Episodes
We've moved to Podbean!
November 19, 2022 05:31WE'VE MOVED!! All new episodes (from #110 on) are over at Podbean (https://planet8.podbean.com/). On our homepage, you can click on new episodes and listen from there, or find us in your podcast ap - we're on Podbean, Spotify, PlayerFM, iHeart radio, Podchaser, and more. This site will continue to exist as an archive of old episodes and comments. Thanks to all you listeners for your support! Larry, Bob, and Karen
Episode 109: Wild Turkey Surprise
November 08, 2022 12:00It's November, and here in the States, that means we're getting ready for Turkey Day! But on Planet 8, with our love of all things sci fi, fantasy, and horror, we have a love of a different kind of turkey: those films that many, especially those in the mainstream, consider to be bad films. And truth be told, a lot of these films might not be the greatest films. The production values might be poor, or the acting might not be spectacular, but for us, for the fans, we find something about t...
Episode 108: Walt Disney Halloween
October 22, 2022 12:00In 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 t...
Episode 107: I Want My Mummy! Planet 8 Explores Mummy Movies
October 08, 2022 12:00Here on Planet 8 we've dug deep into the lore of many creatures of the night. But this episode is the first time we've tackled that Egyptian menace, the Mummy! The Mummy arose from the popularity of the exploration/plundering of Egyptian tombs, especially King Tutankhamun. The discovery of King Tut's tomb was also associated with a curse, which fueled many imaginations and stories. The idea of a curse, or at the very least vengeance visited upon those who violated the tomb, became the ba...
Episode 106: Top Ten Robots Times Two!
September 22, 2022 12:00It's time for another Planet 8 Top Ten -only this time, it's a Top Ten times two! That's right, in this episode, we're giving you not one Top Ten list, but two Top Ten lists! And our subject this time around is near and dear to our hearts, and we hope to yours too: Robots! Sometimes friends, sometimes foes, these mechanical beings have always fascinated people. In this episode the Planet 8 crew shares their favorite robots, with a twist: we have one top ten list of giant robots, and a se...
We've moved!
September 20, 2022 12:00Where's the podcast, you ask? Well, we finally took the plunge and now have a podcasting platform to host our show - Podbean. You can still hear Planet 8 in all the usual places, and catch us on YouTube too. Head over to https://planet8.podbean.com/ to hear our latest episode. All of our old ones are there too. Of course you can find us on the Podbean ap, and we'll also be on all the other aps we've been on as well. Our direct feed for other podcast players is https://feed.podbean.com/pl...
Episode 105: Meet Frank Dietz!
September 08, 2022 12:00This episode our guest is Frank Dietz, who has had an amazing career in show business as a screenwriter, Disney animator, actor, and more. Frank shares his experiences in Hollywood with us. Frank is a wonderful storyteller. Sit back and enjoy! For our Sensor Sweep, we shine a light on Frank's web presence. His web site, Sketchythingsart.com, is where you can find his art, screenwriting, and other work, as well as a calendar of his events. He can also be found on social media - Twitter an...
Episode 104: The Most Dangerous Prey
August 22, 2022 12:00In this episode your Planet 8 crew will discuss and review the newest entry in the Predator film franchise, Prey! Prey was released on Hulu this month and did not have a theatrical release. It is set in 1719 and pits a predator against a young Comanche woman. It's a thematic departure from more recent efforts in the Predator series and a breath of fresh air. We'll talk about what we liked, what we didn't like, and how it compares to the original Predator -the only yardstick that truly m...
Episode 103: If I Were a Carpenter: The Films of John Carpenter
August 08, 2022 12:00In this episode we celebrate and explore the films of legendary film-maker, John Carpenter! Carpenter is such a unique director, a man who has always done things his own way, with a real talent for story-telling. The Planet 8 crew will start by discussing Carpenter's early life and how he became a film-maker. We move on to a discussion of the qualities that define John Carpenter's style. Obviously we'll talk about his work with his film soundtracks, but there are so many other aspects to a...
