SubJeff on 28/7/2009 at 22:48

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I've been reading io9.com recently and I see that these 2 are going ahead.

I'm not sure what to make of it and I've only seen the Comic Con "Prisoner" preview. Ian McK is well cast but the setting is just a little odd. I can't see how they can match the original's format when they are so far out. The preview does make the plot look interesting in another way (see io9.com for yourselves).

Now the V reboot sounds more fragile. I'm sure they could so the horror of the situation better than in the original but the plot opening (as described on io9) is weak. Terrorists that work for the Aliens and mass media manipulation? Pffft. In the original they pretended to be friends for about 10 minutes then just took over. Looks like scrummy Juliet from Lost is in it so I'll give it a chance (and that's testament to just how yummy I find her because I never so that).

I'm not against reboots being different enough to be individual and I certainly don't expect straight remakes but if the essence of a thing is forgotten, if what makes it great is gone then there really is no point. This is why the LotR movies were weak - they looked great, got so much right, but the makers just. didn't. get it.

Fingers crossed, esp for V as the premise has such good potential.

SubJeff on 28/7/2009 at 23:51

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I knew you watched Desperate Housewives! Which one are you?

demagogue on 29/7/2009 at 00:57

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The original V had some sketchy things going on, with some of the kitchy plot twists, even for the time (along side the A-Team and Dukes of Hazzard). But damn if it wasn't memorable and was the kind of show you (I, anyway) got absorbed into and rooted for, in spite of the flaws. Made a bigger impression on me than even Twin Peaks, although you see countless replays of the latter but almost never the former (not sure I can remember a single V re-run; maybe the SFX are too dated for modern tastes?) It had a kind of aura or charisma to it.

So the idea of a reboot is sort of burdened with that from the start; it can't help but be cast in the light of that nostolgic aura, and has an uphill task to try to rekindle some of that, in a different time when that sort of thing isn't quite as disquieting as it was then. I think in the 80s there was still this real uneasiness about "alien occupation", something about the Cold War and globalization, that in our time doesn't quite have the same punch. If the new version can tap into some deep uneasiness of our time, it might have a chance at generating some sparks; otherwise it'll be banking mostly just on nostolgia.

PeeperStorm on 29/7/2009 at 01:24

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They should make The Prisoner a Chris Carter project, what with the not providing any explanations to the audience and all...

fett on 29/7/2009 at 03:03

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Fuck Chris Carter with a flashlight. That bastard stole 13 good years of my life and then abandoned me without so much as a fucking note. Prick. :mad: