My dad owned this video series when it came out in the 80's, (it was originally a show from the late 60's) and I was always confused and fascinated by the episodes as a kid. So, when my latest Netflix disc (actually it was 2 discs -about 4 hours) came yesterday, and it was the prisoner re-done with James Caviezel, I was really excited to see what they'd done. I had gotten it for someone else originally, but figured I'd watch it anyhow out of curiosity. What an amazing, captivating re-make. James Caviezel was so good and damn, he is just sooo sexy.
This is the idea, if you are interested in seeing it too. I highly recommend that you do! Forgive me if my summary is a bit confusing..it's just something you ultimately have to see to really get the full concept.
At the beginning of the first episode of the Prisoner series (originally starring Patrick McGgoohan), an unidentified McGoohan is seen angrily resigning a high-level government job, only to be drugged, kidnapped and taken away to a mysterious, Orwellia community known as The Village. Though allowed to be free on the colorful grounds, he couldn't escape, unless he be chased down and killed by a huge, balloon-like sphere known as a 'Rover'. On each 60-minute episode, he (his name is now Number 6) is confronted by "the new Number Two", whose job it was to get information from our hero (though just what sort of information is never explained) Defiantly shouting "I am not a number! I am a free man!", Number Six succeeded in defeating the efforts by Number Two each time -- and the never-seen Number One -- to break him down. Throughout his strange adventures, Number Six learns two valuable lessons: To stubbornly maintain his individuality at all times and all costs, and to trust no one. Kind of true sometimes, but ultimately sad, no? It has been said to be a metaphor for the struggle of man's mind in the world of challenges. Kind of spiritual, but also very moving in it's portrayal of man's intellectual skill of thought, the engineering of your brain power and personal control of man's mind. I was inspired by how little I use my own brain's capabilities and strengths after watching.
I recommend this re-make. And like I said, even if you don't love it, James Caviezel is just so captivating a man.
