The Prisoner reviews at Metacritic.com
Ubiquitous
80
The New York TimesAlessandra Stanley
Its a clever and engaging reinterpretation by Bill Gallagher, who shaped
the script to contemporary tastes and sensibilities--notably, a
postmodern fatigue with ideology and big thoughts.
Read Full Review >
80
Kansas City StarAaron Barnhart
AMC嚙編 The Prisoner isn嚙緣 going to reinvent TV the way McGoohan嚙編
brainchild did. For six hours, however, it嚙編 compelling enough in its
own way to make you its captive.
Read Full Review >
67
NewsdayVerne Gay
The Narrative knot is further jumbled by all the head games Two plays on
him and everyone else. Six is on shifting sand, and so, too, will you
be.
Read Full Review >
60
Washington PostTom Shales
Like "Twin Peaks," it raises questions that it doesn't necessarily
answer--but even the raising took a bit of daring, and "a bit" is more
than one usually gets from television.
Read Full Review >
50
Chicago Sun-TimesPaige Wiser
Maybe you can appreciate this series without the fear that you will be
expected to write a thesis on it. But I urge you to heed my advice: Opt
out while you can.
Read Full Review >
50
San Francisco ChronicleTim Goodman
The Prisoner is not compelling. It rambles too much. Its vagaries are
not interesting, its unorthodox storytelling not special enough.
Read Full Review >
50
Entertainment WeeklyKen Tucker
It's self-absorbed to the point of incoherence.
Read Full Review >
42
TimeJames Poniewozik
This Prisoner is visually stunning and risk-taking but not a satisfying
rethinking.
Read Full Review >
40
TV GuideMatt Roush
This reimagined version, which feels a bit old hat in a post-Matrix
fantasy landscape, is more leaden, pretentious and solemn, a tone
embodied by Caviezel嚙編 brooding Six, who嚙編 more dour than dashing.
Read Full Review >
40
Los Angeles TimesRobert Lloyd
This Prisoner is as much about Two as it is about Six and that the actor
seems to be enjoying himself makes his scenes pleasant to watch even
when they don't add up to much; there is a music to his readings even
when the lines are obscure.
Read Full Review >
40
New York Daily NewsDavid Hinckley
Somewhere along the way, though, this three-night, six-hour production
begins to feel less like a compelling metaphor for totalitarian
repression and more like a marathon. No offense, but is it over yet?
Read Full Review >
40
Boston GlobeMatthew Gilbert
For the characters and for the viewers, the miniseries is a plodding
excursion on the road to nowhere.
Read Full Review >
40
Newark Star-LedgerAlan Sepinwall
McKellen, and the production design, and some smart use of Brian Wilson
songs on the soundtrack (The Beach Boys' "I Know There's an Answer" is
the miniseries' cheeky final tune) weren't enough to overcome my need
for coherence.
Read Full Review >
40
Philadelphia Daily NewsEllen Gray
The new Prisoner looks marvelous, even if its desertlike location is
initially a lot less appealing to the eye than the original Village,
filmed on the lush grounds of a hotel in Wales. But also like "V" (so
far), it doesn't seem to have as much to say.
Read Full Review >
40
VarietyBrian Lowry
Too much of Bill Gallagher's self-consciously arcane script and Nick
Hurran's direction unfolds as if through a funhouse mirror, offering
less in the way of clues than marking time until the vague,
conspiratorial reveal in the closing chapters.
Read Full Review >
38
New York PostLinda Stasi
The real-life Village locale (in Nambia) is fascinating and McKellen is
great, as always--but Caviezel and the rest just grimace a lot and make
you want to get-the-hell outta town.
Read Full Review >
37
USA TodayRobert Bianco
McKellen may be a sublime combo of the Wicked Witch and the Wiz, but
Caviezel is no Dorothy. And sadly, this isn't much of a Prisoner.
Read Full Review >
30
Pittsburgh Post-GazetteRob Owen
The conclusion is that a great cast and a singular location can't carry
a scattershot script that goes in and out of focus.
Read Full Review >
30
Miami HeraldGlenn Garvin
Dismal and disoriented, under-plotted and over-allegorized, the six-hour
Prisoner miniseries that debuts on AMC Sunday night is an exercise in
full-tilt dramatic tedium that will appall anybody who remembers the
original and bewilder anyone who doesn't: What was the big deal about
that?
Read Full Review >
30
Chicago TribuneMaureen Ryan
This Prisoner remake contains some striking visuals and intermittently
effective performances, especially from the typically magnetic McKellan,
but it嚙編 also frequently too choppy and elliptical to build up much
suspense or dramatic impact.
Read Full Review >
30
SalonHeather Havrilesky
Suffice it to say that the destination of this elaborate six-hour
allegory is meant to be far less important than the journey. And that
would be fine, if this particular journey didn't feel quite so much like
doing hard time.
Read Full Review >
--
It is simply breathtaking to watch the glee and abandon with which
the liberal media and the Angry Left have been attempting to turn
our military victory in Iraq into a second Vietnam quagmire. Too bad
for them, it's failing.
