In 1982, director-producer Kenneth Johnson was primed to make an ambitious project that really tackled fascism, which he entitled Storm Warnings. NBC took one look at the script and noted that it was too dense and cerebral for the average viewer, but they could see that there was some promise at the root of the concept. With science fiction taking over as the hot ticket of the day thanks to the success of Star Wars, Johnson regrouped and shaped the story into V, one of the most popular and enduring miniseries to ever be released. Armed with the biggest budget for a miniseries to that point, Johnson crafted a 190-minute epic that aired over two nights and captured over a third of the television viewing audience in May of 1983.
V begins where many good science fiction stories begin, with the arrival of gigantic alien spaceships that have settled over the most populous regions of the world. The visitors use their technology to communicate their peaceful intent, and they begin the process of putting Earthlings at ease by conducting a meeting with the leader of the United Nations in New York City. They reveal themselves to be humanoid in form; appearing exactly like us save for special sunglasses to protect their eyes and a distinctive resonance to their voice. They express the desire to offer their advanced knowledge and friendship in exchange for the procurement of special chemicals they need on their home planet. In an effort of full transparency, they allow some members of the press to visit their ship and get their first glimpse of visitor life.
Kenneth Johnson does not offer the subtlest commentary on the parallels between V and the real world, but you have to forego subtlety at times to make sure the people that need it most get the message. Although made in the 1980s, the series is more relevant than ever with how the visitors use the media to spread misinformation to get a stranglehold on the world. The first casualties of this campaign are scientists, who they immediately paint as harmful to society and to the relationship with the visitors. The willingness to go along with the propaganda spreads throughout the lands more quickly than you would care to believe, but not all are cast under the spell. Mike (Marc Singer), one of the first reporters to visit the mothership, sneaks back aboard only to overhear their true, nefarious intentions and witness the visitors in their true form: a lizard-like skin underneath their fleshy façade.
Rather than risk being exposed, the visitors completely take over the media, and thus the world at large. One by one citizens get more corrupted by misinformation and start turning on one another if they are not totally on board with the new way of life. It is up to the brave resistance fighters to persevere and fight back against the tyranny that is being imposed on them. There is a surprising amount of loss throughout the duration, which gives the action scenes that much more weight. The lengthy running time allows you some extra time to get to know these characters and really care about what happens to them. Johnson may be focused on getting his very pointed message out to the audience, but the series is still immensely entertaining and well-executed for those wanting to just process the surface level of the series. V is a journey well worth taking.
Video Quality
Warner Archive presents the Blu-Ray debut of V in the same 1.85:1 aspect ratio that the 2001 DVD was presented in by request from creator Kenneth Johnson. The series was originally aired in a 4×3 aspect ratio that was common for televisions at the time, but Johnson claimed he filmed the series to be “widescreen safe” since he hoped that it would be exhibited theatrically overseas. The new high definition version is presented using an AVC encoded image presentation. This is my first viewing of the miniseries in any form so I cannot comment on if there is anything egregious that is omitted in the widescreen aspect ratio, but as a first time viewer this appears to be a very impressive transfer. The special effects hold up surprisingly well and the image has a very cinematic quality to it. The practical effects are given a chance to be shown in greater detail than they ever have before, and the series benefits from this creative choice over what would surely be some dodgy CGI. Skin tones seem natural and colors are appropriately rendered throughout. This is a very nice looking disc that should impress fans if they get past possible hang-ups about the aspect ratio.
Audio Quality
V hits Blu-Ray with a 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix that is truly dynamic and really brings to life what the series was trying to accomplish. The track expertly presents all the different sound effects from blasters to spaceships with an immediacy that immerses you into the story. Explosions really pack a punch that you wouldn’t expect from the time period. The dialogue is clear and easy to understand, even when spoken by the visitors in their modulated tone. The music composed by Joe Harnell really soars and brings a good amount of gravitas to the series. This disc also includes optional English (SDH) subtitles.
Special Features
- Commentary by Writer/Director Kenneth Johnson: Johnson is clearly very passionate about the series and offers all manner of tidbits throughout the runtime that should fascinate any fan of the series.
- Behind the Scenes Documentary: The nearly 25 minute documentary offers a mixture of talking head interviews with some of the stars, as well as some great fly-on-the-wall footage that give you some nice details on the production of the series.
Final Thoughts
V is a lovingly made miniseries that presents important ideas about real issues within the context of a kickass sci-fi action adventure. The practical effects hold up really well after all these years, and the performances are mostly solid all the way around. Warner Archive provides a wonderful Blu-Ray that delights both audibly and visually. Throw in some really worthwhile extras and you have a package that is easy to recommend. Highly Recommended
V: The Original Miniseries can be purchased directly through Warner Archive or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
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Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
