R. Doug Wicker — Author | Stories of Mystery and Adventure

June 1, 2012 · 5:43 am

The Prisoner of Portmeirion

The date was Saturday, June 1, 1968. The network was CBS. The television show, new to the U.S., had already run on Britain’s ITV Channel 3 from September 29 the year before through to its 17-episode conclusion on February 1. And from the opening thunderclap, blaring trumpets, and image of Patrick McGoohan driving a Lotus Seven (registration KAR 120C) along a deserted airstrip, I was hooked.

The television show was the cult classic The Prisoner, and it was the brainchild of George Markstein and executive producer Patrick McGoohan. Mr. McGoohan died January 13, 2009, and I was deeply saddened by his passing because this show still holds a special place in my heart.

What makes The Prisoner so unique is its blend—It’s a spy drama. It’s a thriller. It’s science fiction. It’s fantasy. It’s psychological. It’s allegorical. It’s existential. It’s simultaneously psychedelic and nostalgic. It’s a commentary on society at the time, and it’s still relevant to the society (and the politics) of today. It is, in short, television at its finest and most promising. It makes you think, and it deals neither kindly nor gently with those unaccustomed to doing so for a full hour.

The initial premise seems pedestrian, and it has been copied at least a couple of times since. A man (Patrick McGoohan) resigns from an agency from which one does not resign. It’s simply not done, old man. There are consequences for such an act.

He rushes to his flat (ominously followed by a hearse) and starts packing his luggage—brochures of tropical beaches thrown atop hastily packed clothing. Meanwhile, the undertaker steps away from the hearse and approaches the front door. Gas starts pouring in through the keyhole, and the man’s expression shows that he knows he’s too late to escape. His last sight before losing consciousness, through the window of his flat, is of the towering skyscrapers of London.

The man awakes in what appears to be his own flat. But when he goes to the window it is not London that greats him. It’s The Village. Names are not used in The Village; everyone has a number. He is Number Six. His nemesis is the man in charge of The Village, and that man is Number Two. Initially, Number Two wants to know only one thing of Number Six, “Why did you resign?” But what Number Two really wants is . . . well, now, that would be telling. Here is the dialog during the opening credits during most of the subsequent episodes:

Number Six: Where am I?

Number Two: In . . . The Village.

Number Six: What do you want?

Number Two: Information.

Number Six: Whose side are you on?

Number Two: That would be telling. We want information… information… in-for-mation!

Number Six: You won’t get it.

Number Two: By hook or by crook, we will.

Number Six: Who are you?

Number Two: The new Number Two.

Number Six: Who is Number One?

Number Two: You are Number Six.

Number Six: I am not a number! I am a free man!

Number Two: [Ominous, haunting laughter]

And what happens if, by the end of the show, Number Two fails to get information? He gets replaced . . . by a new Number Two even more bent on breaking Number Six.

But there’s another star to this show besides Patrick McGoohan/Number Six. That is The Village itself. Indeed, if not for The Village, this show may never have attained its cult status.

I know The Village. I’ve stayed in The Village. If you’re a fan of The Prisoner, a stay in The Village is equal parts chilling, fascinating, and exhilarating.

And, all next week, I will take you on a personal tour of . . . The Village. Enjoy a teaser below. Until then, and in the immortal words of the standard Village greeting, “Be seeing you.”

The Village—Number Two’s Residence is the domed structure on the right

3 Comments

Filed under Television, travel

Tagged as Patrick McGoohan, Portmeirion, television, The Prisoner, travel

May 30, 2012 · 12:00 am

The ThorIronHulkAmerica Extravaganza (Movie Review)

The Avengers

Action, Drama, Fantasy. 2012, U.S., 142 Minutes, directed by Joss Whedon

Medium: Currently in Theaters

Rating: 4.0 (5-point system)

I’m certainly going to take heat for this one. I can feel it already. But onward I shall venture into this review on the latest frolicking flight-of-fancy filled fiesta for fanatical fans of fantastical fiction from Marvel Comics—The Avengers, comprised of Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and second-tier Avenger characters Natalia Romanova/Black Widow (Scarlert Johansson) and Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). Samuel L. Jackson returns as S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury, only this time you’ll see him throughout the movie rather than during the end credits.

Marvel Studios has been building up anticipation for this event since at least 2008, beginning with the first Iron Man movie, and continuing right through Edward Norton’s turn as Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Captain America, and Thor. I’ve already given reviews on two of these lead-in films — Captain America (3.5 rating)and Thor (3.0 rating)— so if you’ve seen those blogs then you probably know where I’m heading with this one.

Let’s face it: Of all the characters previously mentioned, only one is well-rounded enough that you enjoy watching him whether he’s in his superhero guise or in his civilian alter ego. That character is Robert Downey, Jr’s, superlative take on the comically ego-driven, every sardonic Tony Stark/Iron Man. The rest of the characters fall far short . . . with the possible exception this round of Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner/Hulk. When I found that Edward Norton was not going to reprise the role, I was more than a tad disappointed. Mr. Norton did a remarkable job back in 2008. Well, Mark Ruffalo must have shown up at the studio with his game face on and knowing full well that he had some very big shoes to fill, because he managed to at least equal and possibly even surpass Edward Norton in the role.

