Planet 8 Podcast

Episode 124: Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda: Movies that Deserved a Sequel

This episode, come with us as we take a trip into a never neverland of movie sequels that could have, and perhaps, should have happened! Each member of the Planet 8 crew has dream movie sequels they would have loved to see come to fruition. If you're a long-time listener, you may even be able to guess what they might be! But we may also surprise you with a few curveballs. And to wrap the discussion up, we touch on those films that should NOT have had sequels! Those might deserve an entire episode of their own!
We'll also have our Sensor Sweep, where we'll share some thoughts on the Ahsoka series,  12 foot tall skeletons, and tiki mugs. Something for everyone!
If you have a coulda, woulda, shoulda sequel, let us know:
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We'll be back....
 

Best of Planet 8: Disney Halloween

Dear Listeners, unfortunately we have been struck by the dreaded deadline doom and are unable to bring you a new episode this time around. However, we will be back with a new show on September 8! Please enjoy this encore presentation of Disney Halloween from November 2022. And check out our YouTube version, which includes the video interview with our Disney guests.
In this Halloween episode, we take a look at the scary animation, films, and park attractions of Walt Disney. Typically we think of Walt Disney features as being funny  family-fare, but there were quite a few memorable frightening moments or characters in Disney features. We're fortunate to be joined by the hosts of the Walt Disney Family Museum official podcast, Bri Bertolaccini and Chris Mullens, who share a ton of amazing stories and details with us! So get comfy as we take you on a tour of Disney frights, from the Skeleton Dance to Pinocchio, from Sleeping Beauty's Maleficent to Dr. Syn, all the way to Disneyland's famed Haunted Mansion. You'll be covered in goose bumps when we're done!
You'll also be itching to visit the Walt Disney Family Museum! Our two guests Bri and Chris not only host the WD-FM podcast, but they are also part of the team at the museum too. So for the Sensor Sweep, they share what's going on at the museum, which is located at the Presidio in San Francisco. Currently, the museum is featuring a special program, Walt Disney's The Jungle Book: Making a Masterpiece (link) through January 8, 2023. Coming soon is Spirit of the Season, a community art exhibition (link) opening November 17th which runs through the holiday season. And don't forget to tune into the Walt Disney Family Museum official podcast, where you can hear more from Chris and Bri on a range of Disney-related topics! You can find WD-FM on most podcast aps, at https://www.waltdisney.org/podcast, or at their YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/c/WDFMuseum.
That's it for us. We hope you enjoyed this special Halloween episode. Please share your thoughts with us at any of our social outlets below:
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Episode 123: Planet 8 Stream of Consciousness

The Planet 8 crew decided to sit down and have a conversation, a free and wide-ranging talk about recent geek and geek-adjacent topics. Among the things we discuss are recent convention and show experiences, what's going on with Strange New Worlds (and do we like it?), the big summer movies, the passing of Pee Wee Herman, and even the congressional hearings on UAPs (aka UFOs). We just kind of went all over, but hope you'll enjoy it!
We also do the usual Sensor Sweep, where we cover the latest books, toys, and what have you that we are excited about! Be sure to check it out.
We'd love to hear from you - what are you up to this summer? What movies are you going to, what comic cons are you attending, how do you like Strange New Worlds? Let us know!
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I know you are, but what am I?

Episode 122: Talking about Time Travel!

It is one of the most fascinating topics in all of genre fiction: time travel! Traveling through time has always been a dream of mankind. Whether traveling into the past with hopes of fixing something that went awry, or journeying into the future to see what marvels it may hold, humans have always told stories about trips through time. However, traveling through time is never as simple as taking a ride down the street, and making such voyages typically results in unforeseen problems. This is what makes for some entertaining films and TV shows.
In this episode, the Planet 8 crew will discuss the different ways time travel has been depicted in our favorite movies and shows. Can you change the present by changing the past? Well...maybe! It depends on what theory your universe subscribes to. And how would you prefer to time travel? In a fancy machine, by super-power, through a cosmic accident? There are so many ways - we'll look at a bunch, but don't get upset if we leave your favorite one out!
Finally, no discussion on time travel would be complete without answering this question: if you could travel through time, would you visit the past or the future? Your crew has some strong thoughts about that!
Slipping into our Sensor Sweep segment, Karen shares a DVD set she has had sitting around for a few months and is now determined to watch -The Invaders! Many of you will recall this Quinn Martin production from the 1960s. She also gives a shout out to the Haunted Objects Podcast, which is a  lot of fun, if you're into the paranormal. Bob is a busy man, as he has two shows coming up with his Bay Area Film Events. The Ultraman show is happening this very weekend (July 22nd), so if you're in the Bay Area, check it out! The Godzillafest is still a little ways off, not til August18-20. Right before this episode was recorded, news came out that Toho will be releasing a new Godzilla movie, Godzilla Minus One, in the US on December 1st. Finally, Larry shared another Godzilla-related item, a massive book, the Official Guide to the King of the Monsters, which he got from Amazon. He's also very excited about the Ahsoka trailer!
 
