Im afraid Im with Alex on this one.

I caught sight of it half way through only for a few minutes. Production values looked good, but I didnt make an effort to watch it. Perhaps later if I hear word of mouth is good.

I was wondering the same thing Amy. I just couldn't bring myself to watch it and am still busy working my way through the original series. Again.

I completely forgot about this last night - has anyone been watching it? Any good?

AMC has been doing some quality work lately. Im curious to see what they make of this classic.

Doesn't surprise me a bit.

The TV series begins in a few days and the commercial looks awful...

I just watched ARRIVAl last night from the ITV import Blu-ray set: filmed in 35mm, the remastered episodes look like film...not old TV shows! The bright colors just pop from the screen and really submerges the viewer into the absurdity of The Village. For the first time, I noticed the use of shadows and reflective colors to imbue emotion upon our nameless protogonist. Also, the quick cut editing as 6 often turns away from the camera is disorienting and chaotic, and he is filmed lost amid large scenarios and arched alleyways, like a tiny speck whose humanity has become insignificant. Great stuff!
Thanks KD, I'll have to track down Disch's novelization.

Thomas M. Disch, one of my favorite writers, did the novelization of the pilot back in the late 60's, I believe. I haven't read it but I bet it's good.

Rob beat me to the Iron Maiden reference. :)

That's very freakin' cool brother! I've always liked Mr. Bungle and laughed when fans of Faith No More tried to return the cds to my store shrieking, "What the hell is this stuff!"

i think mr bungle did some sort of nod to the prisoner as well...it was trevor dunn that gave me my prisoner box set a few years ago for a christmas present.

Thanks Rob!

The Independent Film Channel will be playing episodes of The Prisoner this weekend. IFC shows their stuff uncut, so maybe I'll check it out.

Alex: The Iron Maiden song is called, ironically, The Prisoner. It's on the Number of the Beast album. Good tune.

But shouldn't an actor's career then be resurrected?

Well in Max's case, he was already well established when he played Jesus, but supposedly playing Jesus on film is the kiss of death for an actor's career.

"They say that every actor who plays Jesus on film is cursed to fall into mediocrity, lets see if this happens to Jim Caviezel."

It didn't really happen with Max von Sydow, but mediocrity would be a step up for Jim Caviezel.

Could be, with the remake being released soon. Check it out Rob and hope you like it! I would recommend renting though because cable will probably edit for time constraints and each episode is carefully constructed.
Didn't know IRON MAIDEN wrote a song about the show; I'll have to track it down.

Ever since Iron Maiden used a sample of this show for their song The Prisoner, I've been a tad curious to see what it's all about.

Aren't they going to start showing the original episodes on some cable tv channel? I glanced at the tv the other day and saw a commercial involving The Prisoner in some capacity.

I just saw a promo for the new THE PRISONER, I was prepared to dismiss it, but I'm a fan of Ian McKellen.

They say that every actor who plays Jesus on film is cursed to fall into mediocrity, lets see if this happens to Jim Caviezel.

I think you will appreciate THE PRISONER even more in your 40s! (I'm part of that club also). The series is idea oriented as opposed to the "soap opera" contrivance that taints almost every modern TV show.

My blu-ray set has shipped from the UK and should have it in a few days. I can't wait!!

I never understood the appeal of this program when I watched it on my local PBS station in the 70's. Im curious to see if it will engage me better now that I'm in my 40's.

I never really got the science fiction aspect, the first time I saw it, but Im very curious and anxious to give it another chance.

Thanks for the link Tom! Well, I'm depressed after watching it but at least they kept the Rover.

i have the entire series on DVD that came out a few years ago. it comes in three box sets with a few DVDs in each box. yes, the set has the original "arrival" episode. i pull them out and watch them every once in a while. it's a great series. i had a roomate from england a long time ago who introduced me to the series when it was broadcast here in the bay area on public television (circa 1980). he told me about how audiences would call the studios complaining that the series was too weird and how the producers and such just took it further and further out as they realized the network was going to pull the plug.

That remake has been in the works for quite a while now, with Ian McKellen and the block of wood known as Jim Caviezel. Here's a preview, I can't say it made me enthusiastic:

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

I believe the new set contains the original cut of the first episode THE ARRIVAL, and I'm curious to see the difference.

Bill, absolutely right! The opening is one of the finest in television and sets up premise in a few minutes. I have the 4 issue comic series that was printed (by DC?) in the early 90's and wasn't impressed. I'm not sure they can capture the quicksilver wit of Patrick McGoohan and the subtle humor of the series. I suppose time will tell...

I too am a big fan of this series. I have a big #6 button a friend of mine got when he visited the village in Wales where the series was filmed. I was so jealous. As a film editor, I always admired the opening sequence where in under a minute, with no dialogue, the whole premise of the show was set up: No. 6 is upset, he resigns, he is kidnapped and taken to the village. Wonderful opening. There is going to be a television remake of the series! Once again, something wonderful is being remade. I'm not sure whether to shiver with anticipation or shudder in horror.

I like this series a lot, I remember watching it when I was a child, and repeat viewings made a great impression on me. There's a lot of good stuff in the series, with very few episodes that aren't worth it. I've always appreciated how the show never entirely sacrifices its sense of humor.

Any other fans of this classic British Television show? It has been remastered in high-definition (remember TV was often filmed in 35mm so DVD could never equal the resolution of the original film elements) and will be released next week in the UK. An American release is due in October.
I love the Orwellian theme of an individual fighting against Authority...especially one's own government. Like the Romans, it's panem et circenses where the "villagers" are kept content with fine food and entertainment to establish the staus quo and quell revolt. But only one man will not sacrifice his last vestige of humanity...his name!
It's been 5-6 years since i watched the series but I'll post reviews in the next few weeks when I recieve the set from the UK. Can't wait:) Hope others share the passion because, after all, all we need is love.