| Author | Message | ||
     Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Is anybody interested in hearing about this? I just finished watching it. It's just wrapped on Polish TV. I thought it aired in Britain last year, but I don't recall anybody here mentioning it. I personally have to say the best experience with a TV program in donkey's years, or is that a collective plural??? | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.172.184.103 |
Brilliant! A TV classic that exceeds Lost and Twin Peaks and the best of Dr Who. McKellen is masterly. (I saw the orginal series,too, when it was first on in the Sixties, and this remake seems even better.) | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.172.184.103 |
BTW, there is one more episode yet to go here on British TV. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Des - This is what TV was meant to be. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.129.15 |
Excellent! Wish I'd seen it now. Got put off by all the bad press, then too late read a shining review. Damn that bad press! | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.129.15 |
Tried out Carnival of Dreams last night (which I've seen before). My middle son thought it looked amazing - he loves stuff like that. It struck me as being a massive influence on Twin Peaks, even more so than Lynch let on. An astounding film - one of the eeriest and most beautiful ever made. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.143.129.15 |
Carnival of Souls! Carnival of Souls! | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Carnival of Souls is great. Interestingly part of the reason the female lead is plunged into a world of silence whenever people don't see her is because the director couldn't afford to facilitate the soundtrack. The new Prisoner is sublime. It's openig episode is designed to draw in Prisoner fans, but after that it is its own beast. And what a beautiful beast it is. Relevant, smart, contentious, it is without doubt a worthy successor to the original. It is also enigmatic and worthy of countless viewings. It has the feel and atmosphere of the original, and expands on ideas on used in McGoohan's original. In fact, it pushes the concept in several new directions, all which I could well imagine materializing in the original. There are many nods to the original, but some of them subtle, that are not merely tokens offered up for viewers of the original but as intelligent openings into the new show. The casting is perfect. McKellen is par excellence, a tour de force, but James Caviezel is simply marvellous, and I could hardly imagine a better NO 6. His though is not the McGoohan No 6, but an entirely different entity/personna. Ignore the reviews. This is something for serious genre fans. And the opening episode will make you smile for its ingenious use of some of the original dialogue from Arrival. But as I said, after that, the show is its own thing. And interestingly enough, the process by which No 6 arrives at certain revelations in the program was originally part of McGoohan's vision for the 1960's series, which failed to transpire when he and George Markstein fell out. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Hmmmmm... I'm a diehard fan of 'The Prisoner' and 'Danger Man' and would take one hell of a load of convincing to give this the time of day. You do make it sound remarkably good but...  | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Steve - me too, it is my favourite show ever, excluding the Twilight Zone, and I also had reservations, BUT, oh, boy, those reservations disappeared within the first ten minutes. One thing: ignore the credits. Trust me, Steve, I have watched every episode of the original at least 30 or forty times, so I understand you, but give it a go. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.172.184.103 |
Frank is spot on, Stevie, I feel. This is something that should NOT be missed. I was a diehard PRISONER fan at the time it was first broadcast and even took my then young family for a trip to PORTMEIRION in the 70s or 80s (can't remember exactly when).  | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
I, too, made the obligatory trip to Portmeiron when I was 18 with a couple of friends. Beautiful place. Yes, Steve, this program has much in common in with the original as it has also been misunderstood on its original broadcast. I was so excited that I was talking to myself as I watched. It doesn't ape the original. Really. The people behind this are clearly HUGE fans of McGoohan, and have done everything to present a 'cerebral', challenging and thoughtful continuation. | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.253.174.81 |
I made my pilgrimage to Portmeirion during the 1984 Channel 4 showing. I seriously love the original show and was going to pointedly ignore the remake. Now I see I'm going to have to at least watch some of it... | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Guys, trust me. | ||
| Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.78.35.185 |
Well I had ignored the new version as it got some bad reviews at the other side of the pond, but now that I see true aficionados recommending it, I know I must check it out. So, thanks for the heads-up. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Tom - forget the reviews. Even if you think my opinion a touch too effusive after watching the new series, I'm sure you will see much too recommend it. McKellen for his part is closest in his Number Two to Leo McKern's Number Two. But the man is simply impossible to tear your eyes away from. He is the ultimate rendering of a Number Two you will ever see. | ||
| Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.78.35.185 |
I haven't even seen the original, so I can watch this new version with an open mind. But first, the Lost finale ! | ||
| Weber (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.55 |
He is the ultimate rendering of a Number Two you will ever see... Brown sticky and smelly? | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.172.184.103 |
