that Shang-chi and his father use them. His father tends to use them solely for destructive purposes. Shang-Chi is much more creative in how he uses the rings. Certainly the rings give Shang-Chi a power level far beyond what he has had in the comics. Based off the mid-credits scene, they may have a significant history in the MCU.There were a couple of very interesting cameos in the film too. Wong, from the Dr. Strange films, and the Abomination, from 2008's Hulk, are seen battling in the fight club. There are so many questions! It seems like they are working together to make a little moola. How did that happen?Of course, we also saw Bruce Banner and Capt. Marvel. And we do mean Banner, not Professor Hulk. So what happened to him? How did he turn back into Banner? Will we find out in the She-Hulk series on Disney Plus?The film is a story about family, about revenge, and redemption. Like most Marvel films, it is these elements that make it so relatable. The end sets things up for the possibility that Shang-Chi could be fighting against his sister. We will see. In any case, Shang-Chi appears to be ready to take on a bigger role in the MCU as phase 4 moves forward.For our Sensor Sweep, Karen has a big honkin' book to share: the Master of Kung Fu omnibus volume 1. This hardback collection of Shang-Chi stories includes his first appearance from Special Marvel Edition 15 up through Master of Kung Fu 37, and includes Giant-Size Master of Kung Fu 1-4,  Giant-Size Spider-Man 2, and Iron Man Annual 4. This is a great way to get your Shang-Chi fix! You can check for it at your local comic shop, or check out Amazon.We also wanted to "catch up" with everyone. So we shared a little about what we have been doing. Bob had been busy with Godzillafest the last few weeks. He held back to back weekend events in August. You can go to Bayareafilmevents.com and check out the Video section to see what was going on! He also helped out with a turtle rescue by helping set up a turtle shelter in his backyard for a bunch of turtles.Karen plugs her appearance on her friend Billy D's Magazines and Monsters podcast, dropping this September 16th. She and Billy will discuss the classic 50s sci fi film, It! Terror from Beyond Space, thought by many to be one of the main inspirations for Alien. Besides his podcast, Billy also has a blog site, https://magazinesandmonsters.com/,  where he also reviews comics and monster mags. Be sure to check it out!Last but not least, Commander Larry journeyed to SiliCon in San Jose. It was greatly reduced in attendance due to Covid this year, but still entertaining. He also gives a shout out to the Seven Stars Bar and Grill, which is looking for a new location. Finally, Larry has high praise for the new LaLa Land recording of the Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan soundtrack, as well as the Inglorious Treksperts podcast on the soundtrack. So there you have it - a review and a little news from Planet 8! Feel free to share some thoughts and news with us!Twitter: https://twitter.com/Planet8CastFacebook: www.Facebook.com/Planet8PodcastWe still want Fin Fang Foom!

Episode 81: Planet 8 Presents: Alfred Hitchcock

 On this edition of Planet 8, we take a look at the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. Spanning six decades, Hitchcock's career began near the end of silent films all the way into the 70s, and encompassed television as well. He was probably the first film director that the general public recognized, due to his larger than life personality and his consistent use of suspense and fear in his films. Hitchcock would push the envelope with both camera techniques and with how far he would push the mores of the day. We'll discuss a number of his films, including Rope and the illusion of the single camera take. Also Rear Window, and the amazing set that was constructed of Jimmy Stewart's neighborhood, and the sense of claustrophobia that was created. There's also To Catch a Thief, which Bob sees a precursor to the Bond films. This time Hitchcock went on location and we get wide open vistas.Then there's Vertigo, which many believe is Hitchcock's masterpiece. The crew had some disagreement over whether Jimmy Stewart's character suspected that Kim Novak's character was actually his old flame or not. If he did know, it would make his obsessive behavior a little easier to take. But watch it and decide for yourself.North By Northwest is another favorite for many, with Cary Grant as a man in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's got great actors, humor, and Mount Rushmore too!But in 1960, Hitchcock delivered what might be his best-known, and perhaps most shocking film, Psycho. Based on a story by Robert Bloch, this tale of murder and a boy who loves his mother a little too much was a hit with the public when released. We talk about the film and especially the Bernard Herrmann score. Herrmann worked with Hitchcock on many of his films, but this score is especially memorable.And who could forget The Birds? This film has an almost apocalyptic feel, as ordinary birds suddenly begin attacking people. Shot in Bodega Bay, California, the beautiful, peaceful landscapes are juxtaposed with the chaos of the birds' violent and inexplicable attacks. It's an amazingly effective film, which has no music, only bird sounds in the soundtrack. And no happy ending -it's ambiguous as to whether the menace is over. There's also some classic shots in this film, like when a huge flock of birds slowly appear behind Tippi Hedren, or the birds-eye view shot of the town and the gas station on fire. It's great work by the master.There are so many other great films by Hitchcock -Strangers on a Train, Frenzy, The Man Who Knew Too Much - but we only have so much time. Do yourself a favor and check them out! We wish we had time to go over the television show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, but that will have to be saved for another episode!For this week's Sensor Sweep, Karen shares something completely non-Hitchcock related! Who says we have to make everything match? We're back to Star Wars! It's a great new book called Secrets of the Force: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized, Oral History of Star Wars by Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman. This huge tome covers the entire history of the Star Wars films as told by the people who made the films and others who are affiliated with them. These authors have previously done some terrific books on the oral history of Star Trek that were just a joy to read. If you are a Star Wars fan and want to delve deep into the behind the scenes history, this is the book for you!That's it for us this time around! Please let us know your thoughts on anything we discussed this episode. You can leave comments here, or hit us up and our other haunts:Twitter: https://twitter.com/Planet8CastFacebook: www.Facebook.com/Planet8PodcastGood Evening! 