Episode 102: Thor, Phase 4, and a Lot More
July 22, 2022 12:00The latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is here -Thor: Love and Thunder - and your Planet 8 crew has a lot to say about it. And it ain't necessarily good. Much like the previous Thor film, this newest look at the God of Thunder takes a decidedly goofy slant. It's a little too goofy for our taste. Beware -there are spoilers ahead! Not to say there aren't some interesting or exciting things in the film. There are. But the whole film feels so unbalanced that it's hard to appreci...
Episode 101: Help us, Obi-Wan Kenobi
July 08, 2022 12:00One of the most anticipated TV series in years has just concluded its first season, and there's been a lot of talk about it, especially between the members of Planet 8. We're talking, of course, about Obi-Wan Kenobi, the latest Star Wars show on Disney Plus. Picking up threads from the prequel trilogy and the Clone Wars series, the show follows up on a downtrodden Obi-Wan Kenobi, years after the devastation of the Jedi Order and the fall of the Republic. Obi-Wan lives an unremarkable life ...
Episode 100: We did it!
June 22, 2022 12:00They said it couldn't be done. They said we would never make it. They said hot dogs are sandwiches. But despite the nay-sayers, and against all odds, we made it to our 100th episode! When we started the Planet 8 podcast, we had no idea we would reach this kind of milestone. But here we are. Despite the hiccup of Recon Officer Karen getting hit with Covid right before we were going to record our 100th episode, and having to delay a couple of weeks, we bounced back to bring you this epis...
Best of Planet 8: Road to Apocalypse!
June 08, 2022 12:00Unfortunately part of your Planet 8 crew has been struck down by the Covid virus, causing us to delay our 100th episode! We hope you will enjoy this encore presentation of Episode 13, Road to Apocalypse, from November 8, 2018. We'll be back on the 22nd with episode 100!
Episode 99: Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness
May 22, 2022 12:00We're back with a spoiler-filled discussion of Marvel Studios' 28th film, Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Surprisingly, Bob and Karen both liked this movie more than Larry did! But we all enjoyed it. As usual, this film is bursting at the seams with guest appearances and all sorts of craziness. We'll do our best to examine the story and characters and share our thoughts on some of the plot points. A big part of this movie is Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch, and it defini...
Episode 98: The State of Star Trek
May 08, 2022 12:00There's never been a time like this: no less than five Star Trek series on the air at the same time! You would think Trekkies (trekkers?) would be rejoicing. But, not so. While some fans are enjoying these new iterations of Star Trek, other fans are gnashing their teeth. In this episode, the Planet 8 crew, along with our guest Lord Blood-Rah, discuss the state of Star Trek - what it has meant to us, what it is now, and where we hope it is going. For all four of us, our love of Star Trek...
Episode 97: Movie Music!
April 22, 2022 12:00This episode we discuss some of our favorite science fiction and fantasy film scores. There have been some truly amazing and memorable scores, music which helps define the films and give them their identity. These scores are inseparable from the visuals and they invoke the story just as much. Each of us shares three film scores and describes just what it is about that score that we find so fascinating. Bob's picks: The Bride of Frankenstein by Franz Waxman Forbidden Planet by Bebe an...
Episode 96: Blaxploitation on Planet 8!
April 08, 2022 12:00On this episode we look at a genre and a sub-genre within that - Blaxploitation horror films! Blaxploitation was a genre that existed for only a short time in the 70s, but had a major impact. Together with our guest, Lord Blood-Rah, we'll discuss the origins of the genre and then take a look at several horror films that spun out of it. Blacula (1972) is probably the best-known of these films, and it's a well-done vampire story. William Marshall plays Prince Mamuwalde, who is turned into...
Episode 95: I'm just here for the gasoline: It's Mad Max!
March 22, 2022 12:00This episode is a fuel-injected suicide machine! We're traveling not too far into the future, to the world of Mad Max! We've been big fans of both Mad Max and The Road Warrior, and we'll discuss all four of the films, and of course get into some of the back story about how the film series originated. Coming out of Australia in 1979 as the brainchild of George Miller and Byron Kennedy, Mad Max was a mind-blowing blast of action, featuring wall to wall high speed stunts the likes of which...