When he is UnTwo, perhaps, Weber. (episode 5). | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Oh, yes, genius. That episode has taken several threads of original episodes, not just the one. "No, I am Two." "Yes, you do look like him. Except Two has those death cold eyes." Then a long, reflective look from Number Two. So much to see and savor. Such a pity McGoohan died before this aired. I'm sure he would have approved. | ||
| Stevie Walsh (Stephenw) Username: Stephenw Registered: 03-2009 Posted From: 194.32.31.1 |
Okay, you have sufficiently piqued my interest (and I must warn you, I'm the ultimate curmudgeon when it comes to remakes of sacred cows) but please elaborate on what you mean by "continuation"? Is this a sequel that refers back to the original (I could possibly live with that) or a completely new remake that negates the original (if so, forget it, I'm sticking with Patrick). Incidentally, has anyone here read 'The Man Who Was Thursday' by G.K. Chesterton? The closest thing to a literary influence for 'The Prisoner' via Ian Fleming, of course. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
I mean continuation as of the ideas. It's a remake of sorts, but it does not negate the original. It builds on it. This is the most respectful of remakes. Without giving anything away it actually uses an original concept of the original which was not used, but which was where the program was heading until McGoohan changed his mind. This is The Prisoner for the 21st century. The atmosphere shouldn't work as well as it does because of the change of location; Portmerion was instrumental in part of that 'feel'. But the new location is every bit as inspirational and important to the series. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.172.184.103 |
I'd say, in musical terms, that it is a movement in a vast Variations upon an Original Theme. (A bit like Enigma or Goldberg or Diabelli). I have indeed read 'The Man Who Was Thursday' - an excellent fiction that I shall now need to re-read to test out your helpful theory about its pre-figurement of THE PRISONER. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.172.184.103 |
My post crossed with Frank's. But we seem to speak with one voice but in different ways. Very apt, in the circumstances. | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 147.252.230.148 |
Dear me, I must be out of step. I thought the new PRISONER was bland as a refrigerated sandwich. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.172.184.103 |
How many episodes you watched so far, Protodroid? The series on British TV has completed 5 out of 6 episodes. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Protodroid - ahhhh....heathen (; | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 147.252.230.148 |
I watched the first 2 or 3. I think I'll skip ahead to 5 and 6 (ho ho) to see if it improves. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
If you didn't like the first 2/3, Proto, I can't see you liking the rest ): Steve - just emailed you. | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 147.252.230.148 |
Fair enough. It just seemed so literal to me. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.172.184.103 |
I disagree with Frank there. I think it takes to at least episode 5 to distinguish true TV greatness. I was not significantly enamoured until episode 4. It's the emerging gestalt that counts not the initial impressions, imo. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Des - well, yes, maybe, but I'd be surprised if Proto changes his mind. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Des - What did you think of the final episode? I thought it was simply the best ending any true fan could hope for. The final shot of.....was perfect. In many ways, it surpasses the last episode of The Prisoner; it couldn't go down the same path, yet attained the same resolution, and managed to explain itself without forfeiting McGoohan's intentions. Frightening ending. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.172.184.103 |
I think it is on tomorrow night, Frank. I might have to watch a recording of it. I'll let you know. | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 85.222.86.72 |
Thank God I hardly gave anything away, Des. Apologies. I thought you would have seen it by now. Don't panic, I don't think I've spoiled things...? | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.240.106 |
The butler did it. Then they all woke up to find that it had been a dream. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.158.58.28 |
Final episode. Perfect distillation of all great TV fantasy, and astounding acting. What more could you want? | ||
| Gcw (Gcw) Username: Gcw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.153.237.52 |
I really must watch this, Soozy recorded it all on the Skyplus thingy. gcw | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.122.209.76 |
We've just dragged ourselves through the first four episodes (out of six total) of this remake of the Prisoner and I have to say I was totally unimpressed. Jim Caviezel has absolutely no charisma whatsoever, the acting overall is pretty awful but it does have Ian McKellan in it, so rather than being total crap, it's total crap with a star in it, but sadly that's about all it is. I could compare it with the original series but I really can't be bothered. It's bland and insipid right down to the music and half-hearted opening title sequence, with an ineffective central character and a plotline that meanders and is confusing rather than being inspiringly ambiguous. We guessed the ending at the end of episode four and so to save ourselves 90 more minutes of this rubbish we looked it up and found we were right. And it really doesn't deserve any more of my time reviewing it than that. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.179.61.177 |
I'm impressed, Lord P - couldn't make it past the first episode, myself! | ||
| John Llewellyn Probert (John_l_probert) Username: John_l_probert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.122.209.76 |
Mick - that's extremely gentlemanly of you to admit! | ||
| Frank (Frank) Username: Frank Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 212.49.212.18 |
Philistines. |