Episode 80: Of Dinosaurs and Droids: A Look at Primal and Star Wars: The Bad Batch

 This episode we have a rather odd combo for you: two animated series that couldn't be more different! We'll start with Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal, the story of a caveman and his dinosaur companion in a savage primordial world, and then we'll switch gears and look at the latest Star Wars animated series, The Bad Batch, which follows a squad of clone troopers after the fall of the Republic.Primal follows the adventures of Spear, a caveman, and Fang, his dinosaur companion. Both of them lost their families and so have bonded. So far there have been ten episodes. It's definitely not for kids - there are extremely gory, bloody battles with no punches pulled. But the stories are interesting and run from pure adventure to way out fantasy. Primal sets itself apart from many shows in that there is no dialogue in the show - Spear, the caveman, has no language and communicates only in grunts and shouts. The story is conveyed via the action and the interactions between the characters. The show also uses color very well to establish mood. Hopefully there will be a new season later this year.The Bad Batch follows Hunter, Tech, Echo, Wrecker, and Crosshair - Clone Force 99, aka The Bad Batch. This group of "defective" clones goes on the run after the end of the Republic and the rise of the Empire. The series fills a space in the Star Wars timeline and rather than focus on the Skywalkers or the Jedi, looks at things from the perspective of the clones, who were being replaced by the stormtroopers -recruits from around the galaxy, rather than clones grown to serve the Empire. There's been some strong episodes and some not so strong ones, but overall, it's provided some great insights to this era of Star Wars.There are a ton of other animated shows out now or about to come out, and we'll throw around some thoughts on them too. Between all the movies, live action, and animated shows, there's a ton of media for geeks right now!Before we get to the Sensor Sweep, just a reminder that there are two, count 'em two, Godzillafests coming your way this month in the San Francisco Bay Area. At the Balboa Theater in San Francisco, August 20-22, they'll be featuring King Kong Crashes Godzillafest, with special guest Linda Miller, from King Kong Escapes and The Green Slime. They'll show a ton of movies, including the original Kong, King Kong (1976), King Kong Escapes, Kong: Skull Island, and a smattering of Godzilla films. On the weekend of August 27- 29, it's Legendary Godzillafest, featuring the Legendary films, as well as the Millennium series, and special guest will be motion capture actor T.J. Storm, who played Godzilla. Bob will be on the radio talking about Godzillafest, along with Ms. Miller and Mr. Storm, on August 16 on radio station KFJC 89.7FM with Rob Emmett at 6 pm pacific time (you can also find them online).Commander Larry has an appropriate Sensor Sweep - it's Masters of the Universe Mini Muglets available at Walmart. They are two-ounce ceramic shot glasses from Geek Tikis. It features four muglets in a plastic container that looks like Castle GreySkull. What better to accompany your viewing of He-Man: Revelations? That's all for this episode. What animated shows are you watching? Let us know!Twitter: https://twitter.com/Planet8CastFacebook: www.Facebook.com/Planet8PodcastLater, gators!

Episode 79: Marvel Two in One -Black Widow and Loki!

