KALEIDOSCOPIC: The Prisoner

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KALEIDOSCOPIC: The Prisoner

POSTED: Monday, November 16, 2009, 5:32 PM

Filed Under: Kaleidoscopic | TV Watch

In this week's Kaleidoscope, I wrote about the classic, cult-y '60s TV show The Prisoner:

I can't speak for the remake premi'ring on Nov. 15 (AMC, 8 p.m.), but there are few shows like the cult '60s British TV show The Prisoner , now available on DVD. Created by and starring Patrick McGoohan, The Prisoner follows a defected secret agent who is taken to an ostensibly idyllic island called The Village, where his name is replaced by a number and he's not allowed to leave. Exploring themes of identity and free will, The Prisoner is a milestone; television has rarely been so deep or engrossing.

As I said above, I couldn't vouch for AMC's remake, starring ultimate badass Ian McKellan and Jesus/Jim Caviezel. The six-day miniseries premiered yesterday with the first two episodes. It was awful. Like, laughably so. There are similarities in style and structure to the original McGoohan series but adds fast cuts and editing tricks that make it look like film school project. McKellan can't be taking this thing seriously, camping it up as the mysterious and powerful 2 (unlike the series, McKellan's 2 stays the same). But his arch line delivery also doubles as the show's few highlights, especially in the face of ridiculous and unnecessary character development (yo, what's up with 1112, McKellan's son? If his sole purpose within the series is to pout his lips and have fabulous cheekbones, he's doing a stellar job).

That being said, I will most likely watch tonight's installment because I'm a glutton for punishment/find the entire thing hilarious. Any of you guys watch it? What did you think?

AMC is certainly no villain in this situation, if only because they are awesome enough to post the entirety of the original series online. Seriously, watch this. First episode below:

jbird

Posted 2009-11-18 01:23:35

This was the most dumb ass remake on TV, that I have EVER seen. The Village is merely a recovery center and island for human misfits? I swear I just heard the earth rumble, as Patrick McGoohan rolled over in his grave...again...and again...and again...and again!!! The acting sucked. The plot was worse! The directing and production looked like it was pieced together by film school drop outs. The plot was NO WHERE near being even a close fax of the original. I just wasted 6 hours of my life, watching the worst TV remake EVER in history. (And, yes, for the record, I HAVE watched all 17 original TV episodes...many times since 1967). Patrick McGoohan was a true genius, and would NEVER have wanted to be associated with this boob tube atrocity!

bcing u 6

Posted 2009-11-16 23:29:59

The First episodes "mtv cuts" were intentional for the episode, a hallucinatory introduction. The program actually conveys incredible info and depth in a short period of time in the first two episodes. The Program continues the technique to a small degree for the rest of the show, but not as difficult to follow. The Writer...or director...said he wanted us to feel like maybe 6 was crazy, maybe the village is the only place on earth...truthfully, the part where 6 tells his `brother' he loves him, I gave up to and believed he was his brother. The "twists" are also well plotted to keep you guessing, but not clueless. Meanwhile, for fans of the previous series they follow the structure enough you are continuously finding Easter eggs and having nerdgasms.

Lucky

Posted 2009-11-16 14:06:44

Chamalla, Do you mean to tell me that you should never review a work of art, or a book, or a play in the context of what came before it? This is a remake, how could you not?

Chamalla

Posted 2009-11-16 13:18:13

Ahh the ol' "halo of antiquity" at work, or in other words "I remember it being really great 20 (200, 2000) years ago, so it MUST be better than anything made now! This review is rubbish. The reviewer is too stuck on his memories of the past to give this incarnation a chance. Why not go review some piece of feces CBS show? or Maybe "V", which inexplicably has all the critics creaming their pants! Yes the old show was awesome in its time, and this new one is pretty darn good television as well. Please, do us all a favor and stfu.

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