Episode 94: Bingeing the Stream Part II
March 08, 2022 12:00We're back with more talk about all the shows we've been watching. There are so many great shows out now- and so many platforms. It's hard to keep up with it all. But between the three of us, we manage to see quite a few genre shows. We'll share our thoughts on shows such as The Walking Dead, Raised by Wolves, Peacemaker, Star Trek Prodigy, Cowboy Bebop, Hellier, Servant, Tetsujin 28, Superman and Lois, and the conversation may wander into a few odd places as we go! We also talk about wh...
Episode 93: Closing the Book of Boba Fett
February 22, 2022 12:00This episode, your Planet 8 crew is rejoined by our good friend Lord Blood-Rah to take a long, last look at The Book of Boba Fett. The second live action Star Wars series was rather uneven, but did provide some cool moments. We'll discuss how we felt about Boba Fett prior to the series, and then dive into the details of the show. While we varied in our interest in Boba prior to the start of The Book of Boba Fett, we all agreed that he's always been a cool looking character. Of course, ...
Episode 92: Planet 8 goes Beneath the Planet of the Apes
February 08, 2022 12:00This episode we are going back to one of our favorite places, a little world known as the Planet of the Apes! But this time, we're going to explore...Beneath the Planet of the Apes! Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) was the second film in the original Apes franchise, and it went down quite a different path than the first. The Planet Ape -I mean, 8 - crew, along with our special guest, Lord Blood-Rah, will discuss all the myriad details behind how the film came to be made, as well as...
Episode 91: Planet 8's Top 10 Spaceships!
January 22, 2022 12:00One of the staples of many science fiction movies and TV shows is the spaceship. Not merely a vehicle, the spaceship seems to take on a personality of its own through a combination of unique design and the way it is perceived by the characters around it. It can be home for some, or a fighting machine, but a character's spaceship often defines them. Your intrepid crew had so many ships to choose from, over the many decades of sci fi films and TV shows, we each made our own top ten lists, ...
Episode 90: Spider-Man: No Way Home Swings us into 2022!
January 08, 2022 12:00It seemed to take forever to get here, but Spider-Man: No Way Home arrived right before Christmas, and it was one of the best presents any of us got this year! The Planet 8 crew loved this latest entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and in this episode, we talk all about the movie and all the things we enjoyed. This is a spoiler-filled review, so if you haven't seen the movie yet, what are you waiting for? Go see it, and hurry on back to the podcast! From the many interesting villain...
Episode 89: Christmas with Vincent
December 22, 2021 12:00Happy holidays listeners! When we were planning this episode of Planet 8, we thought, "What says happy holidays better than Vincent Price?" This episode we celebrate the career and life of a true Renaissance Man, Vincent Price, with our special guest, Lord Blood-Rah. Price is a legend as a horror film actor, and we will discuss some of his many films, including The Tingler, The Abominable Dr. Phibes, The Fly, House of Wax, and more. Price played a variety of roles, sometimes sympathetic...
Episode 88: Captivating Creatures
December 08, 2021 12:00This episode, the Planet 8 crew talks about some of our favorite creature designs. Over the history of cinema, there have been many amazing fantasy, horror and science fiction creatures designed and put on film, and we will each cover one of our favorites. Each of these has significance as paving the way for future films, developing new techniques and pioneering new styles. We begin with the original Planet of the Apes, and the daunting task of developing realistic makeup for the talki...
Episode 87: Thankful for the Marvel Cinematic Universe!
November 22, 2021 12:00Welcome all, and to our fellow Americans, Happy Thanksgiving! It's become a tradition here at Planet 8 for us to celebrate and be thankful for some genre-related franchise, and in the past, we've been thankful for Star Trek, Star Wars, and James Bond. This year, we are expressing our love and gratitude for the magnificent Marvel Cinematic Universe -the MCU! Now with 26 films and climbing, not to mention the MCU TV series, we've been blessed with a bountiful collection of films that create...
