Review: American bastardization of The Prisoner
Subtitle: I'm old! Things were better when I was young!
Short review: Bah.
OK, I reserved judgment through the opening episodes, even though 'Arrival' was vastly disappointing and nonsensical. You got the feeling in that episode that the whole Village might just be some paranoid delusions of 6, and I really would have preferred it if that had actually been the case. Some of the other episodes showed some cleverness on 2's part, but not a lot, really. In short, it was a very blatant dumbing down of the original for an American audience. The actual changes to the basic premise and plot could have been kind of clever, but it turns out they were just dull and obvious.
Good parts:
Mini-Review: The Prisoner (the original, on Blu-Ray)
For a TV show on blu-ray, these shows are exceptionally crisp and clean. Sadly, in addition to the wonderful lush sets, you can also see every flyaway hair on McGoohan's head, and every time they had to use a cable to hold up Rover. Easily overlooked for the benefit, though, IMO. Audio also excellent quality. A fine anniversary present from my lovely wife.
Short review: Bah.
OK, I reserved judgment through the opening episodes, even though 'Arrival' was vastly disappointing and nonsensical. You got the feeling in that episode that the whole Village might just be some paranoid delusions of 6, and I really would have preferred it if that had actually been the case. Some of the other episodes showed some cleverness on 2's part, but not a lot, really. In short, it was a very blatant dumbing down of the original for an American audience. The actual changes to the basic premise and plot could have been kind of clever, but it turns out they were just dull and obvious.
Good parts:
- Ian McKellen. A fine actor - he would have made a good Number 2 if this were the real Prisoner.
- The set was pretty cool
- Good to have Rover back
- Jim Caviezel - a more boring, non-charismatic actor there never was.
- He calls himself 6!!!
- 6 wasn't nearly angry enough. Kept trying to escape, but had absolutely no motivation to actually do so.
- Most of the stories it looks like they were trying to shoehorn in the paranoid fantasies of the original with the new rationale for the Village, and they just did not mesh.
- 2 should not be the same every episode. I don't care about the backstory, it just ain't right.
Mini-Review: The Prisoner (the original, on Blu-Ray)
For a TV show on blu-ray, these shows are exceptionally crisp and clean. Sadly, in addition to the wonderful lush sets, you can also see every flyaway hair on McGoohan's head, and every time they had to use a cable to hold up Rover. Easily overlooked for the benefit, though, IMO. Audio also excellent quality. A fine anniversary present from my lovely wife.