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Post by Deleted on May 9, 2018 12:54:43 GMT
I agree that a combination of reworking existing televised scripts and high end price with fancy packaging probably stirred up antagonism to the Prisoner release, especially when it has never been cheaper to obtain a decent DVD/Blu Ray set of the remastered TV series, for anyone wanting to discover it for the first time around. I remember returning/exchanging my 25th Anniversary VHS set to Our Price as the picture and sound quality was more akin to a pirate copy - no fault apparently, it was just deemed good enough for the customer base, as were many ITC releases of the time. They remained largely unused as off-air recordings proved far superior to re-watch.
On the other hand, i think it would be a seriously missing the mark to even consider putting the Callan series in some form of luxury packaging.
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Post by aussiedoctorwhofan on May 10, 2018 13:05:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 10, 2018 13:46:52 GMT
On The Prisoner, as per the above discussion: i must say that neither the deluxe box set format or the higher than usual price bothered me all that much - it was finding out that most of them were going to be remakes with the odd new one thrown in, rather than all new stories, that made me lose all interest Exactly. Does Briggs thinks he can do better than Patrick McGoohan? The audacity of the man! & having listened to the first boxset the answer is NO.
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Post by Audio Watchdog on May 10, 2018 22:47:19 GMT
On The Prisoner, as per the above discussion: i must say that neither the deluxe box set format or the higher than usual price bothered me all that much - it was finding out that most of them were going to be remakes with the odd new one thrown in, rather than all new stories, that made me lose all interest Exactly. Does Briggs thinks he can do better than Patrick McGoohan? The audacity of the man! & having listened to the first boxset the answer is NO. I'd argue he doesn't think that at all but rather it is something he loves and it is something he feels he can make a contribution to. And based on the first & second box sets, the answer is yes. Re-imagining isn't remaking. As Nick has noted, his version is more of a What-If version than anything else.
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Post by Audio Watchdog on Jun 3, 2018 19:36:57 GMT
Based on the strength of Star Cops I’m really getting excited to see what BF does with Callan.
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Post by omega on Jun 26, 2018 7:33:40 GMT
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Post by Digi on Jun 27, 2018 2:34:45 GMT
I’ve been kind of curious about Callan ever since they announced it, having never heard of the property before. I had nearly worked up the nerve to give it a go until listening to the extract. If this set’s idea of a promotional ‘sizzle’ extract amounts to some guy taking his time getting out of the tub...I have a feeling it’s not for me.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2018 5:12:47 GMT
I’ve been kind of curious about Callan ever since they announced it, having never heard of the property before. I had nearly worked up the nerve to give it a go until listening to the extract. If this set’s idea of a promotional ‘sizzle’ extract amounts to some guy taking his time getting out of the tub...I have a feeling it’s not for me. Depends... How do you feel about things like The Sandbaggers, The Night Manager or The Ipcress File? They're sort-of grim detective stories with probably the most sinister interpretation of Western espionage I've ever seen. Imagine a series where the only distinction between Bond and a gangster is who he reports to and you're pretty close. Callan's world has no glamour to it, he's not even an idealist. He only does the job because he's frightened of what will happen if he doesn't. Compelling. It's a... compelling series. Not a happy one, but definitely a well-constructed one.
