The movie hypnotized me in my late teens... thought it was the best film ever made. I rewatched it just before the HBO series started and wondered just how many bong hits I'd taken before watching it the first time around.

The HBO version is great, but very slow moving. Events from the season finale should've unfolded by at least the 3rd episode. During the final 2 episodes there was a lot of explaining going on, and some good action sequences -- but I wish the explaining had taken place much sooner -- characters engaged in lengthy talking-head explanatory scenes seemed forced, more like a recital than watching a story. I was never a fan of the series "Lost", but I think this method of storytelling should appeal to those that were.

In the movie, the android's eyes lit up indicating a malfunction, then the amusement park went crazy. With the series, no eyes light up and instead there's a gradual buildup as to what was happening behind-the-eyes. It's so gradual though that I would've enjoyed the series more if I'd binged it -- a week at a time of snail-paced plotting can be frustrating. It's good, but lacks the pacing that made the original movie so engaging.

Medieval World and Roman World -- with 'spy' androids to integrate the subplots would've been great -- but those worlds have disappeared from the story -- likely it might have been too expensive to produce. Unfortunate, as it would've helped with pacing. As it's been renewed for a 2nd season, I'm wondering if those worlds might be worked in. Slow pacing or not, I'll be watching as many seasons as they put out... ;-)