Amazon.co.uk review
Primeval may be a little daft, and it may be ITV trying to capture some of the success that the BBC has enjoyed with Doctor Who, but for brainless Saturday night entertainment, it's quite a blast.
Picking up from where the series before it left off, it finds Professor Nick Cutter and his team once again dealing with creatures quite literally out of their time. But this time, Primeval has a few more tricks up its sleeve. Because while the convention for much of series one was that the creatures that faced Cutter and his crew were arriving from the past, this time round there are monsters from the future to worry about too. Cue the likes of a woolly mammoth on the motorway, and a raptor-esque chase around a shopping centre.
Primeval then blends in some twisty narratives surrounding the characters themselves, which - while not particularly intricate or surprising - do keep the fun jollying along. And backed up with special effects that range from the very good to the slightly creaky, it does its best to throw as much at the screen as it can.
Superior to the season that preceded it, but still with some way to go to be regarded as any kind of classic, Primeval is nonetheless undoubtedly still very good fun, and the seven episodes here are suitable for family viewing too. Enjoyable, and worth checking out. --Jon Foster
Customer Reviews:
Super!.......2008-03-15
A fantastic series thanks to a great cast, brilliant creature effects and an excellent storyline. Every episode of Primeval left me wanting to desperatly see the next so I could see how the overall plot arc would develope and what amazing creature they will have to face. The finale was amazing - I can't wait until the next series! I even found it more enjoyable than Dr Who!
Cliched, reactionary snoozfest.......2008-03-12
I cannot understand why this engages people so much; clearly an attempt to succeed where Doctor Who has, but dumbed down and with characters you really couldn't care less about. Dinosaurs? Why not fend them off with a gun? There, finished. No more worries. No more hiding and scabbling about in shopping centres etc. The fact this never is mentioned in the TV awards, even as a contender saliently illustrates it is chewing gum for the eyes. And chewing gum that has had it's fair share of chews already; we've seen it before, and done better. Come on ITV, you are losing viewing figures hand over fist, and now is the time to shine, and with tarnished efforts like this, it's not going to happen.
I'm completely absorbed!.......2008-03-03
I really hate it when people compare this to Doctor Who! Doctor Who is completely different and i cannot believe anyone would compare the two if they saw both shows. Sadly, for some reason, Doctor Who has more success, but Primeval has a great cast, great effects and most importantly an absorbing story! I first thought it would be a show with a very loose continuation running through it. However, I have been completely suprised, it has a vastly more intense and clever story line than i could have expected! Drawing in audiences that are interested in what happens to the characters aswell as seeing monsters every week! Making me very, very hopeful for the future of british television. Its not as high a standard as 'alias' or 'buffy' but its trying its hardest and its become one of my most favourite series on TV. Excellent, well worth buying, cus i could watch it again and again!
I would like better special features, namely out-takes, cus there always good and a larger amount of episodes too! 6-7 episodes a series isn't particularly impressive. When you start getting into it, its over.
Keep Going ITV!!!!!! Your on a winner here!!!Thank You!!!
trying too hard to out-do Who: CONTAINS SPOILERS.......2008-02-29
The basic premise for ITV's prime contender for Dr Who's crown is that anomalies in time start appearing that connect our time with prehistoric or future. The Government seeks the help of paelentologist Prof Nick Cutter and his team (hunky lab assistant Stephen, zookeeper Abby and nerdy student Connor) to tackle the dinosaurs and dangerous predators from the future that blunder into our world when anomalies open, as the Home Office is keen to keep this knowledge under wraps and minimise the damage caused. Working against Cutter (Douglas Henshell) is his estranged wife Helen, also a Professor and dino expert, who had gone missing (presumably exploring anomalies) eight years before anyone else was aware of them.
