"V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
#101
DVD Talk Legend
Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
Was I the only one amused that Joel Grestch steps out of the front door of the church in the beginning to find Leo in his wheelchair on the middle landing of two flights of stairs? How the HELL did he get there in a wheelchair? If someone helped him, why did they just leave him halfway up the steps?
#103
Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
I guess I'm in the minority and liked the 1hr premiere.
Here's why. We all know they are aliens so let's get to the point quickly. We don't need a remake of the original miniseries, what I want to know is if this show is going to do something different and if it is worth watching.
I have been burnt numerous times with shows that take too long to get to the point / move the plot along - Jericho, 3rd season of Lost, Flash Fwd.
I guess I don't get that much time to watch tv - so I want to invest that time wisely.
Here's why. We all know they are aliens so let's get to the point quickly. We don't need a remake of the original miniseries, what I want to know is if this show is going to do something different and if it is worth watching.
I have been burnt numerous times with shows that take too long to get to the point / move the plot along - Jericho, 3rd season of Lost, Flash Fwd.
I guess I don't get that much time to watch tv - so I want to invest that time wisely.
#104
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Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
According to Ausiello's twitter "V" premiered very strongly at # 2 for the night (behind NCIS). "more details to comes later"...
Looks like all the publicity paid off!
Looks like all the publicity paid off!
#105
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Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
So have any religious nuts come forward yet complaining about the Jesus crucifix in the church crashing to the floor and shattering into a million pieces? I figure the same people that got offended by the Curb episode last week would bitch about this just as much.
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Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
You can post all the mocking rolling laughs that you want, that does not change that 1.) I specified "the original miniseries" not the corny full series and 2.) the first miniseries was a dark, opressive allegory for Nazis and fascism in WWII. In fact, the producers of the original had wanted to do a miniseries explicitly about WWII, but the TV execs convinced them to Sci-Fi it up.
I'm sorry that you aren't bright enough to notice the symbolism of the original that is removed in the new one, making it much more banal. But have fun with your little icons.
Edit to add this-- the original version of that info is something that I remember reading in a TV guide article contemporary to the 2nd mini or the series, but I found a version on the web.
http://scifitv.suite101.com/article....lassic_revised
"After a run of successes in science fiction, Johnson wanted to take a different direction with a political drama inspired by the 1935 novel It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis, about the rise of fascism in America. His idea was tell a story of the rise to power of a fascist group and the consequences of what followed. Johnson proposed the concept to Warner Brothers Studios who liked it but felt it was too subtle for American audiences and that the threat should come from an outside tyrannical force.
Although Johnson resisted the idea of returning to sci-fi he saw an opportunity to tell his story but as an allegory of Nazi – occupation. The fascists became aliens and Johnson fuelled the Nazi symbolism even further with the Visitor’s uniforms similar to that of the Third Reich with an emblem resembling the Swastika. There is even a reference to the Youth Program of Nazi Germany, which the aliens called the Visitor Friends Program. It too provided a haven for disaffected youth while indoctrinating them to the Visitors’ cause. There were also collaborators who turned a blind eye to the Visitors nefarious plans and of course resistance cells determined to expel their invaders."
I'm sorry that you aren't bright enough to notice the symbolism of the original that is removed in the new one, making it much more banal. But have fun with your little icons.
Edit to add this-- the original version of that info is something that I remember reading in a TV guide article contemporary to the 2nd mini or the series, but I found a version on the web.
http://scifitv.suite101.com/article....lassic_revised
"After a run of successes in science fiction, Johnson wanted to take a different direction with a political drama inspired by the 1935 novel It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis, about the rise of fascism in America. His idea was tell a story of the rise to power of a fascist group and the consequences of what followed. Johnson proposed the concept to Warner Brothers Studios who liked it but felt it was too subtle for American audiences and that the threat should come from an outside tyrannical force.
