V was and remains one of the greatest and most important miniseries ever produced. It was also the most expensive series made up to that point.
If you’re looking for a “review” in the traditional sense, then let me just say I love this miniseries. This video, however, is a “review” in the literal sense (using the Miriam-Webster definition “a retrospective view or survey”), in that I’m going over the history of the film and its place in sci-fi cinema history.
In other words, please stop commenting on how my videos aren’t what you consider “reviews.”
#V #VtheOriginalMiniseries #KennethJohnson
00:00 Intro
01:30 Synopsis
02:28 Production Background
03:35 Casting
06:00 Filming, Effects, Music
08:58 Release & Legacy
12:00 Opinion & Analysis
15:19 Outro
Related video reviews:
Earth vs. the Flying Saucers –
Starman –
The War of the Worlds –
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Pigeon photo credit: Laura Perrotta / Audubon Photography Awards
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The reptile elitists..
The questions at the beginning?
I remember thinking it was so cool that they had blue blood. Awesome for a kid, among other things.
I think we need this story now more than ever. Issues and their danders seem to sink in faster and deeper through Science Fiction than any other genre.
V was a fantastic series ,that I became addicted to in 1984 aged 8. I realised it was World War II they were referring to plus recognised the resistance element of that period ,plus The Terminator had big billing that year,need I say more .
Previous years had included similar themed movies such as Escape From New York 1981,Early eighties mid eighties tended to churn out more of a gritty perspective in movies and some TV series's and no I am not talking Dynasty or the Colbys 😂
I never thought about Tolstoy's influence,I always thought Kenneth Johnson had been influenced by Arthur C Clarke's "Childhoods End", where the Overlords were benevolent , and then twisted the entire premise to a malevolent regime.
Names that add up to Fascism Vance ,Miller and Trump=ICE
This Outer limits/Twilight Zone World we now live in is beyond a joke, I cannot think where Joe Biden comes into it.
Its real thsts why its an imperialist story .
Yep, the fascists are the mainstream media…CNN MSNBC, etc.
It actually had great cinephotgraphy and writing. The empty table with daniel and the scene where julie copes the admired pose from start of show subtle but wonderful.
Its choice to spend story time focused on regular people and the gamut of responses for various motivations.
And the formation of the resistance….Julie not wanting to lead but just does it because it needs to be done. Her breakdown with ruby about every looking to her and she didn't know why she had to be boss.
What a lovely view of resistance groups so much more important, imo, than just t he fighting and explosions
I was obsessed with it at the time!
Now I feel it was just high school homework for now….
And of course there is Daniel…inspired by " you know who ".
While the franchise went off a cliff – in huge part due to lack of studio support – the original miniseries is to this day some of the best TV I have seen.
And I really think creators deserve a ton of credit for the look of the show. The spaceships, the uniforms and laser-effects were really top-notch.
And I would agree, that Marc Singer is not a 'great' actor, but he is capable. And I think he did really good in this one. He wasn't an over-the-top action hero – he was an everyman who was just a little more couragous and brave than we would have been.
But my god, Faye Grant was so awesome. To me, it is such a tragedy that she did not become a major generational star. She really had it all.
I have to give a nod to Michael Wright also. His scene with Grant at the end of the first episode still makes my eyes water.
I loved V as a kid and even now !
All us older people would watch it
I was so hooked on "V" that I used my cosplay talents to make a "Visitor" costume. I wore it to a convention where Richard (Supreme Commander John) Herd was to be a guest. I was a member of the "Klingon Language Institute" at the time, and they got me to sit in while they took a break. Their table was right next to Richard Herd's autograph table. I caught him looking at me several times. Finally, he came over to me and gave me one of the greatest compliments I had ever had. He said: "If I didn't know better, I'd swear that that was one of the costumes from the show!" I was floored to say the least! He gave me one of his autographed pictures and signed my program book. I shall =never= forget that moment!
I was told by a Hollywood insider and who got the financing from the banks. That the government stopped the show because it was too close to what aliens are supposedly hidden in Area 51 and Write Patterson AFB.
Ooooooooooyeahhh
I am not light up of 😢life
Iiked as a Patriot, but love u
Excellent video essay of a sci fi story that remains relevant today, perhaps more so. Fascinating to see the other influences it draws from, including Beethoven and Tolstoy.
Black ppl and white ppl coex … what????? Lol. Sigh. How tiresome
When the coronavirus restrictions took place in the UK, and especially when the 'unvaccinated' were being singled out, blamed, and excluded, I personally witnessed close friends and family turn on each other in extreme ways, similar to the mother on the telephone in this clip. We were literally a matter of a year and months in change from something that would have crossed all the lines and would have been hard to reverse for decades. The propaganda and control of information – as the narrator cites here – was obvious and omnipresent. The original V series was a masterpiece.
The logic of why this wouldn't translate now 'because it's too 80s' is not only not explained here, apart from to say it's too 'direct' it's contradicted. The narrator literally states that the themes and story are even more more relevant now.
V was one of those rare shows where I could never get enough. I'd think about it at school.
What is forgotten in the original miniseries is the obscure reference to the Visitors' OTHER enemies—–some mysterious alien species which apparently defeated the Visitors before at some point in the past (maybe which led to their exodus to Earth in an attempt to take its resources/people?)…the Resistance sends out signals into space at the end of the first miniseries in the cliffhanger, but nothing more comes of the subject…wonder who THEY were…???…
This one and They Live
V is a Documentary
If there is a truly original series from the 80s, it is V, without a doubt. The arrival of humanoid extraterrestrials who will shake up the planet and our hearts! They infiltrate like filthy lizards… But lovers of human flesh! We find in V a good number of symbols referring to the Second World War and the German occupation: kommandanturs; a flag displaying a symbol close to the swastika; a desire to exterminate a race considered inferior; collaborators; a resistance aided by internal accomplices… It's all there. We add credible special effects, a suspenseful storyline, excellent performances, and we get an exciting series that also talks about courage and tolerance.
A big thank you to Kenneth Johnson (The Incredible Hulk), and to you for making us rediscover an excellent part of our childhood!
V was ground breaking…
In the weekly series the sunglasses and voice synthesizing stopped…
No…that wasn't karl malden…
Faye grant was wonderful…
Jane badler was obviously perfectly cast…
Mark singer was excellent casting…
This was all we talked about I'm the school yard……and yep, we "played V" either acting the scenes or making up our own….I always got to be Ham….my friend was Mike…..everybody else picked out other characters and of course someone had to be the lizards……Good times
The Incredible Hulk
But more because of Bill Bixby
Than the Hulk
Due to the earnestness of Bill's performance and always helping someone
At the cost of himself
Cheesy in parts oh Yes 😂
But…
Love V
Did they ever remaster V?