KAMN Reviews?

Since Dragon Page Cover to Cover has thrown the door open to more contributor reviews, both in audio and print form, I’d like to do the same thing here.

There are a lot of books and movies and tv shows that we won’t get to, or at least not get to any time soon, so I don’t see any reason why we can’t post written reviews here, or include the occassional audio review in a KAMN episode. Same Ninjas rules apply… anything 10 years old or older is fair game.

If you want to submit some reviews, just send them to summer [at] kickassmysticninjas [dot] com or brian [at] kickassmysticninjas [dot] com. Submit written reviews as included plain text, not attached Word docs, and audio reviews should be kept to 3 minutes or less (MP3 format please, to conserve space). If you can’t email them, then use something like YouSendIt.com, or maybe we can arrange something else.

Also, the old reviews I had done for Fantastica Daily (a site that no longer exists) will be online here soon. I will most likely post them with their original post dates, from 2004, so keep an eye out.

KAMN Show #20: V

Welcome to Show #20!

The feature topic for this show is a pair of cult classic television miniseries, “V: The Miniseries”, and “V: The Final Battle”. The original miniseries, which first aired on NBC in 1983, and the continuation miniseries that aired in 1984, were created by Kenneth Johnson, and initially conceived of as an allegorical tale about the rise of fascism in the United States. But NBC wanted a scifi themed miniseries, and the rest is history.

The Ninjas go into the details about how the first series wanted to really hammer home a more modern warning against how easily a society could fall into being a fascist state (emphasis on hammer). But underneath the Holocaust metaphors, and the creator’s desire to showcase humanity’s need to fight for freedom, is an entertaining scifi-action adventure.

There is some nitpicking about story writing and the loss of story consistency between “V” and “V: The Final Battle”, but all in all, we enjoyed the first miniseries, and had some disappointment with the second one. We don’t talk about the television series at all. Ever.

If you have a comment on anything we’ve discussed, let us know! You can call us at 206-666-5266, or send us an email us and let us what you think.

Movies mentioned:

Link: Kenneth Johson Official Site
Link: Ilana’s V Celebrity Site
Link: Wikipedia: V
Link: Wikipedia: V: The Final Battle (stub entry)

 

 KAMN Show #20: V [1:02:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (5844)

KAMN Show #16: Space: Above and Beyond

Welcome to Show #16!

The feature topic for this show is Space: Above and Beyond, a military scifi show created by X-Files writers Glenn Morgan and James Wong for Fox Network, and likely one of the first victims of Fox Network’s habit of early killings of scifi shows with potential.

First up, The Ninjas bring you a special treat for Show 16 — an interview with Joel de la Fuente, one of the stars of Space: Above and Beyond (technical difficulties notwithstanding).

Next, Summer, Joe and David delve into a lengthy discussion about Space: Above and Beyond… let the opinions and factoids fly.

If you have a comment on anything we’ve discussed, let us know! You can call us at 206-666-5266, or send us an email us and let us what you think.

Shows mentioned:

Promo: ScapeCast: Your Guide to the Wonders of FarScape
Link: Space: Above and Beyond Alumni News & Reviews
Link: Wikipedia: Space: Above and Beyond
Link: EpGuides

 

 KAMN Show #16: Space: Above and Beyond [1:11:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (5984)

Heat Vision and Jack

Listener Brian sent us the following tip:

I thought you guys might want to see this pilot for a show spoofing Knight Rider and other similar classic scifi shows. It stars Jack Black as a NASA astronaut on the run with his talking motorcycle companion voiced by Owen Wilson.

Although the show would not be appropriate for a full KAMN podcast, I figured you and your listeners would enjoy this.

The complete pilot can be found here: YouTube link

Thanks, Brian. The pilot is hysterical, and definitely worth a look, although I think it’s more of a parody of The Incredible Hulk than anything else. Ah, what a fantastic show that was…

KAMN Show #11: Dune

Welcome to Show #11!

This week, we discuss Dune, the 1965 Frank Herbert novel that continues to have an impact on the way people think about science fiction.

The Ninjas also cover the theatrical movie (several different versions of it), and the more recent SciFi Channel miniseries treatment of the book. Listen to their varied opinions on the creative interpretations.