Although Johnson resisted the idea of returning to sci-fi he saw an opportunity to tell his story but as an allegory of Nazi – occupation. The fascists became aliens and Johnson fuelled the Nazi symbolism even further with the Visitor’s uniforms similar to that of the Third Reich with an emblem resembling the Swastika. There is even a reference to the Youth Program of Nazi Germany, which the aliens called the Visitor Friends Program. It too provided a haven for disaffected youth while indoctrinating them to the Visitors’ cause. There were also collaborators who turned a blind eye to the Visitors nefarious plans and of course resistance cells determined to expel their invaders."
Last edited by Deep_lurk; 11-04-09 at 10:02 AM.
#108
DVD Talk Hero
Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
#109
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
He's there supposed to be dealing with this morality choice of whether to be popular or have some integrity and his 18 year old baby face just looks constipated. He was terrible.
Gretsch was great, and I agree, he seems like he will continue to be one of the strongest points of the show. See above for Wolf.
#110
DVD Talk Legend
Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
Well, I didn't hate it, but I didn't fall absolutely in love with it either. Is the next ep next Tuesday?
While it did seem to pack in a lot of info into one hour, as others have noted it was nice to just get to the damn point. I wouldn't mind seeing an occasional flashback to those first three weeks down the road, or at least extended eps on the DVD.
I barely remember watching the original series, just a few image/memories, I'll have to keep my eye out for a cheap copy of the original.
And the point about Morena's character always looking like she's holding back the pure evil was spot-on.
While it did seem to pack in a lot of info into one hour, as others have noted it was nice to just get to the damn point. I wouldn't mind seeing an occasional flashback to those first three weeks down the road, or at least extended eps on the DVD.
I barely remember watching the original series, just a few image/memories, I'll have to keep my eye out for a cheap copy of the original.
And the point about Morena's character always looking like she's holding back the pure evil was spot-on.
Last edited by milo bloom; 11-04-09 at 10:09 AM.
#111
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Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
This. Except I didn't like the first 8 or 9 minutes either. I've liked just about everything Elizabeth Mitchell has done. But this show was weak. Not just the FBI stuff either. ("He was tortured before he was killed."...Duh!?) The goo-goo eyes between her son and the blonde had me cringing. All the "dude" talk between him and his friend as well. I don't think I even made it halfway through. I'm out.
#112
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Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
Yeah. I think the way they approached this from the start makes it easy to do flashbacks of how they infiltrated various societies.
#113
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Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
You can post all the mocking rolling laughs that you want, that does not change that 1.) I specified "the original miniseries" not the corny full series and 2.) the first miniseries was a dark, opressive allegory for Nazis and fascism in WWII. In fact, the producers of the original had wanted to do a miniseries explicitly about WWII, but the TV execs convinced them to Sci-Fi it up.
I'm sorry that you aren't bright enough to notice the symbolism of the original that is removed in the new one, making it much more banal. But have fun with your little icons.
Edit to add this-- the original version of that info is something that I remember reading in a TV guide article contemporary to the 2nd mini or the series, but I found a version on the web.
http://scifitv.suite101.com/article....lassic_revised
"After a run of successes in science fiction, Johnson wanted to take a different direction with a political drama inspired by the 1935 novel It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis, about the rise of fascism in America. His idea was tell a story of the rise to power of a fascist group and the consequences of what followed. Johnson proposed the concept to Warner Brothers Studios who liked it but felt it was too subtle for American audiences and that the threat should come from an outside tyrannical force.
Although Johnson resisted the idea of returning to sci-fi he saw an opportunity to tell his story but as an allegory of Nazi – occupation. The fascists became aliens and Johnson fuelled the Nazi symbolism even further with the Visitor’s uniforms similar to that of the Third Reich with an emblem resembling the Swastika. There is even a reference to the Youth Program of Nazi Germany, which the aliens called the Visitor Friends Program. It too provided a haven for disaffected youth while indoctrinating them to the Visitors’ cause. There were also collaborators who turned a blind eye to the Visitors nefarious plans and of course resistance cells determined to expel their invaders."