The first Primeval series was great fun, with a nice twist at the end as future predators escape back into earth's distant past. We saw Cutter's new love-interest Claudia Brown having dizzy turns and then disappearing from the time-line altogether in the final episode, and as she was such a great character, I was eagerly awaiting the new series. Well, at the start of Series 2 we get some codswallop "scientific" explanation that Claudia has never existed in the new time-line because Helen has gone back in time and changed evolution. Sorry, but evolutionary pressure works on whole species, not individuals! Cutter returned from his trip into the past to find a world not only lacking Claudia but subtely altered from the one he left, with the Anomaly Research Centre (ARC) replacing the Home Office, and its boss James Lester, now supported by a slimy side-kick called Oliver Leek. This new series sees Cutter attempting not only to get to grips with this altered world and maintain his position as leader of the anomaly-hunting team, but also having to deal with the arrival of a PR expert called Jenny Lewis who looks exactly like Claudia Brown! What disappoints me is that unless the writers are planning a far-reaching arc to explain Claudia's disappearance, the whole cliffhanger scenario at the end of series one is just dropped here in favour of some cheap thrills, cheap CGI and some sub-X Files shennanigins. Yes, kids will love the monsters - good to see the brilliant future predator back as well as a scary future walrus, a sabre-tooth cat and a magnificent mammoth that runs amok on the M25 - but it looks like a souped-up ITV kids teatime serial rather than a serious rival to Russel T Davies' Dr. Who. There's a serious effort to make Cutter into some kind of action hero, which Henshall doesn't seem too comfortable with, belly-flopping into the Thames one moment, sliding uneasily down a rope at a theme park to escape a sabre-tooth cat the next, or chasing velociraptors round an underground car park on a moped. The linking sub-plots for this series are the creation of an anomaly-detecting device by Connor and the machinations of the crafty Leek (a suitably weedy but not nearly evil enough Karl Theobald), who has teamed up with the marvellous pantomime villainess that is Helen Cutter (Juliet Aubrey) to capture animals from the future and past in order to build some kind of army to take over the world. Throw in a bit of human cloning and it's obvious that Helen is blithely visiting the future for not only animals, but also new technologies (perhaps even controlling anomalies?), despite Connor having built the anomaly detector! Not sure why future humans arn't coming back through the anomalies as well then, but perhaps the budget doesn't stretch to that. Am I being picky? Of course, but good SF writing engages us emotionally and and there are many superior time-travel stories out there (just look at the Star Trek's "City of the Edge of Forever" where Captain Kirk's love-interest has to die to prevent the Nazis winning World War 2 and going on to conquer space, or that brilliant Dr Who episode BLINK). Series 1 of Primeval ended on an empotional high, but in this series the writers give the impression of making it up as they go along, oblivious to plot-line defects or inconsistencies, or audience loyalties to characters. I hope they pull some serious cats, sabre-tooth or otherwise, out of the bag for the next series: this one has been a serious disappointment for this viewer.
Prime Saturday night entertainment........2008-02-27
I was a little unfair on the first series of Primeval when i reviewed it on Amazon. I only realised that when it sunk in how much i was looking forward to the second series. Dr Who apart it's far and away the best thing on TV on Saturday nights.
The second series not too surprisingly picks up where the second series left off with Cutter (Douglas Henshall) knowing he is back in a parallel version of his old life , and everything seems to be the same except that Claudia (Lucy Brown) has disappeared and no one can ever remember her existing. Never mind because she soon re-appears except she is now called Jenny Lewis and is an aggressive PR representative for the powers that be , charged with ensuring that the existence of the shimmering anomalies stays secret. I would suggest that this storyline isn't explored to the degree it should have been but then again it can be in later series so maybe the writers will explore it then.
There is also an on-going plot involving Cutters (ex) wife Helen (Juliet Aubrey) ,which is also implicated in with shadowy blokes popping up at anomaly sites and the right hand man of the amusingly sardonic Lester (Ben Miller)- Oliver Leek(Karl Theobold) who looks shiftier than a weasel at the Tory party conference .Meanwhile Abby(Hannah Spearitt) and Connor(Andrew Lee Potts) continue their fractious but inevitable coming together though Connor is side-tracked for awhile by the romantic attentions of Caroline (Naomi Bentley) who is in the pay of the bad guys. Stephen Hart( James Murray) is clashing with Cutter and being manipulated by Helen. And of course there is the usual menagerie of prehistoric beasties to deal with including a mammoth on a major road, a sabre toothed tiger in a theme park , velociraptors in a shopping centre, and strange mist dwelling worm creatures in an office block. There are also some bizarre aquatic seal like creatures from a possible future , giant scorpions plus the return of Primevals best creation- the future predators(The one time the CGI is really up to scratch) from series one.
Its all cracking pacy fun .Complete nonsense of course and it's best not to think too deeply about it or the numerous plot holes will have you questioning every thing that occurs and therefore ruin your enjoyment . The acting isn't anything special but is good enough and the scripts are fairly sharp .In fact the only thing that really lets the series down are the special effects which are frankly lousy. Compare them to regular CGI heavy series like Dr Who or Enterprise and it's like comparing Inter Milans defence to Derby County's.
The DVD has an extensive making of feature called "Through the anomaly" though like most of those they are not actually all that interesting but if you like that sort of thing there is plenty to keep you occupied here. Commentaries are also available. The great thing about Primeval though is that it's an imaginative entertaining slice of hokum that you can watch with the kids on a Saturday night and gives you an alternative from interminable celebrity reality drivel and dull quiz shows. More programmes like Primeval and the recently acquired Dexter and ITV1 might start gaining a reputation as a half decent channel again.
Amazon.co.uk Review
When The Shawshank Redemption was released in 1994, some critics complained that this popular prison drama was too long to sustain its plot. Those complaints miss the point, because the passage of time is crucial to this story about patience, the squeaky wheels of justice and the growth of a life-long friendship. Only when the film reaches its final, emotionally satisfying scene do you fully understand why writer-director Frank Darabont (adapting a novella by Stephen King) allows the story to unfold at its necessary pace.
