Spare the Prisoner...

Post by **CovenantJr** » Sat May 13, 2006 10:56 am

...from the 21st Century plague that is remakes.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4972194.stm

Utterly nauseating. The Prisoner, like the Wicker Man, is a product of its time as much as anything else. It's 60s oddness just won't translate to a modern remake. And will it still be filmed in Portmeirion? Probably not. Gah!

Post by **matrixman** » Sat May 13, 2006 6:20 pm

I don't want to dismiss it out of hand just yet, so I say it "could be interesting."

I saw a couple episodes of the original years ago when it was on a syndicated run. I'm afraid I never really got into the show, but a friend of mine became a huge fan and taped all the episodes.

I just wonder how Patrick McGoohan feels about the remake. He is the Prisoner to many.

Just as Patrick MacNee is (and always will be) John Steed from The Avengers, another iconic 60's series. This show I loved, but it got turned into that lifeless, clueless 1998 movie with Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman. Which was a total shame, because I like these two actors. The Avengers remake was an abomination that failed to capture any of the spirit of the TV show.

I hope that a similar fate doesn't befall the Prisoner remake. One thing in its favor is Christopher Eccleston, if he is indeed taking the role. He won me over as the new Dr. Who, so I wouldn't mind seeing how he tackles yet another cherished TV icon with its own set of loyal fans.

Post by **CovenantJr** » Sat May 13, 2006 7:33 pm

Matrixman wrote:I just wonder how Patrick McGoohan feels about the remake. He is the Prisoner to many.

He is the Prisoner in more ways than one. He came up with the concept, wrote many of the scripts (including the cornerstone first and last episodes) and composed the theme music. I'd certainly be interested to discover his opinion.

Post by **Loredoctor** » Sat May 13, 2006 11:40 pm

CovenantJr wrote:I'd certainly be interested to discover his opinion.

Patrick Mcgoohan
Weapon of Choice: Laser gun
Your Favorite Target: People from Florida
Your Kill Count: 1,916,519,686
Your Battle Cry: "Beans."
Years You Spend in Jail: 23
How Much Money In Damages You Cause: $259,547,430,434,047

Post by **CovenantJr** » Sat May 13, 2006 11:42 pm

If the people behind the remake are from Florida, they have problems.

Post by **Loredoctor** » Sat May 13, 2006 11:51 pm

CovenantJr wrote:If the people behind the remake are from Florida, they have problems.

I hear dAN and aTOMic hope to audition.

Post by **aTOMiC** » Sun May 14, 2006 12:19 am

I have no interest in auditioning. I've seen probably 10 or so episodes of the Prisoner. If I hadn't I woudn't have understood some of the gags from the Simpsons that involved a puffy white baloon that somehow has the power to render one helpless (unless of course one has a needle or any other sharp object handy.

Post by **sgtkafka** » Sun May 14, 2006 6:11 am

could be interesting. but most likely won't be.

Post by **dANdeLION** » Mon May 15, 2006 5:50 pm

Loremaster wrote:How Much Money In Damages You Cause: $259,547,430,434,047

So, is that more than a brazzilion?

Post by **Usivius** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:37 pm

I hit "Bad", but only because it was 1% more than my feeling of "Could be interesting"

The Prisoner, like the Wicker Man, is a product of its time as much as anything else. It's 60s oddness just won't translate to a modern remake.

This is so true, CovJr. I totally agree. You cannot recreate that 60's weirdness. But, you can create a 'new' weirdness. Remember Twin Peaks? C'mon that was great! Now if they can get some talented 'visionary guys with a modern weirdness .. "it could be interesting"...

Post by **dennisrwood** » Tue May 16, 2006 4:37 pm

so we get David Lynch or Tim Burton to do the remake. both have great films and both have terrible films.

Post by **CovenantJr** » Tue May 16, 2006 6:21 pm

I found the final episode quite Lynchian, and it actually pre-dates most of Lynch's career.

I'm still opposed. Though if it absolutely must be done, I'd quite like to see Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Number Six. That might not work, but he certainly has presence and intensity when he's given something to work with.

Post by **danlo** » Wed May 24, 2006 9:33 pm

The Prisoner is one of my fav shows of all time--I'll watch anything associated with it, even a remake. Agreed that PM MADE the show and will always be #6--however he is Edward the Longshanks to me indelibly after that killer performance in Braveheart. And don't forget Secret Agent (Danger Man) which was an incredibly cool show in it's own right.

It was a logical progression for me: John Drake knew too much and subsequently became The Prisoner...many people feel this way...

Post by **CovenantJr** » Thu May 25, 2006 10:49 pm

Yes. Although McGoohan has categorically said this wan't his intention, it's pretty strongly implied.

Post by **Nav** » Fri May 26, 2006 9:53 am

CovenantJr wrote:He is the Prisoner in more ways than one. He came up with the concept, wrote many of the scripts (including the cornerstone first and last episodes) and composed the theme music. I'd certainly be interested to discover his opinion.

Yeah, he properly went down the method route with that one. Even built the Lotus 7 used in the show himself ("I built that car with my own hands!"). With shows like Battlestar Galactica, it wasn't hard to see that a darker, grittier approach could work very well. The Prisoner was a very edgey show to begin with, I can't see how a remake could be anything other than a vehicle for some failing movie actor or other.

I even heard they were going to remake Barbarella at one point, with Drew Barrymore replacing Jane Fonda

Post by **danlo** » Fri May 26, 2006 2:26 pm

Well at least Drew Barrymore's a better choice than Drew Carey...

Post by **dANdeLION** » Fri May 26, 2006 2:32 pm

I like Drew Barrymore, especially when she touches her elbows together behind her back....

Post by **danlo** » Fri May 26, 2006 4:39 pm

Then you must have been watching the network broadcast of Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle last night. I had to turn it off right away the special effects were completely unbelievable, especially the way they tryed to fit all those damm teeth in Cameron Diaz's mouth!>

Post by **dANdeLION** » Fri May 26, 2006 5:05 pm

What? Oh, Drew was an angel. Haven't seen that movie yet. I'll check in flicks to see if it's worth renting....

Post by **Tulizar** » Mon Jun 19, 2006 12:50 am

dANdeLION wrote:I like Drew Barrymore, especially when she touches her elbows together behind her back....

I think I saw that move in Poison Ivy.

I can't imagine a Prisoner remake that will be as strange-odd-bizzare-original as the 60's show. It was well written and well acted yet hokey and campy. There is definitely a 60's imprint stamped on every aspect of the show.

I suppose the concept could be remade, but that whole 60's thing should rest in peace otherwise like the Avengers, it too will be unoriginal and lifeless.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers as number six? Absolutely!

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Spare the Prisoner...

A remake of the Prisoner?

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