Reviews

Just finished watching the last episode of the first (and currently only) series.

Overall we've enjoyed the series, it certainly isn't the most dynamic or action packed, but it builds the story well over the series - and frankly it's nice to have something of this ilk for a change.

However, it isn't without its faults:

1) the most annoying is that, in line with the other Apple series I'm watching at the moment (See) there are occasions when the screen is so dark you literally don't see anything - and this can last ages, such as in Episode 6.

I can appreciate that the Director wants to convey a sense of confusion or a particular atmosphere - but films and other series have been doing this for years and can convey darkness we'll still allowing the audience to see something;

2) you never really see how the aliens took over the whole world - you follow 4 separate 'stories' closely, but it just seems the world has been invaded all of a sudden; and

3) it appears that most the worlds population must have been killed. However, after the invaders are 'stopped' it seems that the world again has a full population with no massive loss of life.

Despite my criticisms I'm looking forwards to the 2nd series.

I enjoyed watching this film. I understand it's more historically accurate than the 1976 version (for example it shows the horrendous deaths of the captured O'Flaherty and Gaido) and it seems well paced.

However, for me I found the CGI a bit too over done and artificial and rather than add realism it actually removed it.

But overall an enjoyable film that is worth watching.

This was another one of my BritBox catch-ups - and one that I was really looking forwards to as I had heard so much about it - and it seemed one of the 'must see' programmes of the late 60's.

I realise that I'm going to be in the very small minority, as it has a cult status, but I can't describe how disappointed I am that it, IMHO, transpired to be nonsensical pretentious tosh.

Firstly the premise - OK, he's taken away to some mysterious island because persons unknown want information from him - great I can buy that - sounds good.

But hang on - what is that information they want!? They want to know why he resigned from his employment!!!

Well at the beginning we see him driving into his place of work, marching down a corridor, having a heated conversation with someone, gesticulating, and marching off - with his photo then being filed in a cabinet marked 'Resigned'.

Hmmm...well I don't know - but maybe the reason he resigned is because of whatever it was that he was ranting and raving about!?

But really, is someone (presumably the British Government) really going to incur this kind of expense, apparently keeping someone away from society for months on end - just because they want to know why they resigned!?

Furthermore, is any sane person really going to endure months of being held a prisoner - just because you don't want to tell then why you resigned from your job!?

However, if you put this to one side, I would say that it starts off OK'ish - its fairly intriguing as you don't really know who has captors are - and in the intro you hear him asking what side they are on.

But in 'Many Happy Returns' he actually manages to escape the island - and indeed he makes it all the way back to old Blighty. Does he head towards the press to reveal all....does he heck...no he goes to his ex-employers. They locate the island and there's then a raid which The Prisoner accompanies in a jet plane.

But when they get to the island - he's unceremoniously ejected out of the plane.

Now, I think most people in his position would have come to realise after that that he's ex-employers have something to do with his kidnapping - but apparently The Prisoner doesn't - as the next episode he's still asking the same questions.

The 'story' is also inconsistent - in the intro, where we see the events leading up to his kidnapping, after his resignation. He's in his home packing his suitcase and we see a holiday brochure with a picture of some sunny deserted island - and we can only guess that he's about to jet off by himself there. We certainly don't see any photo's of his 'significant other' not any suggestion that he had 2 tickets.

However, in Do Not Foresake Me Darling we find out that he had a fiancé - well hate to tell you love but it looks like you were on the verge of being dumped.

By the end the programme had completely 'lost the plot'. With Living In Harmony it seems that they must have though 'hmmm spaghetti westerns are popular' let's make one.

With the final episode they seemed to have nicked the same grey/beige and white helmeted suits that so often appear in 1960's James Bond movies - as well as the helicopter's and rockets. Frankly I watched this episode cringing through most of it.

I can understand that maybe the wanted to make something that was surreal - but IMHO I think it should have been possible to make something that was both surreal and better than this. I would also add that just because something is 'surreal' does not mean that it's automatically 'good' or of high artistic value.

I would say that after the first 6 - 8 Episodes, I felt watching this was more of something I endured rather than enjoyed.

I've given it 3 because I liked the Lotus 7 and, in The Girl Who Was Death, there is a nice blue Lotus Elan. I guess the catch phrase of 'I am not a number I am a free man' is also quite good.

Having now watched all episodes I now feel that I too have become free...