I thought it would be neat, for my 2,000th review, to go back to part of my beginning. And 7½ hours later...I grew up on V. No, not the awesome Vendetta film from DC decades later. And I'm not talking about the super-vamp drug from True Blood or the hard-to-get-through 2009 remake.I'm talking about the Badass Badler and Super-Hot Singer Star Wars knockoff of the early 80s. In fact, V *was* my Star Wars.Back when I was between 9-12ish, I consumed this show/concept. While it only had two miniseries (sorta movies, sorta seasons) and one official season (or, as labelled, Season 3,) it practically became my world. I watched it live and all the reruns I could plan out. And no, my family couldn't afford a VCR until a few years later, so I did my best by the TV guide and commercial previews.It wouldn't make much sense to me until this viewing that one of the biggest reasons I fell in love with V was the show's creator. He also created another favorite show of mine growing up and pre-V: The Incredible Hulk. I had the same feeling about that show as I did V and they shared the same creator: Kenneth Johnson.I digress, once the show's finale (3rd season spoiler) created peace in the world, and I began my teen years, I grew apart from the show/concept and never to return any of the Vniverse until 35-freaking-years later.When I thought of what I could celebrate my 2,000th review with, this made sense as my 1,000th celebratory review was the very first movie I'd ever remember seeing: 1975's Escape to Witch Mountain. V was a huge part of my childhood and memories, but I had no idea what kind of commitment I had to give to review this. I mean, seven and a half hours?! Fine, I had nothing else going on this weekend, so why not?I'll tell you why not and why I can't give it a huge recommendation. For today's audiences anyways. It's way too padded. It's easy to figure out why, but it's a chore nowadays when we have more options of what to watch online and wasn't relying on a non-VCR, heck, non-internet world in 1983. These two miniseries/seasons could've/should've been easily edited down to about 4 hours, ish.At the time, though, it was epic. Not just for the preteen in me, but for the ambition they had. They had top-notch FX (for TV) and world-building that they did oh so well. I truly felt this world of V (for visitors) could have existed. Yes, there are special effects we would scoff at today, mostly the flying sequences, but for the most part, it was practical effects and sets. I can totally see the 9-12 year old in me loving and believing this world was realistic.From what I'm told, the concept was supposed to be a retelling of the Nazi regime in modern (1983) times, but those in charge thought no one would buy it (fast-forward to the trump presidency of these modern times and, well...) and Star Wars was hot back then, so they switched it to an alien invasion. In any case, that worked and totally made sense and is more believable. The world is invaded by "peaceful" Visitors who come from a dying planet. Their mission is to share their resources and technology in exchange for hospitality. As most dictatorships develop, "They Come in Peace" and slowly/surely take control of society. Ahh, but Vive la résistance!The show/series/seasons began with Star Wars-types of tropes and ends with flat-out theft of the Original Trilogy. Again, as a kid, I was fine with it. At the time, anyways, the only way for a kid to see Star Wars was to go to the theatre for the first-run Return of the Jedi, for one of the many re-releases of IV and V (Episode 5 in this case) and pray one of the five channels we got ran them in prime time.I literally have not seen the V original series or singular season since around/about 1985ish and boy do I remember plenty of it, this time around. This does prove to me how much this show did mean to me.Fun Facts: I was in total love with Marc Singer during the show, though I didn't know what that meant since I didn't know what "gay" was at the time. I totally dug Diana as one of my all-time favorite villains. She was so deliciously evil and charismatic. I also loved Faye Grant as the leader and every-person and Freddy Kruger! Well, not yet, but I did like Robert Englund as Willie. Oh, and lest I forget Michael Ironside, which I was in love with internally and externally, as well. Back then, I couldn't get enough of this show. Every character meant something to me, every battle and scheme had me truly involved and on the edge of my seat and, mercifully, the plot, dialogue and adventures were easy enough for my preteen mind to wrap around. THIS was perfect for my age back then and no matter what I feel now (ah-hem, only 4/5 stars,) V will always have a special place in my heart. Only, I don't think I'll ever rewatch the show again. Once every 35 years is enough nostalgia...and honestly, I don't think I have another 35 years left. Is it V for Visitors or V for Victory?***Final thoughts: Couple of other good things I loved/love about these two miniseries: a VERY good score, only to be improved in the "3rd" season and some actual laugh out loud humor that, surprisingly, still works today. I was honestly pretty impressed with some of the dialogue and delivery.

I was only 8 years old when this TV mini-series was unleashed upon the world, and I think by now then I have seen it four or five times already. And I can honestly say that it is equally entertaining and exciting to watch every time.Story-wise then "V" is very good and thrilling. Aliens came to Earth, offering help, access to knowledge and technology, but most importantly also offering friendship. But there is more than the eye can see behind the masks of the extraterrestrial visits.The mini-series start off in an adrenaline-fueled pace and it essentially never slows down. It is a thrill ride and "V" takes the audience along on a grand Sci-Fi adventure."V" is full of greatly detailed and developed characters, both human and visitor alike, and the cast portraying them are talented and very well-cast. There are really an abundance of great actors and actresses in this 1983 mini-series.Granted that the mini-series is old and some of the special effects are poor, but it hardly matters because "V" is driven by the story and characters, not by the special effects.This is a classic Sci-Fi adventure and I think it will never grow old. If you are not familiar with the 1983 mini-series then it is due time that you treat yourself to it.

This is the finest ever made for TV mini series I have seen. I remember watching it when originally broadcast and recently bought the DVD and re watched. Not only does it hold up, it seems better to me now than when I first saw it 29 years ago. Leonard Cimino is brilliant as the aged holocaust survivor who lost his wife in a concentration camp. He makes the most of his part and teaches us all not only how to fight, but how to love. The beautiful Faye Grant is awesome as the leader of the resistance. While there are obvious allusions to the Nazis, it is amazing how much of the story mimics today- There are allegations of "Owning the press and the news media." Civil rights and homes are lost. The visitors, with their own version of Obama's "Hope and Change" really had their own agenda, which they dare not reveal. I really enjoyed this, there was surprisingly little gore, and scenes of torture were implied, but not shown. Well done and very enjoyable.

Other then small differences like the V's being aliens the way they assimilated power and conquered the earth is very similar to how the Nazi's took power of Germany in the 1930's.The V's like the Nazi's had a charismatic leader, brainwashing and propaganda in the media. Even the uniforms of the V soldiers is very similar to the storm trooper soldiers of the Nazi and they use the same Red and Black colors.Same way that the Nazi's used hope for the future to help influence the population the V's used a cure for things like cancer and other ailments. Early terrorist attacks on the V's were blamed on scientists in the same manner that the Nazi's did the same to communists. This miniseries shows society can be swayed by easy answers and charisma.