CSI Crime Scene Investigation: Complete Series One
There are two things you should bear in mind if you plan to go on a bloodthirsty killing spree. Firstly you better hope the boys and girls from CSI don't take up you case. Secondly don't come knocking at my door trying to sell crazy, 'cause I'm all stocked up!Crime Scene Investigation, to give it its full title, is the hit series imported from the States...
There are two things you should bear in mind if you plan to go on a bloodthirsty killing spree. Firstly you better hope the boys and girls from CSI don't take up you case. Secondly don't come knocking at my door trying to sell crazy, 'cause I'm all stocked up!
Crime Scene Investigation, to give it its full title, is the hit series imported from the States. In this, the first season, it knocked ER from the top of the viewing polls for the first time in ten years. With Jerry Bruckheimer as producer (The Rock, Armageddon and most things with bangs and crashes) you may expect forty-five minutes of pure action. You may be disappointed if that's what you expect because this will actually exercise your mind not vegetate it.
I've tried describing this series to friends and always make it sound totally boring as hell. This couldn't be farther from the truth. But how do you make a group of science geeks who solve murders not by knocking heads and busting chops, but by examining evidence left behind like a strand of hair, a foot print or a semen sample sound interesting?
I think the fact that you are amazed at the technology and intelligence used and because the plots are so varied. The core matter has not been touched upon before. Sure we have seen a million and one police shows, ones where they always solve the murders. But we have never seen anything quite like this before. One that takes you behind the scenes and ultimately actually shows you how the crime was committed through a kind of semi-reconstruction.
The cast are all impeccable. I truly believe this is one of the best-acted shows on TV bar none. Paul Guilfoyle (Captain Jim Brass) is a real throwback to your usual detective shows; he tells it like he sees it. William Peterson (Gil Grissom) is the head of the CSI and therefore top egghead. What he lacks in interpersonal skills he makes up for with genuine zeal for his job, and is held in the highest esteem by his colleagues. Jorja Fox (Sara Sidle) is the newest recruit to the team, after the bloody murder of one of the CSI's. She tries more than most to gain a little more of Grissoms' time and affection. Gary Dourdan (Warrick Brown) is the nearest the show has to a rebel character. If anything goes wrong ultimately he is always on hand to take the wrap. George Eads (Nick Stokes) is a fine upstanding man of principles who gets caught up in his own little dilemma from time to time, more through bad luck than bad practice though. Marg Helgenberger (Catherine Willows) is the character with the most baggage. She served her time as a stripper to earn the money to go to college to enable her to become a CSI. She also is the only one with a child and an ex husband. Romantically the other cast members occasionally flirt but generally speaking they are closer to a hermit than a hooker! Eric Szmanda (Greg Sanders) deserves special mention as the one true personality. He has youthful exuberance in an environment which stifles most people's true character.
The DVD is first class in appearance and content. Available in two box sets, the first having episodes 1-12 the second having episodes 13-23. Both are in Widescreen 16:9 and the picture quality is excellent. A lot of the episodes are shot at night and the lighting is perfect for setting the tone but allowing you to see everything. The sound is Dolby 5.1. This is excellent and really adds to the sense of occasion. It blasts out The Who's 'who are you' at the start and continues from there.
Extra features are in my opinion only useful if they tell you something new or interesting about the main feature or actors. These two box sets have more than enough of the above to keep even the most critical viewer happy.
Box set one has cast and crew interviews. This is all the main cast interviewed about their characters and their opinions on the show. It also has a piece with executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer and creator Anthony E. Zuiker. I found this really informative, I'm not sure you'd call it entertaining, but well worth a watch.
There was also what looked like a trailer that was made for US TV. So the obligatory man with the deep voice cackling on about the show then!
Character profiles was almost written like a C.V. for the screen. The characters resume for all to see. Gave you a little bit of background information on some of the characters.
The behind the scenes was a little pointless. It was basically five minutes of us watching the cameras shoot some scenes. Didn't really bring a lot to the table in my opinion.
Box Set two had a two-minute featurette, which was essentially a longer version of a trailer. The only difference being that the cast had maybe a line or two to say.
Production notes were essentially Mr Zuikers' life story. How he had had jobs varying from a stockbroker on Wall Street to a tram boy at a casino. It also had details of how the show came to be created. Only takes a minute or two to read so was worthwhile.
There was also extended cast and crew interviews on this box set too. Again it featured all the cast as you would expect. This time it also has chats with other producers and directors on the show. Well worth a watch if you are obsessed by the show or there is something you till haven't learnt.
To sum these two box sets up is simple. They are essential viewing; just don't try explaining why to your friends!
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