Episode 86: They are Legend! Adaptations of I Am Legend
November 08, 2021 12:00Come with us on this episode as we ponder...what would it be like to be the last human being on Earth? How would a person cope with the loneliness, the despair? We look at a trio of films all based on a story built around this concept, Richard Matheson's classic 1954 novel, I Am Legend. Matheson's story took the classic vampire legend and gave it a modern, pseudo-scientific twist, with the vampires created by a bacterial plague, leaving one man, immune, struggling to survive. After Bob...
Episode 85: Haunted Halloween Movies!
October 22, 2021 12:00It's almost Halloween, so of course, all October, the Planet 8 crew has been watching scary movies! Of course, we tend to watch scary movies all year long, but it's a little more concentrated this month, and we focus a little more on certain films this time of year. This episode we discuss what type of films get us in the "Halloween spirit" ! If you're looking for ideas for things to watch leading up to Halloween, tune in! For Chief Engineer Bob, it's all about spooky films with a comed...
Episode 84: Halloween Memories with Mr. Lobo!
October 08, 2021 12:00It's that time of the year again - no, not National Pizza Month! It's October and that means it's time for Halloween! If you're like the Planet 8 crew, you're pretty much celebrating Halloween all the time, but October gives you permission to do it publically. With us on this episode is friend of the show, host of Cinema Insomnia, Mr. Lobo! In this smorgasbord of an episode, we'll talk a little about the roots of the holiday, how it changed over the years, and then we share our own childh...
Episode 83: Sword and Sorcery on Planet 8
September 22, 2021 12:00Come with us listeners, back to the mist-shrouded 1980s, when hair was big and the Walkman was king, and sword and sorcery films were abundant. Why were there so many sword and sorcery films in that decade? Perhaps it was the lucky convergence of a number of things: the rise in popularity of Dungeons and Dragons, the prevalence of fantasy art such as the Hildebrandt Brothers, Boris Vallejo, and of course, Frazetta, the Marvel Conan comics, and other factors. While there were a number of t...
Episode 82: Shang-Chi Shakes up Planet 8
September 08, 2021 12:00Welcome 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,...
Episode 81: Planet 8 Presents: Alfred Hitchcock
August 22, 2021 12:00On 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 pus...
Episode 80: Of Dinosaurs and Droids: A Look at Primal and Star Wars: The Bad Batch
August 08, 2021 12:00This 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 ...
Episode 79: Marvel Two in One -Black Widow and Loki!
July 22, 2021 19:47Finally, 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 re...
Episode 78: You Will Believe a Man Can Fly: Superman
July 08, 2021 12:00To 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, h...
Episode 77: Khaaaaaaan!
June 22, 2021 12:00Arguably 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 - despi...
Episode 76: Planet 8 is Pulled into The Black Hole!
June 08, 2021 12:00A 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 ...
Episode 75: Get to the Choppa! It's The Predator!
May 23, 2021 12:00That'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 even...
Episode 74: Planet 8's Top Ten Sci Fi Films of All Time!
May 08, 2021 12:00Welcome all to Planet 8's third anniversary episode! Yes, we have been doing this insanity for three years now. We thought the best way to celebrate would be to tackle the biggest question we could think of: what are the ten best science fiction films of all time? Through an arcane process which we describe in the episode, we devised a list of ten great science fiction films. Now these are not necessarily our favorite films, but the films which we think are the most influential, most imp...
Episode 73: Bugged by The Fly!
April 22, 2021 12:00What's that buzzing past your shoulder? A tiny fly? How annoying! Now imagine that you and that fly have somehow become inextricably joined, with you taking on the traits and even the physical aspects of the insect. This is the horror of The Fly, both the original 1958 film and the 1986 remake. On this episode we explore the concepts and stories of The Fly films, including the later sequels of the original film. We are joined once again by our good friend and honorary crew member, Lord B...
Episode 72: It's on like Donkey Kong! Godzilla vs. Kong!
April 08, 2021 12:00It's here, the first really BIG movie of 2021: Godzilla vs. Kong! Whether you saw it at home on HBO Max or caught it in an actual theater, this definitely felt like the first real event film of the year. Your intrepid Planet 8 crew all saw the film as soon as it was out (some of us staying up into the wee hours of the night) and are here to share our thoughts and impressions on this latest entry in Legendary's monsterverse. Be prepared for SPOILERS AHEAD!!! The question everyone is aski...
