Posted on 10/15/2009 5:06:40 PM PDT by LaybackLenny
V is a remake but not from that long ago. It aired on NBC in 1984 and 1985. The pilot I screened, which premieres Nov. 3, has been helped by advances in special effects. Visually, it's a gem. However, some of the content might become controversial. The original was an allegory to the Nazi's takeover of Germany. The new one might be seen as commentary on contemporary politics. The teasers running on ABC offer a hint of this. "They gave us hope. We gave them our trust." Who does that bring to mind? Of course, the Visitors (hence the title), after promising things like universal health care and peace in a one world government, turn out to be totally evil. They attempt to seize control of the media, favoring those who don't challenge them or ask probing questions about their real agenda, which turns out to be the annihilation of humanity. The heroes are everyday people, who form a grass roots resistance movement. Supposedly, the show is being slightly reconceptualized to soften or remove events some might interpret as negative parallels to today.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.sun-sentinel.com ...
I got the original at a garage sale a few years back. For some reason, the other day I thought what the hey and put it in.
It’s “ok” for mid 80’s technology, Dreamworks can do a whole lot better.
The one thing I was left with was how bad the aliens were marksmanship-wise.
Couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn!!
****Isn’t it amazing (and creepily scary) that a show that was originally an allegory for a Nazi takeover is now an allegory for the communist takeover of...US!*****\
I found it! SHADOW ON THE LAND (1968)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063589/
I kept thinking Jackie Cooper was in it! He was!
Yes. The remake was probably written as a screed against Republicans, and I bet if the show had been broadcast during the Bush administration, ABC would not be having second thoughts.
You got that right. I am surprised they didn’t put the show on the air several years ago so they could make preachy statements about leaders curtailing freedoms to bring the people a false sense of security and nonsense like that.
I remember the scene from the original series where some of the good aliens are trying to help humans. They are asked why did your people elect this evil despot as your leader. A male alien replies the same reason why it happens on Earth. Someone with charisma and persuasive powers convinces a majority to support him, while hiding his true evil nature. Sounds familiar....
Wow, yeah! I’d forgotten about that one. I saw it back then, too.
Too bad. Fiction may soon be the only way to safe tell the truth.
Good post. Don’t let the ankle-biters deter you.
ABC is going for a staggered rollout pattern for new series "V," slated to premiere Nov. 3.The network will likely air the first four episodes of the alien drama in November, with the remaining segments of the 13-episode order eyed for spring, probably March.
The four-episode November run will end with a cliffhanger, setting up the stage for "V's" midseason return.
"V," whose production was shut down in late August for a "creative hiatus," has been the subject of intense speculation in the past several days.
What was described as incorrect information disseminated to the show's cast and crew led to a frenzy of emails around Hollywood declaring "V" dead as a series, with the produced episodes rumored to air as a mini-series, just like the 1984 original.
That is not true, sources at ABC and producer Warner Bros. TV stressed.
"V," which has two episodes plus the pilot in the can, is now in pre-production and is scheduled to begin filming episode 4 in mid-October. After that episode is completed, the series will go on a holiday hiatus.
It has not been determined yet when "V," starring Elizabeth Mitchell, will resume production, but that is not tied to the performance of the first four episodes in November, sources at the network and the studio said.
The original V was a case of dimishing returns. The first episode was great, but then it got worse with each episode.
The very last episode was traumatizing to a young’un like me. When the baby lizard emerged from the woman’s belly, I swore off sex with iguanas forever.
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