Also, courtesy of Jesse Willis, SFF Audio has listed a large number of available audiobook options for Dune novels. Thanks, Jesse and Scott… the work you guys have done was in a way an inspiration for the creation of this show.

Books and movies mentioned:

Promos and Links:
Promo: Mur Lafferty’s I Should Be Writing
Link: The Official Dune Website
Link: Wikipedia: Dune (novel)
Link: SparkNotes Study Guides: Dune

 

 KAMN Show #11: Dune [1:19:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (4249)

Free TV downloads available

We’ve been talking about AOL and Time Warner’s new broadband video collaboration, In2TV quite a bit over at The Babylon Podcast, simply because they are making the entire series available for free download.

However, there are some other shows that might be of interest to the KAMN audience: The Adventures of Brisco County Jr, Pinky and the Brain, the animated Beetlejuice, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Wonder Woman, V, La Femme Nikita, and for me (whoo-hoo), Spenser: For Hire.

Yes, I was an Avery Brooks fan long before he became captain of a space station. The Federation uniform does nothing for me, but seeing him in a leather jacket and shades, and in a black on black luxury muscle sedan… damn.

Anyway, we’ve been getting a lot of positive feedback on the quality of the Babylon 5 episodes, so I’m guessing it’d be the same for most of the other series (especially the ones already available on DVD). So head over there and see if there’s anything you’d like to watch for free.

One drawback: their viewing and download system only works with Windows XP and Windows Media Player 10, but in an interview with a VP of AOL Video (who’s a Mac guy to boot), he’s said that they hope to have this working for Mac users in the future.

Classic Cylon Centurion in Distress

See for yourself how low the old tin cans had fallen.

Afterwards, take a moment to look around the Cylon Replica Costumes website, including a video commercial featuring the Cylons (a promo for the return of the classic series to SPACE television).

They seem to be doing just as good a job as the Original Galactica Costume and Prop Museum with our treasured memories.

TV News: Dark Skies

It seems to be a new trend for older tv shows to show up on cable networks.

Sometime last fall, one of the Showtime channels began airing “The Magnificent Seven”, the TV series starring Michael Biehn and Eric Close. Now it looks like one of the Encore networks has begun airing “Dark Skies”, the scifi-mystery series starring Eric Close and Megan Ward.

Since “Magnificent Seven” showed up on DVD back in December (first season, anyway), I wonder if this means that “Dark Skies” might soon show up as well.

More Hasselhoff news

Doug Kress suffered a moment of Hasselhoff overload while listening to KAMN #8, so he decided to share with us.

Here’s a YouTube music video. Decide for yourself if David would have become the superstar pop idol he dreamed of being.

Thank you so much, Doug.

KAMN Show #8: Knight Rider

Welcome to Show #8!

This week, we discuss Glen A. Larson’s Knight Rider.

Summer ’s all better now (thanks so much for the well-wishes), so she, Joe, and Dave jump right back into the early 1980s and one of many “futuristic tech” scifi shows featuring toys for the big kids.

Did Knight Rider help that subgenre back then? Does it hold up well enough to tempt new viewers and new shows? The first season is available for download via iTunes, and the fourth and final season will be released on DVD in April.

This week’s Old School Anime Reviews for Your Ears, by Aaron from Weekly Anime Review, is about the ground-breaking action scifi movie, AKIRA!

Shows and Movies mentioned:

Promos and Links:
Promo: Silent Universe
Promo: The Babylon Podcast
Promo: Getting A Leg Up Podcast
Link: Knight Rider Online
Link: Jump the Shark: Knight Rider
Link: Ask A Ninja Video ‘cast

 

 KAMN Show #8: Knight Rider [1:01:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3246)

Sometimes, the commercials are worth it

There was a MacGyver MasterCard commercial on the Super Bowl right now.

It was nice to see that Richard Dean Anderson can still do those MacGyver “I can’t believe I just did that” facial expressions.

KAMN Show #6: Battlestar Galactica

Welcome to Show #6!

This week, we discuss Battlestar Galactica, both the old and the new.

Summer, Joe, Dave and special guest Tee Morris (Survival Guide to Writing Fantasy) talk about the original Battlestar Galactica, the new Galactica, and a few things in between.