Video episode 7: All about AIP, American International Pictures
April 01, 2021 00:44Join us for an all new video episode, where the crew and special guest Lord Blood-Rah discuss the amazing films of AIP, American International Pictures!
Episode 71: Bewitched by Wandavision
March 22, 2021 12:00The first Marvel TV show on Disney + has completed its run -Wandavision! Like everyone else, your Planet 8 crew was glued to their screens, watching the show and trying to figure out what was going on! There were so many rumors and theories put forth by fans that it was hard to watch without any preconceived notions. And the sitcom veneer was unusual, and at first was a bit off-putting, but as we made our way into the show, we all came to really enjoy it! Just a warning: as usual this po...
Episode 70: Feeling the Burn: A look at Star Trek Discovery
March 08, 2021 12:00On this episode we will go where no one on Planet 8 has gone before: we will review Star Trek Discovery! Once again, we are joined by our good friend, horror host extraordinaire and Star Trek aficionado, Lord Blood-Rah, as we look at all three seasons of Discovery and discuss our overall impressions of the show. A lot of times we are mostly in agreement about shows; in this case, we range widely in our perceptions of Discovery! Who likes Discovery? Who doesn't? Listen and find out! We'll...
Episode 69: Travelling through Lovecraft Country
February 24, 2021 16:04In this SPOILER-FILLED episode, your Planet 8 crew, plus our special guest, Lord Blood-Rah, explore the HBO mini-series, Lovecraft Country! We will discuss the show from top to bottom, so if you haven't seen it yet, you may want to check it out and then come back! But if you have already watched the show, grab a beverage, get in a comfy chair, and join us for a wide-ranging convo! The show is based off a book by Matt Ruff, but as we note, it is based loosely on that novel. Both the book a...
Episode 68: HAL, open the podcast ap. It's 2001: A Space Odyssey!
February 08, 2021 12:00Your Planet 8 crew has explored many realms of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, but this time we are taking on one of the all-time greats: Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Still considered by many to be the finest science fiction film ever made, Kubrick, along with science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke, developed a sweeping epic about mankind's place in the universe. It took almost three years from conception to the film's premiere in April 1968. Audiences had never seen ...
Episode 67: Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!
January 22, 2021 12:00After nearly three years of podcasting on all things fantastic, we are finally getting around to one of the most fantastic, entertaining shows ever made: the 1960s classic, Lost in Space! We'll dive into the origins of the show, how it got made, what was in the pilot (which was never shown on TV), and some of the other actors considered for the roles of the Jupiter 2 crew. Can you say Carroll O'Connor?? Of course, you can't talk about Lost in Space without talking about the triumvirate ...
Episode 66: Hidden Gems
January 08, 2021 12:00This time around on Planet 8, each crew member has chosen a film that maybe didn't do well at the box office or get critical acclaim, but we feel deserves another look. Yes, we've picked out some hidden gems! We'll each take a turn talking about our pick, followed by some discussion. Hopefully we do a good enough job that you may be encouraged to check these films out! Our selections are pretty different from each other, and reflect our range of interests. Chief Engineer Bob is up first...
Episode 65: Have Yourself a Very Mando Christmas
December 22, 2020 12:00Season's greetings, friends! Welcome back to Planet 8. To wrap up the year, we'll talk about one of the bright spots of 2020: season two of The Mandalorian. It was an exciting season, full of great character appearances, amazing new worlds and creatures, and fantastic adventures. We also got to see the relationship between Mando and the Child grow. For us old school Star Wars fans, it was like being transported back to those days of stories from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. ...
Episode 64: We will control all you hear: The Outer Limits
December 08, 2020 12:00There is nothing wrong with your speakers. Do not attempt to adjust the sound. We are controlling transmission. For the next hour your Planet 8 crew will control what you hear. You are about to experience the awe and mystery of the classic 60s TV show, The Outer Limits! One of the last of the anthology series on television, Outer Limits is fondly recalled by many fans today. One of its hallmarks was its "bears" - the strange, striking aliens and monsters created for the show. Appearing ...