The only prisoner remake I was ever excited about was the one that was supposed to star Clive Owen several years ago. I think even McGoohan was cool with the idea, which surprised me.
Sadly, I think you can sum all six of those up under the single massive crime of "Not knowing exactly which direction to go, so attempting to find a middle ground on everything."
Watching these last 4 hours has been like watching a tug of war between one show that wants to remain faithful to the spirit of Patrick McGoohan, and one that wants to be Lost. The end result is a 'good idea one minute, terrible idea the next' trainwreck. #theprisoner
as someone that has enjoyed what i've seen so far (hours 1 and 2) i must say i find myself agreeing that 6's lack of violence is perplexing. he's been around 2 dozens of times and in every scene where they're together i can't help put wonder what would happen if he palmed a stiletto and stabbed him in the neck. #theprisoner
No More YARM for me.I can always watch the real Prisoner that is the 1960's original.Hollywood time to stop raping people's past and write new things. #theprisoner
@gorehound: bravo. yet another piss-take from us americans. bbc make a fine series. hollywood runs out of original ideas, and tries to make it fit for american tv. wrong-wrong, mad-mad. i was originally excited to hear about this on amc, i love madmen. then i started seeing the preview spots. i am pretty sure i am not going to waste my time, even with a dvr. #theprisoner
I agree with the 6 things you talked about. But even with all that, I think "snorefest" is a little harsh. I mildly enjoyed last night's episodes and I'll watch the next two nights as well. I may even go back and watch them again off of my TiVo. But I doubt I'll watch them again after that and I certainly won't buy the DVD until it hits a bargain bin.
Maybe I've just successfully detached this show from the original in all but the most basic premises. #theprisoner
I'm going to say something very unpopular. My father, a die-hard Prisoner fan, had me watch the first couple episodes of the original a couple years ago, and I was bored out of my mind. I never finished the series. So far, I'm finding this version much more interesting. #theprisoner
One of the aspects I liked about the original was you had no idea who was running The Village: the British Government? The Soviet Union? The Chinese? Some crazy precursor of Guantanamo Bay? Or even some non-governmental conspiracy theory entity like the Illuminati?
I suppose we still don't know for sure even now who runs The Village. But I felt like the show was calling out Evil Corp. a little too quickly.
It was also clear that in the original, the masters of The Village had contact with the outside world. I can sorta appreciate the existential angst of being convinced that The Village is all there is. But you'd have to be pretty damn stupid not to wonder where the construction material to fix the diner came from.
I admire the new version for trying to find its own way. But I think the writers should have thought about it a little more. #theprisoner
@Chip Overclock: I loved that, too. The only clue we got was that at least some high-ups in UK intelligence were complicit in sending 6 back to The Village.
We also had no real idea what the truth behind Number 6 was. He was adamant about his principles and individuality, sure. And we assume he didn't defect or intend to sell state secrets to the USSR because he's Our Hero. But we don't really know either way. Nor should we. #theprisoner
What's up with the first photo? I thought Jesus had long hair and a beard when he was crucified. And I don't think they had freaking grenades back then.
I'm recording the whole series and will FF through the dull parts.
It just seems that in the reboot they just turned the volumedown from 11 to more like 5.
As far as reasons 6 and 5, TOS hard only 1 real emotion #6 had and that was hate not ennui . #theprisoner
I'm going to go ahead and greenlight this Jason Bourne vs. normality and niceness show. I want a spec script on my desk in the morning. It will be the first show written entirely in lolcat-script.
Also, I think a lot of your criticisms about how the new show strays away from the point of the original wouldn't be so bad if the new show actually found a way to re-frame the conflict, but it seems they couldn't think of anything compelling to hang the drama on so they just went for a straight up modernization, by which I mean, threw in a bunch of more current cliches and got rid of the most of the quirks of the original.
@wanion: Ever since the 3rd movie I've thought about how awesome it would be if we got a Rambo: First Blood story out of Jason Bourne.
He returns to his quaint little Missouri town to settle down and reclaim his David Webb identity, but his post-ops trauma still haunts him and he snaps during the town's annual Apple Blossom Ball and ends up krav magaing the entire town to death mistaking his neighbors for sleeper cells.