But these bright spots were dragged down by the wooden portrayals of Thor and Captain America (although I found that this time Chris Hemsworth was much more enjoyable to watch than was Chris Evans—just the opposite of what I found in their standalone movies inside the same characters).

Not so with the second-tier Avenger characters of Black Widow and Hawkeye. I really enjoyed the introduction of Scarlett Johannson’s Black Widow character and her “interrogation” of her captors near the beginning of the film. And Jeremy Renner (who was called upon to play both good and bad characters) did an admirable job as Hawkeye. It’s unfortunate that they so overshadowed the portrayals of the film’s two Chrises—Evans and Hemsworth—and by so wide a margin over Chris Evans in particular. This is not how a tiered ensemble effort should work, but the fact that it did here is testament to the abilities of the actors involved.

And then there was Tom Hiddleston’s deliciously evil turn as Thor’s adopted brother Loki. If you need an effective foil to match the aforementioned combined characters, this is the guy who can (and did) pull it off, all on his own, totally solo. It was an impressive feat, to say the least. Bravo, Mr. Hiddleston.

As for the plotting and various subplots—they meshed well together and served to build toward an adequate climax. Unfortunately, as is the bane of modern movies in general and most superhero films in particular, the whole thing degenerated into a computer-generated special effects love fest that detracted from individual stories and left me muttering, “Will this maddening mayhem ever end?” And considering the cost of movies today, that’s not what I want to be muttering to myself near the end of a two-hour and twenty-two-minute film.

Alas, I feel I may be in the minority on this opinion. When was the last time you heard an audience spontaneously erupt into applause at the end of a film? That this movie had such an effect on so many is the reason I stepped up my rating a notch and took it to four stars rather than allowing it to suffer the same fate I bestowed upon X-Men: First Class. To do otherwise would have shown a callous disregard for an impressive display of approval by those around me.

But my companion this matinee was not nearly so kind. Admittedly, Ursula is not one for movies based upon comic book characters, and she found the whole thing excruciating to sit through. Her rating: 2.5. That’s based upon the tedious, special effects-laden ending and the overwhelming number of competing personalities brought together in one film. Of course, being Swiss born and raised, her exposure to these characters is minimal at best. Her only familiarity comes from the preceding lead-in films. Thus, the lesson here is don’t take your Swiss date to an Avengers film.

In the end, the movie is definitely a big screen affair. And we may have enjoyed it even more in 3D (also available at selected theaters), but we find 3D not worth the headaches. Literally. So, unlike my review of Dark Shadows, I’m going to recommend that you take in this summer film at the local cinema rather than waiting for its availability either as a pay-per-view event or a DVD/Blu-ray rental.

3 Comments

Filed under Movies

Tagged as Avengers, Black Widow, Captain America, Hawkeye, Hulk, Iron Man, Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D., Thor

May 28, 2012 · 6:00 am

Lest We Forget—No, It’s Not National Barbecue Day

We seem as a society to forget what this weekend really commemorates. Memorial Day weekend does not mark the unofficial beginning of Summer, the end of the school year, or the weekend of the Indianapolis 500. It’s not about throwing Frisbees at the beach, flipping burgers, and downing a few cold ones.

And, no, we do not on this day thank a veteran. That is not what today is about, as we veterans should solemnly remind those who do thank us on Memorial Day. Today is a day of remembrance—remembering those who fell defending this nation and her allies during times of armed conflict. Thank a veteran on Veterans Day (formerly Armistice Day), but spend today remembering our fallen comrades in arms.

Those who followed my blogs on our most recent cruise foray will recall that we spent some time in the cool, damp drizzle at a cemetery in Normandy, France. That would be the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. It was a very moving experience, and I saw grown men reduced to quivering lips and teary eyes that day. If you’ve served in uniform then tears come easily while casting eyes upon this site. If you lost a friend or loved one who fell while in uniform, those tears come even easier.

This country has been at war now for the worst part of eleven years. We recently ended our direct military involvement in one war that did not serve our national interests, and we’re winding down another that did.

During this time, and for the first time in the history of this republic, we at home were not asked to make the sacrifices that other wartime generations have been called upon to make. Instead, we allowed politicians to tell us to take tax cuts, go shopping, and leave the fighting to an all-volunteer military force. We acquiesced to that relatively painless strategy, and left it to future generations to pick up the tab for our collective acts of irresponsibility. Meanwhile, we have allowed our political leaders to slash the benefits and much needed post-combat services of those who did volunteer, leaving them to cope on their own with injuries both physical and mental.

It is for those decisions that both history and future generations will condemn and curse us.

As you look over that sea of Crosses and Stars of David below, be grateful for those who sacrificed everything. But be wary of those who never wore a uniform, who declare themselves to be “Great Americans,” and yet who continue to advocate cuts in support to the families of the fallen and the services to veterans—all the while demanding that no sacrifices be asked of those who stayed at home. There is truly no greatness in such a stand.

And there never will be.