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Post by Digi on Jun 27, 2018 11:09:40 GMT
I’ve been kind of curious about Callan ever since they announced it, having never heard of the property before. I had nearly worked up the nerve to give it a go until listening to the extract. If this set’s idea of a promotional ‘sizzle’ extract amounts to some guy taking his time getting out of the tub...I have a feeling it’s not for me. Depends... How do you feel about things like The Sandbaggers, The Night Manager or The Ipcress File? They're sort-of grim detective stories with probably the most sinister interpretation of Western espionage I've ever seen. Imagine a series where the only distinction between Bond and a gangster is who he reports to and you're pretty close. Callan's world has no glamour to it, he's not even an idealist. He only does the job because he's frightened of what will happen if he doesn't. Compelling. It's a... compelling series. Not a happy one, but definitely a well-constructed one. That's the thing--I keep hearing the same about Callan, both on the podcast and from other people on this forum. But when I checked out the excerpt last night, a slice specifically released to promote this range...instead, it was some bored men shooting clay pidgeons, an bored exchange of pleasantries with this franchise's (apparent) analogue of Miss Moneypenny, and some guy taking five minutes to get out of the tub. If this was meant to impress, to entice me to buy? It accomplished the exact opposite.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2018 11:46:11 GMT
Depends... How do you feel about things like The Sandbaggers, The Night Manager or The Ipcress File? They're sort-of grim detective stories with probably the most sinister interpretation of Western espionage I've ever seen. Imagine a series where the only distinction between Bond and a gangster is who he reports to and you're pretty close. Callan's world has no glamour to it, he's not even an idealist. He only does the job because he's frightened of what will happen if he doesn't. Compelling. It's a... compelling series. Not a happy one, but definitely a well-constructed one. That's the thing--I keep hearing the same about Callan, both on the podcast and from other people on this forum. But when I checked out the excerpt last night, a slice specifically released to promote this range...instead, it was some bored men shooting clay pidgeons, an bored exchange of pleasantries with this franchise's (apparent) analogue of Miss Moneypenny, and some guy taking five minutes to get out of the tub. If this was meant to impress, to entice me to buy? It accomplished the exact opposite. Yeah, it did seem more for returning viewers/readers than newcomers... Tell you what, have a look at this clip of the series from Network Distributing and see if it appeals:
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Post by pawntake on Jun 27, 2018 12:14:23 GMT
That's the thing--I keep hearing the same about Callan, both on the podcast and from other people on this forum. But when I checked out the excerpt last night, a slice specifically released to promote this range...instead, it was some bored men shooting clay pidgeons, an bored exchange of pleasantries with this franchise's (apparent) analogue of Miss Moneypenny, and some guy taking five minutes to get out of the tub. If this was meant to impress, to entice me to buy? It accomplished the exact opposite. Yeah, it did seem more for returning viewers/readers than newcomers... Tell you what, have a look at this clip of the series from Network Distributing and see if it appeals: Excellent post!!!!
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Post by TinDogPodcast on Jun 27, 2018 15:28:39 GMT
I've heard ep 1 and 2.
Nic is v good as hunter.
No worries there.
Full review to follow.
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Post by Digi on Jun 27, 2018 23:27:00 GMT
Yup. That clip definitely gets my attention.
As an aside: I'm familiar with some of Peter Woodward's work, and it's uncanny how much father and son's speech cadence sound alike!
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Post by Audio Watchdog on Jun 28, 2018 0:18:52 GMT
That is pretty bracing stuff, especially considering it is almost 50 years old.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2018 0:50:07 GMT
Yup. That clip definitely gets my attention. As an aside: I'm familiar with some of Peter Woodward's work, and it's uncanny how much father and son's speech cadence sound alike! Funny you should say that. Through the strange magicks of the internet, I actually found Callan (by way of The Equalizer) through Peter Woodward's depiction of Galen in Crusade. I always thought they'd have made good Doctors if fate had ever shimmied in that direction. They both have very powerful presences. Edit: That is pretty bracing stuff, especially considering it is almost 50 years old. Yeah, the players change, but the game remains largely the same. I can't help but think Skyfall may have taken a few cues here and there from the series some decades on. Thinking about it, the Woodwards are some of my favourite actors just for their sheer charisma. There's always a really richly developed undertow beneath whatever parts they have to play, they really sell the idea of their characters having been "lived-in" people. Whether it's a 45mm monochrome telerecording or a full colour digital video setup. I've never seen Edward Woodward play the same character twice. Like, Robert McCall and David Callan both have the same background (more or less) as independent contractors drawn back into the circus, but they're portrayed as very different people despite that. I think McCall is who Callan could have been if he'd been born on the other side of the tracks.
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Post by omega on Jul 5, 2018 8:58:10 GMT
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Post by Ian McArdell on Jul 5, 2018 9:06:16 GMT
There's a nice bit of promo up on Digital Spy to coincide with the launch too.
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Post by Digi on Jul 8, 2018 7:07:45 GMT
So...what’s the feeling here? Terrific/good/okay/poor/terrible?
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Post by pawntake on Jul 8, 2018 7:35:38 GMT
I am not a reviewer,but I thought it was terrific!!Great performances by Ben Miles,Frank Skinner and Nick Briggs,Good rapport between Lonely and Callan,and a mutual respect,whereas in the original Callan tended to use Lonely as a bit of a whipping boy,and bullied him a bit.Four excellent stories.A winner for me!!!
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Post by Ian McArdell on Jul 10, 2018 22:15:46 GMT
My take on Callan is now up at CultBox - hot take: I liked it, filling the black and white hole that The Avengers - Lost Episodes has left. More please!
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