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| Not our friends! The alien Visitors of V. Images: WARNER BROTHERS. |
Humanity is back on the menu with the return of those reptilian outer space Nazi's from creator Kenneth Johnson's beloved ensemble cast sci-fi action adventure saga with a moral heart: V, the modern granddaddy/re-invention of major league alien invasion of Earth sagas, of which the original two-part, four hour mini-series gets a welcome re-run in stripped one hour episodes from today on the UK's CBS ACTION CHANNEL (followed by the inferior, but still enjoyable, serialised comic book-esque one season only weekly series). Unable to get his original mini-series idea for a character drama, based on the story IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE (which postulated a What if? scenario involving America becoming a dictator run, Nazi-esque state), off the ground in 1982/83, Johnson literally re-worked it within a strong sci-fi motif instead- with seemingly friendly aliens asking for our help, but soon turning human against human and taking control of our society and its resources- that proved too delicious and intriguing to pass up and which immediately proved popular with the NBC network and viewers, within a genre type exploration that had never been done as well either before or since, really, and despite all the even bigger budgeted grandeur, monsters, space battles and explosions that have followed it with the likes of THE WAR OF THE WORLDS, INDEPENDENCE DAY, FALLING SKIES, etc.
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| Skin-deep. Beautiful but deadly Diana (Jane Badler). |
Johnson crafts an intelligent and character gripping script, of which his capable TV ambitious direction soon kicks into high gear after a slow but sure first hour building up the arrival of the aliens and the beginning of their integration into our society. Once the alien agenda and their true reptilian visages are revealed by determined news cameraman Mike Donovan (the sturdy Marc Singer), the fight for humanity begins and you're quickly hooked into what will happen next, as a small resistance force led by young and inexperienced Dr. Juliet Parrish (petite Faye Grant) begins its first might battle against superior Visitor resources, technology and firepower, ultimately led by the wickedly cruel super bitch scientist, Diana (played by the still gorgeous Jane Badler). Overall, the first mini-series has held up well as it approaches it's thirtieth anniversary: the central idea is terrific (with its strong allusions to the start of World War II and the Jewish holocaust), the casting of our ensemble characters (a concept so popular at the time with hit series like HILL STREET BLUES and ST. ELSEWHERE) is effectively handled and doesn't feel too soapy, the action is well staged and the filmed effects and optical work prove very good for their time. Jane Badler's famous eating of a gerbil now looks as fake as hell but it certainly has made a lingering impression with audiences/fans, and the overall lizard make-up effects still have the urgghhh factor! If you've never seen it before, V is well worth a look.
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| True hero: Mike Donovan (Marc Singer) fights back. |
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| The first Earth Resistance: Juliet Parrish (Faye Grant) and Donovan. |
Mini-series clips: V The Original Miniseries NBC Narrated Recap of Part One (Widescreen, Remastered) - YouTube
GAME OF THRONES may be the addictive and ground-breaking mini-series everyone is watching today, but back in its early eighties heyday, there had been nothing like V on television before. One of the most expensive and thought-provoking series of its time, the original first mini-series has an enduring populist quality legacy and classic moments that deservedly continue to exist in the minds of classic TV audiences right up to today.
Jane Badler will be meeting UK V fans at the LONDON FILM AND COMIC CON next month. Details here: London Film and Comic Con | 6 - 8 July 2012 | Olympia Grand Hall | The Film and Comic Con for London
The original V mini-series, it's sequel and the one-off weekly series are available on DVD.
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