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Topic: The Prisoner (remake) (Read 19432 times)
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Yoru
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Posts: 4615
the y master, king of bourbon
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Signe
Terracotta Army
Posts: 18942
Muse.
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That show was just weird! Go on! Some one tell me what the hell was going on in that show? Unfortunately, it's one of those shows you can't stop watching regardless of how bizarre it gets. I'm doubtful a remake will have quite the same effect on me. It would be a shame if it suddenly all made sense.
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My Sig Image: hath rid itself of this mortal coil.
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HaemishM
Staff Emeritus
Posts: 42629
the Confederate flag underneath the stone in my class ring
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There is no goddamn reason to ever remake this show. EVER. You cannot top the original, and trying is just going to make you look an idiot. We have DVD's of the origingal, there is no reason to have to reimagine it.
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Merusk
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Posts: 27449
Badge Whore
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But... but.. but then the copyright will fall off and they don't get to make money on it anymore.
What do you expect them to do, come up with an original idea?
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The past cannot be changed. The future is yet within your power.
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Yoru
Moderator
Posts: 4615
the y master, king of bourbon
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But... but.. but then the copyright will fall off and they don't get to make money on it anymore.
At 95 years since creation, I don't think The Prisoner is in any danger of that. Besides, it gets pushed back every time the Mouse is threatened with freedom. |
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Merusk
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Posts: 27449
Badge Whore
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True. I hate it when reality ruins snarky comments like that.
How about: We have to remake it because it doesn't have enough quick pans, narrow shots and low-brow humor to play to the modern market. Plus we have no new ideas.
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The past cannot be changed. The future is yet within your power.
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Samwise
Moderator
Posts: 19220
sentient yeast infection
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I like the original, but I think it might be interesting to see a version with a little less LSD in it. There's a lot you can do with the basic premise of the show.
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"I have not actually recommended many games, and I'll go on the record here saying my track record is probably best in the industry." - schild
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Yoru
Moderator
Posts: 4615
the y master, king of bourbon
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The Prisoner was all about the cracked-out WTF. That, and Number Six punching people.
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Soln
Terracotta Army
Posts: 4737
the opportunity for evil is just delicious
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Lost is probably the best descendant of The Prisoner. They stole more than a few ideas (e.g., the Village is on an Island, the Black Smoke is Rover, Ben is all about secrets/information, no one is what they seem, escape is paramount and so is just conceding).
But like a lot of things, I live in fear of any remake. The Prisoner is 90% intellectual and 10% head-butting. And a lot running and fear/paranoia. So yeah, some things are best left alone. Now to change my avatar back.
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tazelbain
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tazelbain
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X-Files.
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"Me am play gods"
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Soln
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Posts: 4737
the opportunity for evil is just delicious
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explainy?
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tazelbain
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Posts: 6603
tazelbain
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The conspiracy heavy X-Files episodes share most on the same themes and cryptic dialog.
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"Me am play gods"
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Khaldun
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Posts: 15158
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I think in many ways The Prisoner has been remade continuously since the show first appeared, e.g., it has insinuated itself into a tremendous amount of pop culture. So I don't think it's worth remaking unless someone has something fundamentally new to say about individuality, the state, paranoia, spying, and so on. In this sense, about the only move I can think of that's worth making is to set it in a place that's more like Gitmo, and to make some of the subtext be about terrorism. But that would have a very high likelihood of being totally cack-handed--it would have to be far more than simple allegory or simple political commentary.
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Righ
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Posts: 6542
Teaching the world Google-fu one broken dream at a time.
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The Prisoner was an allegorical pastiche of cold-war bureaucracy and fear of a loss of identity in the then emerging multinational superstate. That they're remaking it today suggests to me that it will be a thinly veiled and much more crass commentary on modern fears of urban surveillance and globalism. It will probably be worth watching simply for McKellen's performance of course.
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The camera adds a thousand barrels. - Steven Colbert
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Yoru
Moderator
Posts: 4615
the y master, king of bourbon
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Samwise is winning the Prisoner avatar competition.
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UnSub
Contributor
Posts: 8064
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Lost is probably the best descendant of The Prisoner.
Except that it missed the whole "brevity is the soul of wit" part of "The Prisoner"'s charm. |
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Khaldun
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Posts: 15158
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Lost is probably the best descendant of The Prisoner.
Except that it missed the whole "brevity is the soul of wit" part of "The Prisoner"'s charm. Actually I think there are a few filler episodes of "The Prisoner" that are pretty full of fluff and excess. |
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Nebu
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Posts: 17613
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There is no goddamn reason to ever remake this show. EVER. You cannot top the original, and trying is just going to make you look an idiot. We have DVD's of the origingal, there is no reason to have to reimagine it.
I agree. There are so many aspects of this show (including the time that it was made) that make it unique. The new version may have its own merits, but would be best served by being called something other than The Prisoner. |
"Always do what is right. It will gratify half of mankind and astound the other."
