BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->

Subject: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Nov 09 - 11:12 PM

AMC is advertising a three day "event" of them showing a premier of a new mini-series of The Prisoner! You can see a trailer of it at the Official Site.

I will look around, but from the trailer I watched, I was not impressed and I think this it is outrageous of them!

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Nov 09 - 11:14 PM

OH, well, now I see you can watch full episodes of the old show on THIS PAGE...maybe there's hope for them, yet.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Nov 09 - 11:19 PM

*grin*...we all have our different ideas of what constitutes sacrilege.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 01:14 AM

NY Times article about it

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Wesley S
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 06:37 AM

Everything is up for grabs Kat. If it's been done it can be re-done if we like it or not. If you remember they made a TV series out of Casablanca.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 07:14 AM

I'm with all the way with this one Kat

OUTRAGEOUS !!!

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 07:52 AM

Well, the City of ortland Maine is celebrated on PBS with a dirty bomb scenario. The locals are thrilled for the publicity and dollars. I am appallled. Especially since it is set in the Old Port where I work.

Any copycatters out there? Apparently it is painfully simple to make one of these bombs. The idea is to create panic not nuclear destruction.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 07:53 AM

A link:
http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineNews/tabid/181/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3475/ItemId/9747/Default.aspx

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 07:54 AM

Not PBS but National Geographic.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Donuel
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 08:05 AM

Speaking of OUTRAGEOUS Sacriledge.

Carrie Preajon, the deposed beauty queen, was innapropriatly asked by Larry King about her confidential court settlement in her million dollar lawsuit against the paeagent. Everyone knows she made masturbation films. It is equally a sacriledge to ask another woman of Christ like Sarah Palin about her quitter attitude.

Outrageous that more US troops have commited suicide since 2001 than have died on the battlefield or as the result of physical wounds.

Outrageous that 23 billion dollars is still going to bank executives in the form of bonuses.

Outrageous that etc

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 09:42 AM

I see the original series is out in a HD edition; I missed out on the earlier DVD issue, so maybe I'll treat myself for Xmas.

What is it with remakes anyway? They're always shite, but still, they keep on coming!

I remember a session in Newcastle where the medoleon player kicked off with the horn theme from The Girl Who Was Death and everyone picked up on it without realising what it was - awesome stuff!

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: scouse
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 09:48 AM

Outrageous!! I'll tell you what's outrageous.. that bloody stupid American who thinks he can and tries to play Inspector Clouseau, Now that's a real sacrilege.However, I agree Kat, one cannot beat the original version of the Prisoner no matter how much they try. "Nuff,said.
As Aye,
Phil.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: jacqui.c
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 09:49 AM

There was a film from the UK a few years back using the dirty bomb scenario in the City of London. It was set in the area where I used to work and so had quite an impact.

I agree that it would be difficult to see how an updated version of The Prisoner could work. I enjoyed the remake of Battlestar Galactica and am watching the new version of 'V', but the originals of both were very cheesy programmes and there wasn't much chance of downgrading them. The Prisoner is another matter - that really was innovative at the time and has managed to retain its integrity over many years.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 09:51 AM

Have there ever actually been *any* Good remakes, as a matter of interest?
Or even situations where a great script that had crap initial treatment, was successfully 'refreshed' by a superior later production?

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 09:55 AM

Ah, posted same time as Jackie.C.. So maybe *some* then.
Any other takers?

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: artbrooks
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 10:12 AM

My memory is a bit hazy this morning, but I remember that the remake of "Parent Trap" (Lindsay Lohan) was just as good as, but very different from, the original (Patty Duke?). On the other hand, the recent remake of "Fame" seems to have gone directly to the DVD market.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 10:20 AM

The remake of Invasion of the Body Snatchers sucked.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: GUEST,Spleen Cringe
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 10:48 AM

I'm with Kat. Some things should be left well alone. It calls to mind the godawful remake of the Wicker Man...