Finally, the Black Widow movie has been released! It's been delayed over a year, but now it's out in the theater (as well as on Disney Plus), and your intrepid crew has made the journey back to the theater to check it out. In this SPOILER-FILLED review, we'll share our thoughts on the film and how it works with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As a bonus, we also discuss the Disney Plus series  Loki, which takes the villain/anti-hero through an adventure that has major implications for the rest of the MCU.Black Widow takes place between Captain America: Civil War and Infinity War, and provides a glimpse into Natasha's life before she became an Avenger. On the run from Thunderbolt Ross, Natasha winds up returning home after her long lost "Sister" contacts her, and she learns that the Red Room program that turned her into an assassin is still operating.The Planet 8 crew discusses what we liked about the film, the performances, the little bits of connective tissue to other MCU films, and so much more. This film introduces some major characters, including Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, aka the "other" Black Widow, David Harbour as the Red Guardian and the villain Taskmaster, whose identity is rather controversial. If nothing else, it was a great spotlight for Scarlett Johansson and a good send off for the character.The Loki TV show was a mixed bag for the Planet 8 crew. Certainly Tom Hiddleston did a wonderful job in providing us with a Loki of real substance who goes through extensive character growth. The story itself was complex and with the timestream fractured, should feed directly into Spider-Man: No Way Home and Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. What other Marvel properties might we see come out of this? Phase 4 looks to be full of surprises!Our Sensor Sweep brings us some great shows coming to the Bay Area. In August, there will be two Godzillafest shows at the  Balboa Theater in San Francisco.  On August 20-22, it will be King Kong Crashes Godzillafest, with a number of King Kong kaiju films as well as many Godzilla films, and special guest Linda Miller from King Kong Escapes. Then on August 27-29, it's Legendary Godzillafest, featuring many Legendary Godzilla films, with special guest TJ Storm, motion capture artist who played Godzilla. Both weekends will have vendors with tons of goodies. And there will even be a show t-shirt. Go to Bay Area Film Events to get all the info about tickets, what movies are going to be shown, and more!We'd love to hear your thoughts on Black Widow and Loki! Did you go to the theater to see Black Widow? Was it your first time back in the theater? Let us know how you felt about the movie and your experience. As always, leave a comment here or hit us up at our other locales:Twitter: https://twitter.com/Planet8CastFacebook: www.Facebook.com/Planet8PodcastDosvedanya!

Episode 78: You Will Believe a Man Can Fly: Superman

 To our American listeners, a belated happy 4th of July! As we celebrate our country's independence, we thought it appropriate to celebrate that all-American hero, who fights for truth, justice, and the American way -Superman! The Planet 8 crew revisits the classic 1978 Superman movie, which promised that we would believe a man could fly. And we did indeed! Actor Christopher Reeve remains iconic as the Man of Steel in this light-hearted film.As always, we'll discuss the cast and crew, how the film came together, and our feelings about the film, from when we first saw it and now. Although Reeve was an unknown when cast as Superman, he was surrounded by an all-star cast, with actors such as Marlon Brando as his Kryptonian father, Jor-El, Gene Hackman as villain Lex Luthor, Ned Betty as Luthor's henchman, Otis, Glenn Ford as Pa Kent, and Jackie Coogan as Daily Planet editor Perry White. The cast absolutely makes the film, with Reeve and his utter sincerity in the role essential to selling it.There's also a wonderful chemistry between Reeve and Margot Kidder as Lois Lane -although we could all live without Lois' "Can you read my mind?" segment! But the two actors are absolutely charming together.The effects in the film are a mixed bag, but the most important effect -Superman's flying -still holds up and gives us a thrill. The way Superman flies in the movie is graceful and majestic -truly beautiful, and Reeve again is the element that clinches it, the way he moves his body and hands as he flies. Of course, the music also gives it a lot of oomph!Speaking of music, who could forget the grand John Williams score? The Superman theme is unforgettable! Williams' soundtrack here is every bit as good as his work on Star Wars or Jaws or anything else from his catalog.There's a reason that this film, even 40 plus years later, continues to show up on favorite super-hero film lists. It's just a fantastic film. As we prepare to release this episode, it has been announced that director Richard Donner has passed. He truly deserves so much credit for the success of Superman. He was greatly loved and respected by his cast and crew. Rest in peace.For this episode's Sensor Sweep, Commander Larry shares the Hasbro Stormbreaker, Thor's hammer/axe. This thing is crazy! It's full size, about 4 feet long, and makes a racket! It also lights up. If you feel the need to be a thunder god, or fear you might have to protect yourself against a mad titan, go online and pick one up.We hope you enjoyed this episode. Be sure to tell us about your first time seeing Superman. How do you feel about the movie today? As always, you can leave comments on the site, or go to our other hangouts:Twitter: https://twitter.com/Planet8CastFacebook: www.Facebook.com/Planet8PodcastUp, up, and away!!!!

