Just finished watching the first 3 episodes of this new version of the classic UK tv series.
Some spoilers ahead........
It stars Jim Caviziel as Number 6, and Ian McKellen as Number 2.
Like a lot of new versions of classic films or tv series, it alters the original concept to a certain degree, but also retains some of the more iconic imagery and aspects of the original.
In this version, the story starts with Caviziel waking up in a desert, seeing a guy in a familiar black blazer getting chased by unknown forces, and eventually dying whilst leaving him with some information about 'The Village'.
He finRAB his way to the village, with no memory of how he got there or where he is, but he gets flashbacks about his previous life - he worked for a CCTV surveillance company, and it seems his job was to compile information about behavioural patterns. For unknown reasons, he resigns...and then finRAB himself in the village.
His previous life, work and the events leading up to and after his resignation continue to be revealed as the series progresses, so you have two stories running in parallel.
This concept of the village in the remake has been altered (purists will complain, but for me why remake something and do it exactly the same as the original?). For a start, it's filmed in the deserts of Namibia, and utilises a unique triangular-shaped housing development and actual village for it's main setting. OK, it's not Portmerion, but it is quite striking and original in it's own right.
For the most part, the series follows the same pattern as the original series, with number 6 trying to find out where he is, what's going on etc. But there are some interesting deviations from the original concept...at first I was not sure, but by the third episode I felt more comfortable with the direction the series was taking. You can definitely feel influences from series like Lost and Flash Forward in the structure of the show.
What I liked about the show was the adherence to some of the main themes and imagery of the original, such as the paranoia and determination of Number 6, the utilisation of 'Rover', the notion of children taking classes in surveillance techniques, of no one being quite what they seem, and the deliberatley garish but quaint design of the village.
The downside is I think Caviziel is rather insipid as Number 6...he lacks that rebellious spirit, presence and charisma that McGoohan had. McKellen fares much better as Number 2.
But so far there is enough to keep me watching...I am not one of those people that bemoan the alterations to the original concept with such remakes. If it adhered slavishly to the original, there would be no point watching if you already knew how the story was going to pan out.
Some spoilers ahead........
It stars Jim Caviziel as Number 6, and Ian McKellen as Number 2.
Like a lot of new versions of classic films or tv series, it alters the original concept to a certain degree, but also retains some of the more iconic imagery and aspects of the original.
In this version, the story starts with Caviziel waking up in a desert, seeing a guy in a familiar black blazer getting chased by unknown forces, and eventually dying whilst leaving him with some information about 'The Village'.
He finRAB his way to the village, with no memory of how he got there or where he is, but he gets flashbacks about his previous life - he worked for a CCTV surveillance company, and it seems his job was to compile information about behavioural patterns. For unknown reasons, he resigns...and then finRAB himself in the village.
His previous life, work and the events leading up to and after his resignation continue to be revealed as the series progresses, so you have two stories running in parallel.
This concept of the village in the remake has been altered (purists will complain, but for me why remake something and do it exactly the same as the original?). For a start, it's filmed in the deserts of Namibia, and utilises a unique triangular-shaped housing development and actual village for it's main setting. OK, it's not Portmerion, but it is quite striking and original in it's own right.
For the most part, the series follows the same pattern as the original series, with number 6 trying to find out where he is, what's going on etc. But there are some interesting deviations from the original concept...at first I was not sure, but by the third episode I felt more comfortable with the direction the series was taking. You can definitely feel influences from series like Lost and Flash Forward in the structure of the show.
What I liked about the show was the adherence to some of the main themes and imagery of the original, such as the paranoia and determination of Number 6, the utilisation of 'Rover', the notion of children taking classes in surveillance techniques, of no one being quite what they seem, and the deliberatley garish but quaint design of the village.
The downside is I think Caviziel is rather insipid as Number 6...he lacks that rebellious spirit, presence and charisma that McGoohan had. McKellen fares much better as Number 2.
But so far there is enough to keep me watching...I am not one of those people that bemoan the alterations to the original concept with such remakes. If it adhered slavishly to the original, there would be no point watching if you already knew how the story was going to pan out.