The Prisoner [Blu-ray]

It was always going to be a brave move to attempt to remake such an iconic and acclaimed cult television show. However, that didn’t stop this new take on the 1960s programme The Prisoner, which originally starred Patrick McGoohan as the man trapped in The Village, where people have names instead of numbers.

For the remade version of The Prisoner, the cast this time features Jim Caviezel and Ian McKellen, and the story has been relocated to American shores. The core ethos behind it remains unchanged, and across this series the battle of wits between numbers Six and Two begins.

So does the new take on The Prisonerdeliver? Yes, but it takes some time to get going. Fans of the original will certainly struggle to warm to the first episode or two, but those willing to give the show a chance will likely to be far keener on it by the time the last couple of episodes roll around. Leading the acting honours is a terrific performance from Ian McKellen too as The Village leader, Two.

It’s no replacement for the original series, which remains the best, but at least this version of The Prisoner is worth a spin too. It’s got ideas of its own, some fine performances, and half a dozen episodes of solid drama waiting to be enjoyed. --Jon Foster