Episode 77: Khaaaaaaan!

 Arguably the best of the Star Trek film franchise, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan remains an important and highly rewatchable entry in the franchise. It took the films into a more action-oriented direction, giving the audience a movie with both personal stakes and dazzling space battles. Director Nick Meyer got the very best out of actors William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, and Ricardo Montalban, creating an intense struggle between our Enterprise crew and the twisted superman, Khan - despite the fact the rivals Kirk and Khan never share a scene physically together. Your Planet 8 crew is delighted to revisit this film on this episode.We'll start with a quick look back at the classic Trek episode Space Seed. Beginning with the original story (where the Khan character was called Harold Ericson) and the changes to the script, we talk about how this episode developed and how it wound up influencing producer Harve Bennett to use it as the basis for the second film.Moving to the film itself, we examine how that script evolved, and how it was necessary to keep the budget low. The film is essentially a "bottle show," with the action taking place mainly on the two ships (the Enterprise and the Reliant), which was actually the same set, redressed. Yet because of the excellent pacing and the suspense, it never feels claustrophobic or small.There are many themes in the film, but foremost is the theme of aging and mortality. All of the cast had obviously grown older, and seeing our Captain having to struggle with middle age was striking, making him more human, and perhaps more sympathetic. Meyer said the secret to getting a great performance out of Shatner was essentially to tire him out; his first takes were always "big", so Meyer would make him do it over and over until he got bored!But without a doubt, it is Ricardo Montalban's performance that steals the show. After years of doing Fantasy Island, even Montalban wasn't sure if he could carry off the role. But director Meyer worked closely with Montalban and elicited an amazing performance from him. And yes, that's his real chest!Of course, you can't discuss Star Trek II without talking about Spock's death. At the time, it felt devastating to fans. It was beautifully done, but even now, it's heartbreaking. Does knowing that he returns in ST III diminish his sacrifice when watching the film now?  We also ponder what Trek might have been like if it had moved forward without Spock.We close out with some thoughts on Star Trek: Into Darkness - it ain't pretty!For the Sensor Sweep, Karen shares two books, both by Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman, called The Fifty Year Mission: The First Twenty Five Years, and The Fifty Year Mission: The Next Twenty Five Years: From The Next Generation to J.J. Abrams. These dense tomes are an oral history of the Star Trek franchise, as told by the writers, directors, producers, actors, and everyone else involved! They are highly entertaining and pretty much required reading if you are a Star Trek fan. You can find them on Amazon, or from other fine book sellers.That's all for this episode. What are your feelings about Wrath of Khan? Have they changed over time? Let us know, either here, or at our other hangouts:Twitter: https://twitter.com/Planet8CastFacebook: www.Facebook.com/Planet8PodcastKhhaaaaaaaannnnnnn!

Episode 76: Planet 8 is Pulled into The Black Hole!