All right kids, that's all we can jam into this episode! We hope you enjoyed our musings, and feel free to share your favorite time travel stories with us at any of our usual hang outs!
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"Weren't those a gift from Dr. McCoy?"
"And they will be again, that's the beauty of it."

Episode 121: Indiana Jones and the Mystery of Planet 8

After almost two decades, he's back -famed adventurer and scholar Indiana Jones! Beginning with Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981, Indy has been an icon of cinema, setting a standard for adventure films that remains mostly unattainable -even for its own sequels! In this episode, your Planet 8 crew is all about Indy, Harrison Ford, and the new film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. We'll share our thoughts on each of the films in the series, but delve particularly into the new film. Did we love it? Like it? Hate it? You'll have to listen to find out!
In our Sensor Sweep, Bob shares his recent finds: he picked up an Iron Giant bust and a Godzilla bust from Diamond! Karen at long last got her Luke Skywalker figure, Mandalorian version, from Hot Toys. Larry shared some awesome goodies that were sent to him by our good friend Billy D aka DocStrange on Twitter! Billy hosts the Magazines and Monsters podcast -be sure to check it out.  Larry also just got a collection of disaster film soundtracks from LaLa Land.
That's all for us this time. Be sure to share your opinion of the new Indy film, and we'll be back again in two weeks!
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It's not the years, it's the mileage
 

Episode 120: Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse on Planet 8

Way back in episode 17 (December 21, 2018), your Planet 8 crew reviewed Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, and we unanimously loved it. Everything about it -the story, the visuals, the characters- was just perfect. Now, five years later, we have the sequel, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. We loved this film too. It's one of those rare sequels that lives up to the original. Tune in a hear all our thoughts in this SPOILER-FILLED review!
We sadly lost a legend of Spider-Man lore and the world of comics: John Romita Sr., the artist who gave Spidey his classic look, passed away on June 12 at the age of 93. We reflect on what Mr. Romita meant to us. 
In our Sensor Sweep segment, Karen shares two books she just got: the Marvel Value Stamp book, and the Marvel Classic Sticker book. Those two will really take you back to the 70s!
Bob shares his latest find: a life-size bust of the Oliver Reed Werewolf from The Curse of the Werewolf. It looks amazing! It was produced by Blackheart, sculpted by Joe Simon and painted by MC Lovecraft (that sounds like a real name, right?). 
He also shared more info about the upcoming Ultraman and Godzilla shows. For Ultraman, they will be showing some classic Ultraman episodes and will have special guest Dore Kraus in person. At Godzillafest, they will be giving away Gorgo figures. For more info, go to https://www.bayareafilmevents.com/ultraman and https://www.bayareafilmevents.com/godzillafest .
Our pal Larry picked up the complete Dark Shadows DVD collection, which came in a large, coffin-shaped box! This one is going to take some time to work through, with hundreds of episodes.
That wraps things up for this episode. Be sure to let us know what you thought of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. You know where to reach us:
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Hang loose, true believers!