I'm sorry that you aren't bright enough to notice the symbolism of the original that is removed in the new one, making it much more banal. But have fun with your little icons.
Edit to add this-- the original version of that info is something that I remember reading in a TV guide article contemporary to the 2nd mini or the series, but I found a version on the web.
http://scifitv.suite101.com/article....lassic_revised
"After a run of successes in science fiction, Johnson wanted to take a different direction with a political drama inspired by the 1935 novel It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis, about the rise of fascism in America. His idea was tell a story of the rise to power of a fascist group and the consequences of what followed. Johnson proposed the concept to Warner Brothers Studios who liked it but felt it was too subtle for American audiences and that the threat should come from an outside tyrannical force.
Although Johnson resisted the idea of returning to sci-fi he saw an opportunity to tell his story but as an allegory of Nazi – occupation. The fascists became aliens and Johnson fuelled the Nazi symbolism even further with the Visitor’s uniforms similar to that of the Third Reich with an emblem resembling the Swastika. There is even a reference to the Youth Program of Nazi Germany, which the aliens called the Visitor Friends Program. It too provided a haven for disaffected youth while indoctrinating them to the Visitors’ cause. There were also collaborators who turned a blind eye to the Visitors nefarious plans and of course resistance cells determined to expel their invaders."
I loved the original, and I am sucker for those kind of stories on creeping fascism (such as Babylon 5) but why would you want the same approach taken with this one? It was already done in V and done well.
#114
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Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
I agree. All they'd be doing is updating the (horrible) special effects. Taking this new direction is what drew me into considering watching this series (as with the new Battlestar Galactica. Otherwise, there's plenty of NEW stuff on that is genuinely new and not a rehash (e.g. Bionic Woman and Knight Rider) in which I'd rather invest my time.
#116
Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
Many relatively recent events confirm that jounalist integrity has suffered greatly. I think he acted it as most journalists would -- a minor struggle where success quickly trumps integrity. A minor constipated look and the battle is over. (sorry, fodder for the Political forum)
#117
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Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
#118
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Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
Huge ratings last night.
13.9M viewers and 5.0 in the 18-49 demographic.
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/11/04...s-follow/32541
13.9M viewers and 5.0 in the 18-49 demographic.
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/11/04...s-follow/32541
#119
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Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
Many relatively recent events confirm that jounalist integrity has suffered greatly. I think he acted it as most journalists would -- a minor struggle where success quickly trumps integrity. A minor constipated look and the battle is over. (sorry, fodder for the Political forum)
#120
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Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
I agree 100%. It's basically the same story as the female newscaster in the original and I find the story (career ambition/fame vs. ethics) believeable.
#121
DVD Talk Hero
Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
I don't have a problem with a character grappling with that decision, I have a problem with the fact Wolf doesn't have the chops to pull it off successfully. I had zero doubt that he was going for the popular vote. He just wasn't convincing as a newscaster in the least.
#122
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Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
It was nice to see Kenneth Johnson get a "Story By" credit and a "Created By" credit. I'm sure he will be happy to see the checks come in the mail.
#123
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Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
A consensus of reviews...http://www.metacritic.com/tv/shows/v2009
#124
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Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
It is a pet peeve about those "rolling on the floor laughing" icons. This is supposed to be a forum with civil discourse between members. I know plenty of forums allow personal attacks without restrictions, but DVD Talk tries to be above that. The "rolling on the floor laughing" icon is the virtual stand-in for laughing in someone's face at their idea-- not laughing with them-- laughing at them. If you would not do something so rude as to laugh in the face of someone you are having a civil conversation with in the real world, then you shouldn't do it on the internet. It is flame bait.
#125
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Re: "V" -- New Series -- "Pilot" -- Premieres 11/03/09
Anna is hot but her characters complete resemblance to Sheldon Cooper is creeping me out!