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 11:11 AM

The original German version of the "Parent Trap" was a great film, I've never seen the original English language, version, but the first Disney remake with Haley Mills wasn't too bad, though it lost the point of the story. The Lindsay Lohan version was just silly. There was another remake from the 90s ("Charly & Louise" in German) that was quiye good too, though I'm not sure I'd take the Jacobite Express to get from North Germany to North of Inverness by train unless I was Harry Potter.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 11:12 AM

"Outrageous that more US troops have commited suicide since 2001 than have died on the battlefield or as the result of physical wounds." Donuel


That is in itself an outrageous statement and should not be let stand.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: freda underhill
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 11:39 AM

While shocked and appalled, Kat, I'm greatly relieved that this travesty is not a mutation of the glorious Australian show,Prisoner, about a women's prison, which was filmed in Melbourne thirty years ago.

Its stars included Queen Bea, the screws Joan 'The Freak' Ferguson and Vera 'Vinegar Tits' Bennett. Outside of Australia the show is known as Prisoner: Cell Block H.

I empathise with your pain, but will sleep better tonight in the knowledge that our own Antipodean classic will not be challenged by any johnny-come-lately technorevision.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: freda underhill
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 12:02 PM

that is, i hope to sleep better tonight...







..eventually.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 12:22 PM

My idea of sacrilege is Bill D dressed up in a pink tutu and dancing Swan Lake...

My idea of outrage goes back to the time when Spaw suggested that Winona Ryder is not only quite unattractive but that she also engages in illicit carnal acts with Dachshunds! I'm still outraged over that.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: freda underhill
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 12:36 PM

That is not as far fetched as you may think, LH. Many years ago (well, decades ago) I had a (male) friend who roller-skated around the Lake in Canberra, dressed in a tutu, while tripping on LSD.


Spaw casting nasturtiums about Winona is insensitive, I agree.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 01:13 PM

Fancying Bill D doing that is perhaps a tad more farfetched than your friend, Freda U. :)

Although the Swan Lake connection may be closer to actuality. I've called Ferrara a Black Swan for several years...

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 02:02 PM

From the Calgary Sun- "The original version of :The Prisoner" continues to be a psychedelic *enigma." "... viewers are still guessing as to the meaning of it all."- Sir Ian McKellen.
*did they mean enema?

I am planning a new American version of "The Prisoner" since there seems to be money in re-dos.
My version will star George Bush, Dick Cheney, Sarah 'Heartthrob' Palin and Wily Coyote. It will be a big budget production, backed by Goldman Sachs. The village scenes will be filmed in Dubai.


A 40th Anniversary edition of "The Prisoner" on DVD is available from Amazon.ca for $90.99 Canadian (cheaper used), and from other purveyors.
A DVD print for the bourgeoisie will be available in November (can be pre-ordered) for $62.99 Can. and has extra features. Also on 10 discs. The Blu-ray set is $5.00 more.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 02:21 PM

"My idea of sacrilege is Bill D dressed up in a pink tutu and dancing Swan Lake..."

Pink? *tsk*... white only! And the Nutcracker is a better vehicle for my talents.

(Just don't ask me to waltz!)

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 03:04 PM

The meaning of The Prisoner is embedded in the syntactical ambiguity opening dialogue:

Prisoner: Who are you?
Number 2: The new Number 2.
Prisoner: Who is Number 1?
Number 2: You are Number 6.
Prisoner: I am not a number, I am a free man.
Number 2: (laughter)

Who is Number 1? You are, Number 6! Which is, of course, confirmed in the unmasking in the final episode, itself one of the finest pieces of TV ever.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 03:29 PM

It certainly was one of the finest pieces of TV ever.

... and can never be duplicated.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Ebbie
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 05:20 PM

Bill, one of the funniest things I've seen on stage was a production of Peter Pan where Papa was a tall thin man (sound familiar?) dressed only in a nightshirt who came tippy toeing to the music floating across the stage.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Mr Fox
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 05:36 PM

Oh. My. God.