Well, I can't argue with anything you've said since I haven't seen the original and only the first two hours of this.
I would say, if the first Prisoner was man vs. man and man vs. society, then this would kind of have to explore man vs. himself. Jimmy isn't the best at this I admit. Should have had someone you really wonder if he's on the edge of losing it at any time.
At this point, it sort of reminds me of Where the wild Things Are movie which is why I like it. The entire Village just seems too made-up. It's feels like he's just fighting hmself wandering the desert trying to keep himself psyched up for whatever the hell went wrong.
At least that's what I'm telling myself so I keep watching!lol #theprisoner
i tried to like this show, it didn't feel tight enough for me. it even skimped on the male nudity. seriously the black muscle shirt and boxer shorts coupled with poor lighting... did nothing to raise the star as a sex symbol... cause you know the scripting wasn't enough to do it. #theprisoner
After struggling to finish the second hour last night I've decided not to finish the series. I really looked for a reason to like it, but alas, none could be found. McGoohan must be rolling in his grave.
11/17/09
The only prisoner remake I was ever excited about was the one that was supposed to star Clive Owen several years ago. I think even McGoohan was cool with the idea, which surprised me.
Sadly, I think you can sum all six of those up under the single massive crime of "Not knowing exactly which direction to go, so attempting to find a middle ground on everything."
Watching these last 4 hours has been like watching a tug of war between one show that wants to remain faithful to the spirit of Patrick McGoohan, and one that wants to be Lost. The end result is a 'good idea one minute, terrible idea the next' trainwreck. #theprisoner
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/17/09
11/16/09
It's damn near impossible, and if you actually succeed, you may just end up accidentally summoning an Elder God from beyond the Void. #theprisoner
11/16/09
11/16/09
Maybe I've just successfully detached this show from the original in all but the most basic premises. #theprisoner
11/16/09
11/16/09
I suppose we still don't know for sure even now who runs The Village. But I felt like the show was calling out Evil Corp. a little too quickly.
It was also clear that in the original, the masters of The Village had contact with the outside world. I can sorta appreciate the existential angst of being convinced that The Village is all there is. But you'd have to be pretty damn stupid not to wonder where the construction material to fix the diner came from.
I admire the new version for trying to find its own way. But I think the writers should have thought about it a little more. #theprisoner
11/16/09
We also had no real idea what the truth behind Number 6 was. He was adamant about his principles and individuality, sure. And we assume he didn't defect or intend to sell state secrets to the USSR because he's Our Hero. But we don't really know either way. Nor should we. #theprisoner
11/16/09
Saw the first bit, but the rest?
I won't be seeing you. #theprisoner
11/16/09
Mel Gibson is totally out of it. #theprisoner
11/16/09
11/16/09
It just seems that in the reboot they just turned the volumedown from 11 to more like 5.
As far as reasons 6 and 5, TOS hard only 1 real emotion #6 had and that was hate not ennui . #theprisoner
11/16/09
11/16/09
Also, I think a lot of your criticisms about how the new show strays away from the point of the original wouldn't be so bad if the new show actually found a way to re-frame the conflict, but it seems they couldn't think of anything compelling to hang the drama on so they just went for a straight up modernization, by which I mean, threw in a bunch of more current cliches and got rid of the most of the quirks of the original.
11/16/09
11/16/09
He returns to his quaint little Missouri town to settle down and reclaim his David Webb identity, but his post-ops trauma still haunts him and he snaps during the town's annual Apple Blossom Ball and ends up krav magaing the entire town to death mistaking his neighbors for sleeper cells.
11/16/09
I would say, if the first Prisoner was man vs. man and man vs. society, then this would kind of have to explore man vs. himself. Jimmy isn't the best at this I admit. Should have had someone you really wonder if he's on the edge of losing it at any time.
At this point, it sort of reminds me of Where the wild Things Are movie which is why I like it. The entire Village just seems too made-up. It's feels like he's just fighting hmself wandering the desert trying to keep himself psyched up for whatever the hell went wrong.
At least that's what I'm telling myself so I keep watching!lol #theprisoner
11/16/09
11/16/09
AMC, I won't be seeing you. #theprisoner
11/16/09
Overall I wasn't impressed. #theprisoner