Legend-11
- the rest seem typical of reviews of a TV show that asks a lot more of
you than your average unavoidably coherent drama. If something takes a
bit of work on the part of the viewer...it gets bashed with the cruel
stick. Seen it all before. Someone like myself, who likes surreal and
leftfield, stands a good chance of being entertained. However, like I
have said in the thread below, it is merely a decent
distraction...nothing to sing and dance about. However, I have watched
the first night only...it could get better, or could fair worse. I'm
sure I'll let you all know.
--
Legend-11.
Dimensional Traveler
a bad review). He's very much a critic who likes shows that require the
viewer to think. (He raves about 'Mad Men', for example.) So he'd be
giving it kudos for making you think if he thought it was well made.
That's not to say I always agree with him but I wouldn't discount his
review because of that.
--
7 Years - 2265 Experiments - 10 tons of explosives - 705 Myths
Myths - Will - Fall!
Gisele
news:z7SdnewVPtZtWp3W...@giganews.com:
> This reimagined version, which feels a bit old hat in a post-Matrix
> fantasy landscape, is more leaden, pretentious and solemn, a tone
> embodied by Caviezel�s brooding Six, who�s more dour than dashing.
Agree with this one but still like the show. I don't consider it a
reimagining but rather a remake. Big difference there...
Gisele
Gisele
news:hdsfbb$5sh$1...@news.eternal-september.org:
I'd like to rewatch the original. I missed some of the original because I
gave up on it when it kept (sort of) repeating itself and I never really
got the ending. I was a little kid at the time so maybe that's why......
<g> But I'd like to see it again.
Gisele
Harold Groot
If you or someone you know has Comcast, the entire original series
has been on their On Demand page for a while now. I don't know how
long it will remain there after the AMC show ends, though.
Alane
> web...@polaris.net (Ubiquitous) wrote in
> news:z7SdnewVPtZtWp3W...@giganews.com:
>
>
>>This reimagined version, which feels a bit old hat in a post-Matrix
>>fantasy landscape, is more leaden, pretentious and solemn, a tone
>
>
> Agree with this one but still like the show. I don't consider it a
> reimagining but rather a remake. Big difference there...
>
> Gisele
I would like to have seen a more dashing 6, but I guess in this
version, he's not a spy.
Alane
Legend-11
Certainly not in the the sense of the word that the original number six
was - but still someone who spent his time spying on people via CCTV. I
suppose there is a certain level of continuity there.
--
Legend-11.
"Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence" - Leonard
'Bones' McCoy, Star Trek (2009).
Dimensional Traveler
writer.
Dimensional Traveler
> Alane wrote:
>> Gisele wrote:
>>> web...@polaris.net (Ubiquitous) wrote in
>>> news:z7SdnewVPtZtWp3W...@giganews.com:
>>>
>>>
>>>> This reimagined version, which feels a bit old hat in a post-Matrix
>>>> fantasy landscape, is more leaden, pretentious and solemn, a tone
>>>> embodied by Caviezel�s brooding Six, who�s more dour than dashing.
>>>
>>>
>>> Agree with this one but still like the show. I don't consider it a
>>> reimagining but rather a remake. Big difference there...
>>>
>>> Gisele
>>
>> I would like to have seen a more dashing 6, but I guess in this
>> version, he's not a spy.
>>
>
> Certainly not in the the sense of the word that the original number six
> was - but still someone who spent his time spying on people via CCTV. I
> suppose there is a certain level of continuity there.
>
Gisele
news:4b035ca3$0$1587$742e...@news.sonic.net:
Really? OK, well, anyway, I'd still like to see it again. I wish I had
Comcast.
Gisele
Anim8rFSK
Alane <alan...@aol.com> wrote:
> Gisele wrote:
> > web...@polaris.net (Ubiquitous) wrote in
> > news:z7SdnewVPtZtWp3W...@giganews.com:
> >
> >
> >>This reimagined version, which feels a bit old hat in a post-Matrix
> >>fantasy landscape, is more leaden, pretentious and solemn, a tone
> >>embodied by Caviezel�s brooding Six, who�s more dour than dashing.
> >
> >
> > Agree with this one but still like the show. I don't consider it a
> > reimagining but rather a remake. Big difference there...
> >
> > Gisele
>
> I would like to have seen a more dashing 6, but I guess in this
> version, he's not a spy.
>
> Alane
Which is a problem. It's easier to believe a spy would have the
training to do the stuff he does, and have information worth getting.
This guy is just an analyst that made a report. They've already got
whatever he knows.
--
Stargate Universe SGU: It puts the "U" in "SUCKS"!
It's the show 'Defiling Gravity' would be if DG had more regulars,
fewer abortions, worse writers, and no budget for lighting.
Remember, you can't spell "disgust" without SGU!
redcat
Do you understand what you just wrote, man?
roger
news:_dOdneuKqpXefJ7W...@earthlink.com...
>> _NO ONE_ "got" the ending, including the late Mr. McGoohan and episode's
>> writer.
>
> Do you understand what you just wrote, man?
Ah, another nail in the coffin of Moor's theory that Patrick McGoohan wrote
every word of 'Fall Out' - and indeed the entire series, too, wasn't it, and
of course 'Danger Man' and probably now the George Markstein episodes of
'Callan'?