One of the most intelligent TV series ever remade for the average Hollywood audience (i.e. Popcorn-munching Monkeys with an IQ smaller than theur boot size and the attention span of a retarded goldfish).

Civilisation has fallen.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 08:47 PM

Not a Hollywood production. English.
Mr Fox seems no brighter than his attention-deficit simians.

This production is ITV-AMC produced, brokered by Granada, with Bill Gallagher (Lark Rise to Candleford) as writer and executive producer. Sir Ian McKellen (Lord of the Rings) as Number Two. Produced by Trevor Hopkins (Poirot series). Filmed in southern Africa.

We shall see what we will see.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Nov 09 - 10:11 PM

But no Patrick McGoohan! It could never be as good!

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: freda underhill
Date: 13 Nov 09 - 12:25 AM

agreed kat.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Nov 09 - 01:44 PM

Patrick McGoohan was born in the borough of Queens, NY, and died in Santa Monica, California. He had been living in Los Angeles after retirement in his home country.
McGoohan himself planned a remake of "The Prisoner" (2002) but the project was abandoned. He appeared as Number Six in an episode of "The Simpsons."
(from Wiki)

Of course they could have brought his corpse out from his coffin and installed him in the non-speaking part of Number One.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Wesley S
Date: 13 Nov 09 - 04:19 PM

Would it help to know that Ian McKellan will be playing #2?

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Nov 09 - 04:49 PM

That's SIR Ian McKellan, as noted above.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Hollowfox
Date: 13 Nov 09 - 05:06 PM

I'll give the remake a try. I've found that if I watch a movie or tv show without expecting it to be the best (or worst) thing I've ever seen, I'm usually not dissapointed. I've sat through remakes of everything from The Ladykillers and Bedazzled to Godzilla (the American one) this way and even found some good points in the remakes (well, two out of three in this case). You can like both Romeo and Juliet and west Side Story, after all. And anything with Ian McKellen is worth a try. If it's horrible, we can always point and laugh at it, and put on the dvd's of the original.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Wesley S
Date: 13 Nov 09 - 09:23 PM

By the way - I see that IFC

is showing reruns of the original series tonight.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Edthefolkie
Date: 14 Nov 09 - 08:38 AM

If Patrick, Lotus 7 KAR 120C and Portmeirion aren't in it - I'm not interested.

As for Ian McKellen, I'm afraid he will never top his performance in "Saturday Night And Sunday Morning" at Nottingham Playhouse in the 1960s, where he played Arthur Seaton of all people. Witnessing our beloved knight and future Gandalf throwing up into a stage trapdoor is something which has probably traumatised me for life.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Hollowfox
Date: 16 Nov 09 - 07:05 PM

Well, a bunch of us watched the first third last night (some college kids and me). McKellen seemed to have a good time. The guy playing Six could have been anybody from central casting. Some good photography, although there were a few too many scenes of intercutting. They seemed to like pictures of Six taken upside downas well. As for the plot, the writers tried to paint too broad a picture with too broad a brush. This led to holes in the logic that kept bubbling up in our geeky little brains. Pointing, chortling and snarky comments ensued.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Mr Red
Date: 17 Nov 09 - 09:32 AM

So should we:

"Take No Prisoner"?

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: jacqui.c
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 01:50 PM

I recorded the whole thing and sat an watched it yesterday while trying to get over a bad reaction to medication. I wasn't particularly impressed with it - couldn't get any real sympathy for any of the characters, which is a real turn off for me. It just went rambling on in a very disjointed way and, if I'd been capable of doing anything else, I probably would have given up part way through.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 05:25 PM

One of those cable channels with old used programs is running "The Prisoner." I tried a couple, but found it soporific.

The same channel carries the old BW "Perry Mason." Great show, too bad they don't make them like that no more.

Subject: RE: BS: Sacrilege! How could they do this?;->
From: katlaughing
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 07:18 PM

I caught one scene, briefly, and thought the acting and delivery of lines was really poorly done..not convincing or engaging. They shoulda left it alone!:-)