- Mark Twain
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UnSub
Contributor
Posts: 8064
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The Prisoner: Escape the Game
The Prisoner: To the MAXXX
The Prisoner: Prison Break (it's a hybrid show with a built in fan base)
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DraconianOne
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A point can be MOOT. MUTE is more along the lines of what you should be. - WayAbvPar
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Soln
Terracotta Army
Posts: 4737
the opportunity for evil is just delicious
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ya sad, but the chap was 80. Be seeing you.
BTW, Danger Man (aka Secret Agent Man) is some terrific B&W mid-20th century spy drama. And there are more than 5 seasons.
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apocrypha
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Planes? Shit, I'm terrified to get in my car now!
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Very sad. Although at least it means he won't get to see the awful fuckup of a remake. And we all know that's what it will be.
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"Bourgeois society stands at the crossroads, either transition to socialism or regression into barbarism" - Rosa Luxemburg, 1915.
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Yoru
Moderator
Posts: 4615
the y master, king of bourbon
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 I wish he had done more stuff during the Braveheart era or somewhat before. He did quite well in that film. Also, I've been wanting to get my hands on DVDs of Danger Man for a while... need to do that some time. |
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Soln
Terracotta Army
Posts: 4737
the opportunity for evil is just delicious
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I wish he had done more stuff during the Braveheart era or somewhat before. He did quite well in that film. Also, I've been wanting to get my hands on DVDs of Danger Man for a while... need to do that some time. got them, they're published by A&E. Worth it, believe it or not. Great casual viewing. Very theatrical and cold war culture (smoking, cocktails, suits&hats&fisticuffs). BTW, he's British playing an American working for the UN. By the 3rd season or so they gave that up, since it's 100% Brit actors and production. Accents thus normalize. |
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Khaldun
Terracotta Army
Posts: 15158
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Yeah, I'm gunning to get the Danger Man set--I dropped $$$ for the set of the Rigg-McNee Avengers first, but it's been on my shopping list for a while.
But if you really want prime McGoohan, get a hold of the just released Disney Treasury set of "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh", a production that first aired in the US on the Wonderful World of Disney. He plays a somewhat Robin-Hoodish character named Dr. Syn but he is all sorts of fucking awesome in the role. The shitheads at Disney unfortunately decided only to release this set for a period of about two months, so you already have to get it from a reseller at higher prices, but honestly, it's worth it.
Another great, great McGoohan performance: his two guest stints on Columbo, where he made a simply awesome antagonist for the detective.
McGoohan was one of my dad's absolute favorite actors when I was a kid, and I picked up on that taste from him. Just a fantastic combination of intensity, intellect and discipline.
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UnSub
Contributor
Posts: 8064
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I think I used to watch "Dr Syn:..." when I was younger. I was only interested in the character in costume. Looking at it, why wasn't I more terrified?   |
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Falconeer
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Posts: 11124
a polyamorous pansexual genderqueer born and living in the wrong country
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Isn't it fun to think that while people wanted to kill McGoohan back in the 60s when the final episode originally aired (no seriously, they threatened him until he left the country), today we can safely say that's probably one of the most beautiful/intense TV series finale ever?
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LK
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Posts: 4268
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Samwise is winning the Prisoner avatar competition.
Oh is that where that's from... |
"Then there's the double-barreled shotgun from Doom 2 - no-one within your entire household could be of any doubt that it's been fired because it sounds like God slamming a door on his fingers." - Yahtzee Croshaw
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Falconeer
Terracotta Army
Posts: 11124
a polyamorous pansexual genderqueer born and living in the wrong country
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Samwise is winning the Prisoner avatar competition.
Oh is that where that's from... Spoiler! |
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Tannhauser
Terracotta Army
Posts: 4436
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Prisoner is STILL my favorite TV show of all time. I could write a thesis now but I'll spare you.
The remake? I'll have to watch it but it just won't be as good. It just won't be.
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DraconianOne
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Posts: 2905
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A point can be MOOT. MUTE is more along the lines of what you should be. - WayAbvPar
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Oban
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I  AMC. |
Palin 2012 : Let's go out with a bang!
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Samwise
Moderator
Posts: 19220
sentient yeast infection
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Looks interesting. I don't know if I like Jim Caviezel as 6, but I don't think there's anyone who could really fill Patrick McGoohan's shoes in that role anyway.
I very much approve that they kept weird stuff like Rover and the funky look of the Village.
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"I have not actually recommended many games, and I'll go on the record here saying my track record is probably best in the industry." - schild
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HaemishM
Staff Emeritus
Posts: 42629
the Confederate flag underneath the stone in my class ring
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The preview did look good, and I share your doubt about Caviezel as 6. But seeing the big white bouncy ball was a good. I'm kind of glad they didn't stick with the tone of the 60's show, going more for an updated Lost type feel instead. I might actually watch this now, but only if I can manage to watch all the episodes of the old one I have on DVD beforehand.
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Brogarn
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Posts: 1372
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Preview definitely makes it look good.
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