"Fantasy Island" (1998) TV series 1998-1999

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Writers:

Dean Batali (writer)
Rob Des Hotel (writer)

Seasons:

1 | unknown

Release Date:

26 September 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

In this revival of the popular 1970s television series, Mr. Roarke and his three assistants run a tropical...

Plot Keywords:

Island

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Malcolm McDowell	...	Mr. Roarke (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Mädchen Amick	...	Ariel (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Edward Hibbert	...	Harry (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Fyvush Finkel	...	Fisher (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Cherisse Lamoureux	...	'Hotel employee' Pilot (13 episodes, 1998-1999)
Louis Lombardi	...	Cal (11 episodes, 1998-1999)
Tracy Bautista	...	Hotel employee (9 episodes, 1998-1999)
Sylvia Sidney	...	Clia (7 episodes, 1998)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Häna, Maui, Hawaii, USA

Company:

Columbia TriStar Television

Trivia:

Malcolm McDowell plays Mr. Roarke, who was played by 'Ricardo Montalbán' in the 1977 series. Both men had previously played the main adversaries in Star Trek movies: Montalbán played Khan Noonien Singh in Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (1982), and McDowell played Dr. Tolian Soran in Star Trek: Generations (1994).

Quotes:

Mr. Roarke: Mr. Barnes likes to flirt with death, but death is looking for a more permanent relationship.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "South Park: City on the Edge of Forever (#2.7)" (1998)

Daring, dark, brilliant

I'd caught a couple of episodes of this when it was on network TV, but it kept being moved around, and was tough to catch.

SciFi Channel shows it, and I find I adore this twisted version of the classic I loved as a child. It's darker, edgier, has a bit of a mean streak at times, but there's just something I love about it. Not quite sure what it is, but I could start with Malcolm McDowell's Mr. Roarke. I have to wonder if his first name is Prospero, considering all the other _Tempest_ parallels...Ariel, Cal(iban), even Miranda.

Nothing ever quite goes as planned in the guests' fantasies, but it's not always bad -- oftentimes they discover that what they wanted would not have satisfied, and the new solution is *far* better, even if it means major disappointment to start. Sounds treacly, doesn't it? Nope. There's a healthy dose of reality in this _Fantasy_ -- Roarke doesn't let guests get away with simply living out a dream. There's always something...extra. [wicked grin] Lessons to be learned.

It's not that Roarke's *always* mean -- there are guests he seems to genuinely like and takes care of accordingly. But there's also an angle of "Be careful what you wish for" that makes this version a cautionary tale as well as a fantasy. It does seem that he has his guests' best interests at heart, when it comes down to it. Realistically benevolent, as it were.

The bits about the budget are pretty funny too -- adds a touch of amusing realism to the fantasy angle.

It's a shame this show didn't make it. Sure, it wasn't the original. I liked the original too, for its own merits. But I really love this one, and wish it had stayed around longer.