The new Prisoner deserves to be reviewed as its own entity; but, it is so hard to separate it from the classic original. It attempts to cover the same ground, reference the same characters and plots, but with a 21st Century viewpoint. Unfortunately, its ideas boil down to surveillance and paranoia, glossed with New Age psychology. Instead of an allegory for the struggle of the individual against society, it features an allegory of what is wrong with Hollywood. This version seems to owe more to the Matrix than McGoohan.
Most of the characters are bland, with no real stand-outs, apart from Ian McKellan's Number 2. McKellan could have easily occupied the globe chair alongside Leo McKern, Peter Wyngarde, and Colin Gordon. However, after all the malevolence, the filmmakers try to make him sympathetic in the end. James Caviezel brings nothing to 6, except confusion and stress.
The Village setting is eye-catching and creative, but the Summakor scenes are the same old corporate conspiracy set-up. The Village and its inner workings are what we want; but, here, less is less.
What really marks this attempt as a failure is the real lack of ideas. This is the allegory of Hollywood. It is so bereft of ideas that it can't execute a remake without jettisoning the original's real hook. Instead, it's just a glossy duplicate; a photoshopped, laser-copied duplicate, rather than a work of art. Where the original thundered with style, wit and oratory, this version meekly plays out banal lines and postcard scenery. In fact, a postcard really sums it up. The original was like taking an adventure trip; this is like sitting at home, looking at a postcard from the adventurers. It lacks the thrill.
The original series was a blend of spy-fi, Kafka, Orwell, and Lewis Carrol; this is the Cliffs Notes of 1984 crossed with Eckart Toelle. Do yourself a favor and seek out the original. It is timeless. What was true then is still true now. Mostly, it will make you use your brain, which this definitely does not.
I would be remiss in not mentioning the broadcast of the program, complete with teasers to information, which are designed solely to get you to watch commercials that are forgotten after they disappear. The information is never delivered. McGoohan would have built an episode around the marketing of this show and its presentation. Yet another failed attempt by the Village to manipulate our perceptions.
Most of the characters are bland, with no real stand-outs, apart from Ian McKellan's Number 2. McKellan could have easily occupied the globe chair alongside Leo McKern, Peter Wyngarde, and Colin Gordon. However, after all the malevolence, the filmmakers try to make him sympathetic in the end. James Caviezel brings nothing to 6, except confusion and stress.
The Village setting is eye-catching and creative, but the Summakor scenes are the same old corporate conspiracy set-up. The Village and its inner workings are what we want; but, here, less is less.
What really marks this attempt as a failure is the real lack of ideas. This is the allegory of Hollywood. It is so bereft of ideas that it can't execute a remake without jettisoning the original's real hook. Instead, it's just a glossy duplicate; a photoshopped, laser-copied duplicate, rather than a work of art. Where the original thundered with style, wit and oratory, this version meekly plays out banal lines and postcard scenery. In fact, a postcard really sums it up. The original was like taking an adventure trip; this is like sitting at home, looking at a postcard from the adventurers. It lacks the thrill.
The original series was a blend of spy-fi, Kafka, Orwell, and Lewis Carrol; this is the Cliffs Notes of 1984 crossed with Eckart Toelle. Do yourself a favor and seek out the original. It is timeless. What was true then is still true now. Mostly, it will make you use your brain, which this definitely does not.
I would be remiss in not mentioning the broadcast of the program, complete with teasers to information, which are designed solely to get you to watch commercials that are forgotten after they disappear. The information is never delivered. McGoohan would have built an episode around the marketing of this show and its presentation. Yet another failed attempt by the Village to manipulate our perceptions.