Episode 119: Christopher Lee’s Dracula

You might ask, Why is Planet 8 doing an episode on Dracula in June? Well, when we recorded this, International Dracula Day, May 26th, had just passed, and coincidentally, so had actor Christopher Lee's birthday, on May 27th. Lee, of course, famously portrayed Dracula in a series of movies from Hammer Films spanning the late 50s to early 70s. In this episode, each member of Planet 8 takes a look at a specific Dracula film.
Larry starts us off with the first in the series, Dracula (aka Horror of Dracula), from 1958. This film not only introduced us to Lee's powerful version of the vampire, but also his adversary, Professor Van Helsing, ably played by Peter Cushing.
Karen follows up with the next Lee Dracula film, Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1966). This film is notable for a few things: one, Lee refused to speak any of the lines in the script, so Dracula says nothing in this film! And notably, Van Helsing is absent. Dracula instead faces another vampire hunter, the gruff Father Sandor, played by Andrew Keir.
Bob wraps us up with Dracula has Risen from the Grave (1968). This film is a direct sequel to the previous one. A revived Dracula grows furious that a priest put a cross on his castle door and decides to take vengeance on him. This film shows the ever-growing inventiveness in both reviving and killing the count.
Lee's Dracula is more threatening and more physical than any other Dracula actor we could think of. He doesn't creep around: he leaps, runs, and pounces on his victims. He also has such a commanding presence, not just because of his 6'5" height.  Certainly one can make the case for Lee as the greatest Dracula actor. This is a topic we may revisit!
In our Sensor Sweep, Bob shares his new Ultraman popcorn bucket! It looks pretty much like an Ultraman bust. He also wants to remind you of Ultra-Fest, happening July 21-23 at the 4 Star Theater in San Francisco! Come see Ultraman films, buy Ultraman stuff, and more! 
Going along with our Hammer film theme, Karen shares a favorite book, A Thing of Unspeakable Horror: A history of Hammer Horror Films by Sinclair McKay. If you want to know the story behind how the Hammer horror films came to be made, this is the book to get!
Larry rounds us out with a new acquisition for his tiki bar, a Creature from the Black Lagoon mug from Shrunken Monkey. These were limited edition mugs only available at the Spooky Empire Convention, but Larry had some connections!
We hope you enjoyed this episode. Remember, you can always share your feedback with us at our social spots: 
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Do not meddle, Van Helsing, or you will have to deal with me!

Episode 118: Invasion of the Body Snatchers x 4

How do you know that you're you? What makes us human? These questions, and more, await in the four versions of Invasion of the Body Snatchers that your intrepid Planet 8 crew watched and discuss in this episode. We will take a look at the original, 1956 version, and then move on to consider the 1978, 1993, and 2007 films. 
Of course, the 1956 film, titled Invasion of the Body Snatchers, is a sci fi classic and the one that all of the others is measured against. It's also the only one in black and white, which it gives it a moodiness the others can't match. It sets the standard for paranoia and fear and plays off the cold war tensions of the time.
The second film, also titled Invasion of the Body Snatchers, incorporates many aspects of the original, but skillfully updates it to the 70s. This one plays off the distrust of authority post-Viet Nam and Watergate. And the end - it's a scene you never forget!
The next iteration in 1993 discards the "invasion" part and is just titled Body Snatchers. It shifts the scene to a military base and the protagonist is a teenage girl. It relies much more on action than suspense, but it keeps the pods and many other elements of the story.
Our final entry, 2007's The Invasion, drops the pods for microbes from space who arrive on a crashed space shuttle and proceed to take over the populace and turn people into emotionless drones. This one has a surprisingly upbeat ending, which separates it from the others.
What do you think? What would you do if you made a body snatchers film today? What would the pods be a metaphor for today?
For this episode's Sensor Sweep, Bob would like to plug his upcoming Ultraman show with Bay Area Film Events! Coming the weekend of July 21st, you Ultraman fans won't want to miss it! You can also submit your Ultraman art to their art gallery. Check out https://www.bayareafilmevents.com/ultraman for all the details.
Bob is also excited about his new book: Kong: An Original Screenplay by Edgar Wallace (at fine booksellers or at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/KONG-Original-Screenplay-Edgar-Wallace/dp/1786368811.) This book prints the original screenplay for the 1933 film and has plenty of other goodies, including a beautiful cover by friend of Planet 8, Bob Eggleton!
Karen shares her new purchase, the Kolchak: The Night Stalker the complete series blu-ray  by Kino Lorber. It was about time she got that!
Larry shares his cool bumper sticker from Mahoning Drive-In, one of the biggest drive-ins in the US. The sticker features a plethora of 50s sci-fi creatures and was designed by Mitch O'Connell (https://www.mitchoconnell.com/) who draws a lot of crazy and cool stuff! 
This brings our show to a close. Let us know your thoughts, and remember -
They're coming! You're next!
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