This week’s Old School Anime Reviews for Your Ears, by Aaron from Weekly Anime Review, is the classic ninja movie, Ninja Scroll!

There were also way too many collectibles and related goodies to go through on the show, but here’s a small sampling of what’s out there: 14 original series novels by Glen A. Larson, 4 or 5 old series magazines, 5 continuing novels by Richard Hatch, a new novelization of the miniseries that launched the new Galactica, a companion guide for the new series, a brand spanking new magazine for the new series, and too many old school toys to count. If I missed anything, let us know in voicemail or comments!

Yes, we’ve noticed that the shows have been getting longer. We’re kinda working on that.

Movies and Books mentioned:

Promos and Links:
Promo: Dragon Page Wingin’ It
Promo: I Should Be Writing
Link: Battlestar Galactica.com: Ultimate Guide
Link: Battlestar Galactica: Original Costume and Prop Museum (still being built)
Link: SciFi Channel: Battlestar Galactica

 

 KAMN Show #6: Battlestar Galactica [1:22:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3461)

KAMN Show #5: The Lathe of Heaven

Welcome to Show #5!

This week, we head back to the classic bookshelves to discuss Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven.

Summer, Joe and Dave talk about this cautionary dystopian fable about the power of dreams and the possible repercussions of wanting to play God for everyone else.

We also have another presentation of Old School Anime Reviews for Your Ears, by Aaron from Weekly Anime Review. This week’s feature is Bubblegum Crisis… Enjoy!

Books and Movies Mentioned:

Promos and Links:
Promo: Planet Fandom
Promo: The Kick-Ass Mystic Ninjas American Express card
Promo: Geek Fu Action Grip

 

 KAMN Show #5: The Lathe of Heaven [53:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2930)

Show #4: Blue Thunder / Airwolf

Welcome to Show #4!

Today, we spread the love for the gizmos, the gadgets, the weapons, and the stylings of two of our favorite souped-up monster machines. Re-live the explosions and the cheese the way only the 1980’s could bring them to us!

Joining Joe and myself again for this discussion is David Moldawer, writer, videographer, and Dragon Page book reviewer. He’d never seen Blue Thunder until a few weeks ago, and he came away impressed. Dave’s almost a full Ninja, so now he’s got a kickassmysticninjas.com email address… show him some love, too.

We’d also like to present a new segment, Old School Anime Reviews for Your Ears, by Aaron from Weekly Anime Review. This week’s feature is Mobile Suit Gundam… Enjoy!

Movies Mentioned:

I’m not linking to the DVD version of Blue Thunder listed at Amazon, because the details say it’s the older version, which was full screen only. The version I rented had full screen on one side, and widescreen on the other, but that version isn’t available from Amazon. It is, however, available from DVD Planet for a tasty $6.99 plus shipping.

Oh, and I think I have to add a post-show correction. I mentioned that I thought the Blue Thunder was adapted from a book… I either misinterpreted a “Story by” credit, or had a crosswired memory with Die Hard.

Promos and Links:
Promo: Dragon Page Wingin’ It
Promo: Girl Genius Radio Theater
Link: TVShows.com: Airwolf Episode Guide

 

 KAMN Show #4: Blue Thunder / Airwolf [57:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2908)

Ninja Fight: Airwolf vs Blue Thunder

Okay, to keep everyone entertained until we post the pre-show discussion thread for Show #3, I’m throwing out our very first “Ninja Fight” cage match. Not quite the same as Jack Mangan’s Duel of the Fates, but in the same spirit.

So, Joe, Dave Moldawer and I were discussing older shows and movies, when the subject of Airwolf vs Blue Thunder came up, and Dave said he’d never even heard of Blue Thunder. The tale of the spiritually tortured pilot of a “black helicopter” and he’s never heard of it? Yes, he has a homework assignment to go rent this movie and watch it.

Anyway, Airwolf vs Blue Thunder. Let’s hear your opinions on the show vs the movie, creatively speaking, and copter abilities, technically speaking. You can also argue for or against on whether these qualify as scifi… I always thought they were, simply because of the technology put into the vehicles at the time (and yes, I consider Knight Rider scifi, too, and Automan).

Feel free to post your comments here, or over at the forums.