The Prisoner

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Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:00 am

Sorry if this has been addressed before...

Was anyone else disappointed with the recent remake of the Brithish series 'The Prisoner'?
I recorded the three episodes and watched it this weekend, and all I can say is, 'WTF?'
I remember watching the original series when I was a child. Granted, I was too young to understand the intracacies of the plot line, but I enjoyed the show. This remake, however, left me totally befuddled.
I can understand using 'poetic license', but this one really pushed it to the limits!

Not quite a Newb Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 41

I haven't seen it yet - the trailers left me a bit baffled; they looked more like something from 'The Most Dangerous Game'....I've never seen the original series.

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:03 am

I caught the first episode last night on AMC. I was disappointed also; it does not measure up to the original. I think it lacks the cold war zeitgeist of the earlier version. And, of course, there is only one Patrick McGoohan . . . .

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 6:59 am

We haven't been subjected to it over this side. There are just some things you can't remake. The Prisoner, The Italian Job, The Wicker Man, Bilko......

Wink

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:01 am

There was an old "The Italian Job"? Shocked

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 8:38 am

The tried to remake "The Wicker Man"? Shocked

I haven't seen the new "The Prisoner" but I've heard from enough trusted sources that it's crap, so I won't be rushing out to see it any time soon.

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:06 am

I hate remakes of anything that was damn near perfect the first time, so I really hate the modern versions of The Thomas Crown Affair, The Italian Job, covers of anything by the Beatles or Pink Floyd - even I am Legend I enjoyed as a film, but it spoiled the memory of The Omega Man (they ruined the ending).

The Prisoner was a classic of its time, when it went a bit mad you could just put that down to the fact everyone was a bit stoned in those days. I've been to Portmerion, where they filmed it, BTW, it is as odd as the series, built from the remains of random bits of long demolished stately homes and churches, but existed way before the TV series.

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:56 am

I've just looked at their site

http://www.amctv.com/originals/the-prisoner/

Unfortunately it won't let me watch the video clips from the UK .... Sad

I must get the Box Set I got myself as an 'e-Bay special deal' out of the cupboard and give it a dusting.

Be seeing you Cool

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:10 pm

I suppose it's a bit like meeting up with an ex-lover from way back, and expecting it be like it was. It was why all the old attempts at Dr Who remakes failed, because modern eyes and expectations wouldn't accept anything so badly made any more, no matter how faithful it was to the original.

It's better to update it, and hope you can interpret its essence into a modern version. That's why it's so hard to transfer a series like 'The Office' to a different country. The characters are easily recognised in the UK, but may not exist in the same form in other countries.

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 12:53 pm

crashhoot wrote:

Was anyone else disappointed with the recent remake of the Brithish series 'The Prisoner'?

I watched it when it premiered, and I lasted only 20 minutes before I changed the channel......and that was ten minutes longer than I should have stayed.

I have the original series in a DVD box set. I remember watching it with my parents when I was about 10 years old when CBS ran it, and again in college when I was able to understand it better. I watched it again somewhat recently.

Yes, I enjoyed it as a kid, and I enjoy it even more now. The original series ran at the right time and no one could have done it better than Patrick McGoohan.

Be seeing you!

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 2:12 pm

Oh dear, another program I'll have to avoid at all costs.

@NickTheCop, The Italian Job. Oh yes! It's regarded as a comedy classic here in the UK. I avoid the remake like the plague but instinctively know it's a load of cr4p.

All together now... Wink

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 2:47 pm

I can't believe someone tried to do this! Won't be watching it any time soon.

Patrick McGoohan! :SWOON emoticon:

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 5:09 pm

@Nick - the original chase scene & ending, with real minis

@Jammy http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450345/combined

Love the user comment at the bottom:

Quote:

this was one funny movie. The problem--it wasn't supposed to be a comedy

Edit: I'm not a fan of remakes either, but I must admit to being more than a little intrigued at the proposed remake of 'The Dambusters'

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 6:18 pm

GomerPyle wrote:

That's why it's so hard to transfer a series like 'The Office' to a different country. The characters are easily recognised in the UK, but may not exist in the same form in other countries.

The American version of "Life on Mars" ...or was it "Ashes to Ashes"(?) sort of worked for me. .... "The Office" certainly didn't.

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 6:42 pm

Quote:

the proposed remake of 'The Dambusters'

I wonder if Guy Gibson's black labrador will be called 'Ethnic Minority'?

Speaking of which,

Quote:

This was Patrick McGoohan's feature film debut, playing a guard posted outside a briefing room where the crews are being told of their mission. His only lines are spoken to Gibson's dog.

(Wiki)

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:08 pm

I saw the first episode of the current remake of "V" and had the same opinion.

Smile

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:39 pm

Some remakes work out. I thought the 2001 Ocean's 11 was much better than the original. The Rat Pack version has the first hour focused on Peter Lawford's Oedipal relationship with his mother. Also, The Maltese Falcon with Humphrey Bogart was a remake of a much inferior 1931 version.

When The Dambusters was released in the USA many theaters got a sound track with "Trigger" dubbed over the dog's name.

Posted: Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:51 pm

Quote:

the proposed remake of 'The Dambusters'

Please tell me George Lucas isn't involved

Dambusters a la Star Wars

Patrick McGoohan! :SWOON emoticon:

Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 9:23 am

The remake of The Dam Busters is actually directed by Peter "Lord of the Rings" Jackson. FYI the version of the original that I saw had the dog being called "Trigger" too, and that was in England.

BTW - having seen some of the new V - I think it's not too bad.

Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 9:30 am

I remember the original "V", and to my mind it was pretty crappy. I'd look forward to a remake of this one. Surprised

Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 1:27 pm

Can you imagine if someone decided to remake "Life of Brian"? They'd probably do it as an action adventure with Mel Gibson or Brad Pitt.

Speaking of which, i had occasion to be in Germany a number of years back, visiting friends, and Life of Brian came on the telly. It had been dubbed into German. The Release Roger (Welease Woger) scene got lost in the translation.