"Assimilate or die." No, it's not high school, it's the Village, a seemingly postcard-perfect community where everybody knows your number. The newest arrival in the Village has no idea how he got there. He only knows that he wants out. Only there is no out. With only flickering flashes of his former life in New York ("There is no New York," he is ominously informed), he is determined to escape. The very idea of a Prisoner remake may be sacrilege to those still enthralled by the ever-elusive what's-it-all-about 1969 cult classic, but the nightmarish Kafka-esque conflict at the core of this "reinterpretation" still packs a paranoid punch. Jim Caviezel stars as 6, who is engaged in a battle of wills with the sinister No. 2 (Sir Ian McKellan), who is trying to, what, break him? Obtain information? Those devoted to the original will appreciate some clever homages: the Lava Lamps in one apartment, the Rover, the iconic white balloon that foils any attempts at escape, and the signature catch phrases "Be seeing you" and the defiant "I am not a number, I am a free man." The original Prisoner was star and cocreator Patrick McGoohan's pet project. Caviezel does not capture his passion or gravitas. McKellan's 2 is the more fascinating figure. This version gives him a son, 11-12 (an unnerving Jamie Campbell Bower), in whom 6's plight plants seeds of doubt about the Village. Among the captivating special features is the Comic-Con panel with writer Bill Gallagher and cast members who pay respectful lip service to the original and to the majesty of McKellan. But there is a great moment when Gallagher recalls his phone call to McGoohan (who passed away before the production commenced) seeking his blessing on the project. McGoohan offered an intriguing casting suggestion of who should play No. 2. This Prisoner may not be as buzz-worthy as the original, which was truly a one-of-a-kind creation, but it stands on its own as an expertly played mind game.

The Prisoner miniseries is a reinterpretation of the British 1960s cult hit series that starred and was co-created by Patrick McGoohan. The Premise : A man, known as Six, finds himself inexplicably trapped in The Village with no memory of how he arrived. As he explores his environment, he discovers that his fellow inhabitants are identified by number instead of name, have no memory of any prior existence, and are under constant surveillance. Not knowing whom to trust, Six is driven by the need to discover the truth behind The Village, the reason for his being there, and most importantly -- how he can escape. Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ , The Thin Red Line) plays the role of Six; and two-time Oscar nominee Ian McKellen (Lord of the Rings, The Da Vinci Code) co-stars as Two.