 A disaster movie - in space! That was the original premise for what eventually became 1979's The Black Hole! Disney's first foray into sci fi, and its first PG rated film, The Black Hole is a strange mix of adventure, gothic horror, sci-fi, and kiddie camp. The Planet 8 crew is once again joined by our friend (and yours), Lord Blood-Rah, to dissect and discuss this unusual Disney film.We get into some of the background on how the film came together, and the obvious influences from Star Wars. We also take a look at the crew and cast - which was rather eclectic, including everyone from Psycho's Anthony Perkins, Ernest Borgnine, voiceovers by Roddy McDowall and Slim Pickens, and Academy Award winner Maximillian Schell. The director, Gary Nelson, had done Freaky Friday for Disney, but that certainly doesn't seem like preparation for an effects film like this one! The tone of the film is wildly uneven. Are they trying to give us a serious, epic film like 2001, a scary film, a kiddie movie? Despite some of the issues we have with the film, there are some things we did enjoy. The overall design of the production, which can be credited to Peter Ellenshaw, is excellent. The Cygnus spaceship is a mammoth structure and looks amazing. The visuals of the black hole itself are also incredible.  We also liked the shock of discovering the zombified crew on the Cygnus - that was a truly chilling moment. We get a bunch of robots in this film, from cutesy ones like V.I.N.C.E.N.T., voiced by McDowall, to Dr. Reinhart's evil robot, Maximillian, who is one of the baddest robots around. And there are some thrilling moments with an asteroid collision, although it made very little sense! The film also features a score by John Barry, best known for his work on the James Bond films, and the soundtrack might be a highlight. Interesting fact: this film and Star Trek: The Motion Picture, which also came out in December 1979,  are the last two films to feature an overture at the beginning of the film.Probably the main thing anyone who has seen the film will remember is the ending, because it is just so bizarre. Apparently, the film-makers didn't have an ending when they were shooting the film. They put together the ending we have, with its Biblical connotations, because...well, no one knew what to do! So you can interpret the ending however you please.  But it was certainly unexpected for a Disney film!The Black Hole is now available for viewing on Disney Plus. If you haven't seen it, or it's been a very long time since you've seen it, give it a look. This is definitely an unusual offering from Disney, and a real artifact from the 70s.Just for fun, we discuss how we would do a remake of The Black Hole. Disney, are you listening? This episode's Sensor Sweep turns the spotlight on Lord Blood-Rah. Coming this August 7th, he will be hosting the Universal Monster Party at the Orinda Theater in Orinda, California. This will be a celebration of the 90th anniversary of the classic Universal monster films, and they will show Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Wolfman. Also present will be author and film commentator David J. Skal and film host John Stanley. There will be vendors and a costume contest, as well as an after-party. Tickets are available at Creaturescon.com. Tickets will be limited, and may sell out, so order soon! Our friend Lord Blood-Rah has also been nominated for the Horror Host Hall of Fame! We wish him the best of luck with that well-deserved honor.Let us know what you think of this episode, and of The Black Hole. Did you see it as a kid? Have you seen it since? What do you think? Let us know, either in the comment section here or at our other locations:Twitter: https://twitter.com/Planet8CastFacebook: www.Facebook.com/Planet8PodcastNothing escapes the Black Hole!!

Episode 75: Get to the Choppa! It’s The Predator!

That's right, this time on Planet 8, we take on that ugly mutha f#@%! -The Predator! An iconic creature design, and a classic original film, your crew takes a look at not only that first film, but the maybe not so great films that followed! 
The 1987 Predator, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, is one of the great sci fi action films, but the Predator itself went through many changes before we got the amazing alien hunter we see on screen. We'll go through all the mis-fires and how we eventually got the brilliant design from legendary Stan Winston and his team. Of course, you have to bring the suit to life, and we can't forget the portrayal of the Predator by the late Kevin Peter Hall. He gave the Predator a real sense of intelligence and personality.
The first film also featured a very entertaining cast as the special crack team of commandos. Besides Arnold as the leader, Dutch, there was Jesse Ventura, Bill Duke, Sonny Landham, and Carl Weathers. This strong set of characters contributes to the enjoyment of the film, so that the viewer is glued to the screen even when the Predator is not around. 
Predator moves from action film to sci fi to horror and back around again, but does it flawlessly, with perfect pacing, keeping the suspense going in the early parts, right up to the final battle between Dutch and the Predator. It's hard to find fault in this film. Even Alan Silvestri's score is perfect!
However, the subsequent cinematic appearances of the Predator have never measured up to the first one. Predator 2, with Danny Glover, Gary Busey, Ruben Blades, Maria Conchita Alonso, and Bill Paxton, was set in Los Angeles in 1997 (released in 1990) and featured a new predator hunting in the sweltering city. While it's still fun seeing the Predator, it just isn't as interesting as the original. The cast doesn't gel as well. But there are some cool bits, especially towards the end when Glover faces the Predator and enters his spaceship.
The further we get away from the original, the more the quality suffers. AVP -Alien vs. Predator - seems like a sure fire concept, but it was a bit of a mess. AVP:Requiem -well, we didn't even rewatch it! 2010's Predators is somewhat entertaining, but we all agree, Adrien Brody was miscast as the tough special forces guy. It had some nice variations on the basic predator design though. But the worst of all the follow ups was 2018's The Predator - there are stories that this film was heavily rewritten and edited, but even so, good lord, what a terrible film.
Will anyone ever be able to make another truly terrific Predator movie? What would it take? Is it just a limited concept? What do you think?
For our Sensor Sweep this time, Recon Office Karen shares one of her beloved pieces from her collection, her Sideshow Legendary Scale Bust of the unmasked Predator. This was produced in 2011 and is still available from certain stores and on eBay. It's about 16" high and has all the fine detail we've come to expect from Sideshow. So if you're a big fan of the Predator, you might want to hunt it down!
That's all for this time. Let us know what you think of the different Predator films, and what we discussed in this episode.
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Remember: If it bleeds, we can kill it!