:-?
Anim8rFSK
"roger" <roadN...@prizSPAM.biz> wrote:
And Ice Station Zebra. McGoohan wrote and directed that, and while it's
since been learned that he did NOT build the model of the Tigerfish,
I've seen photographs of him with a chainsaw, carving out the scale
icebergs around her.
IIRC Thomasina was played by his own cat; he also provided it's female
voice under another name.
Moor Larkin
> And Ice Station Zebra. McGoohan wrote and directed that, and while it's
> since been learned that he did NOT build the model of the Tigerfish,
> I've seen photographs of him with a chainsaw, carving out the scale
> icebergs around her.
Someone told me that there was no weather balloon in the novel, but
there, in the climax of the movie is..... a weather balloon.. !! ...
Probably coincidence... :-)))))
I just saw a photo of him with a citroen 2CV !! What film was
that?!!
http://www.robgodfrey.com/alaska/tentt05.html
On 18 Nov, 21:56, Anim8rFSK <ANIM8R...@cox.net> wrote:
> IIRC Thomasina was played by his own cat; he also provided it's female
> voice under another name.
Did he have a cat? You've studied things so much more than
miaow... :-)))
It did strike me that Inverary, where Thomasina was technically
*located* http://img1.eyefetch.com/p/jn/1158905-449cb24b-7be0-4512-8215-4401c0259061l.jpg
had a lot more in common with The Village some other inverse ideas
I've read about bonnie Scotland.
Pete B
que...@infionline.net says...
> >Gisele
> >
> If you or someone you know has Comcast, the entire original series
> has been on their On Demand page for a while now. I don't know how
> long it will remain there after the AMC show ends, though.
>
>
Can we demand they remove it? :)
Harold Groot
wrote:
It's only there until the end of November. Try to hang on. <g>
Barbara J Pruett
to stay! Comcast is doing us all a favor by running the original series
at the same time, so we can see both versions.
Cloudshill
Ken from Chicago
"Anim8rFSK" <ANIM...@cox.net> wrote in message
news:ANIM8Rfsk-CB2BE...@news.dc1.easynews.com...
> In article <l76dnVEw7JROh5nW...@brightview.co.uk>,
> "roger" <roadN...@prizSPAM.biz> wrote:
>
>> "redcat" <red...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
>> news:_dOdneuKqpXefJ7W...@earthlink.com...
>>
>> >> _NO ONE_ "got" the ending, including the late Mr. McGoohan and
>> >> episode's
>> >> writer.
>> >
>> > Do you understand what you just wrote, man?
>>
>> Ah, another nail in the coffin of Moor's theory that Patrick McGoohan
>> wrote
>> every word of 'Fall Out' - and indeed the entire series, too, wasn't it,
>> and
>> of course 'Danger Man' and probably now the George Markstein episodes of
>> 'Callan'?
>> :-?
>
> And Ice Station Zebra. McGoohan wrote and directed that, and while it's
> since been learned that he did NOT build the model of the Tigerfish,
> I've seen photographs of him with a chainsaw, carving out the scale
> icebergs around her.
>
> IIRC Thomasina was played by his own cat; he also provided it's female
> voice under another name.
There was a talking cat in ICE STATION ZEBRA?
-- Ken from Chicago
Ken from Chicago
"Gisele" <ilov...@nospamlycos.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9CC6AAEEDC8E8il...@94.75.244.46...
How are defining the difference?
-- Ken from Chicago (who saw it more of a reimagning than a remake)
Ubiquitous
> web...@polaris.net (Ubiquitous) wrote
> > This reimagined version, which feels a bit old hat in a post-Matrix
> > fantasy landscape, is more leaden, pretentious and solemn, a tone
> > embodied by Caviezel’s brooding Six, who’s more dour than dashing.
>
> Agree with this one but still like the show. I don't consider it a
> reimagining but rather a remake. Big difference there...
The word you are thinking of is "rip-off".
Gisele
news:E_2dndYeE_X2R43W...@giganews.com:
The first eps were more of a remake than anything else but afterwards, I
agree, it was reimagined.
Gisele
Ubiquitous
>"Ken from Chicago" <kwicker1...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> "Gisele" <ilov...@nospamlycos.com> wrote in message
>> news:Xns9CC6AAEEDC8E8il...@94.75.244.46...
>>> web...@polaris.net (Ubiquitous) wrote in
>>> news:z7SdnewVPtZtWp3W...@giganews.com:
>>>
>>>> This reimagined version, which feels a bit old hat in a post-Matrix
>>>> fantasy landscape, is more leaden, pretentious and solemn, a tone
>>>> embodied by Caviezel's brooding Six, who's more dour than dashing.
>>>
>>> Agree with this one but still like the show. I don't consider it a
>>> reimagining but rather a remake. Big difference there...
>>>
>>> Gisele
>>
>> How are defining the difference?
>
>The first eps were more of a remake than anything else but afterwards,
>I agree, it was reimagined.
After watching the originals this weekend, I think you're being overly
generous with that description.