Tim Robbins plays a banker named Andy who is sent to Shawshank Prison on a murder charge, but as he gets to know a life-term prisoner named Red (Morgan Freeman), we soon realise his claims of innocence are credible. We also realise that Andy's calm, quiet exterior hides a great reserve of patience and fortitude, and Red comes to admire this mild-mannered man who first struck him as weak and unfit for prison life. So it is that The Shawshank Redemption builds considerable impact as a prison drama that defies the conventions of the genre (violence, brutality, riots) to illustrate its theme of faith, friendship and survival. Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Actor and Screenplay, it's a remarkable film (which movie lovers count among their all-time favourites) that signalled the arrival of a promising new filmmaker.
On the DVD: The Shawshank Redemption limited-edition release contains the complete 48-minute documentary "Shawshank: The Redeeming Feature", including interviews with all the principal cast and crew; plus more interview material and the theatrical trailer. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
If you are not moved by this - you are already dead.......2007-12-23
There is a very good reason this film has received the accolades of many reviewers - it is extremely good. Moving, brilliantly acted and revealing about prison life, it takes you through almost 20 years of the life of a man wrongly convicted of his wife's murder. That's not the point of the film, of course, more the way he deals with the experience, enriches the lives of his fellow inmates and does justice to a bent prison governor to boot.
A truly uplifting film, the ending is a masterpiece that can make a grown man cry... at least I did. So much better than the excellent Stephen King short story on which it is based, if you read the reviews and don't buy or rent it, you are passing by one of the better things in life.
Many Times better than Prison Break.......2007-11-22
One of the most popular modern TV series is Prison Break.Judging by the amount of positive reviews it has received, it can be considered as a critical success on the whole. Shawshank Redemption is many many times better.
The Shawshank Redemption has you hooked from the very first scene. Although Andy's innocence was obvious from the beginning, you just think how he's going to get out of it.
For me, the power and depth in this movie was it's ability to make prison life and friendships look better than that on the outside. Also when they were finally released they were so hesitant to live on the outside and wanted to go back in. I'm not sure why this affected me so much but i think it's just the fact that one mistake forced these people to live in a certain way where they don't want so much freedom and they're used to being workers with no rewards. They just couldn't adapt to the outside world. As if it were a different planet or something.
Although the men are supposed to be 'cold hearted killers', they seem so nice and are so easy to sympathize with. I know it sounds lame to feel sorry for a killer or thief but i think that the amazing story and acting, had me hoping that all of the prisoners were innocent... except for some obviously. Not to mention the guards were so mean and rude i just wished they would all get punished and tortured at the end of the movie.
If someone can feel that passionate and involved in a movie the first time they've seen it...i think it's a sign that if the person reading this still hasn't...they should. The Shawshank Redemption most definitely deserves its spot on the IMDb top #250.
A great film .......2007-11-13
This is a truly superb film. Hard hitting and superbly written, acted and directed. How anyone can mark this below 5* is criminal in itself and they deserve to be locked up in shawshank!! Tim Robbins leads brilliantly in a career best performance with a perfectly casted support led by Morgan Freeman. It gives a brilliant insight into the tough and sometimes brutal goings on within prison set between 1949 and 1966. The twist is both clever and perfectly executed with a roller coaster of emotions. This film is worth far more than £2.98 (currently on amazon) + delivery so if you do not have it, buy it. If you have never seen it then you are not serious about film. Great movie - buy it now.
Stunning!.......2007-10-26
An aboslutely stunningly moving film. It relys on fantastic performances by Morgan freeman and Tim Robbins (not Tim Allen as suggested by one reviewer) not special effects or action. It is well worth buying or at least watching.
Get on Living!.......2007-10-10
Without doubt Shawshank Redemption is one of my favourite films. It tells the story of a man convicted of the murder of his wife and her lover who although denies the murder is convicted anyway. Tim Robbins is superb along with Morgan Freeman whose sublime voice over provides a wonderful flow to the film. Realistic (in parts) this film will cheer your soul. Its a beautiful story that eventually leads the viewer to realise that Andy Defraine (Tim Robbins) is actually innocent. Despite this he remains incarcerated and eventually escapes. How? Watch to find out. This is a top class film and is well worth watching!
Amazon.co.uk Review
The ITV chequebook was waved very firmly in the direction of Primeval, a big-budget prime-time Saturday rival to the success of the BBC's Doctor Who. But unlike some efforts to buy big ratings, there's actually a lot of entertainment throughout the episodes here that make up the complete first series.
The crux of the programme surrounds a series of strange creatures from both the future and the past who appear to be roaming around in the present day. So what's going on? And what can be done about the dinosaur-esque creatures, big insects and assorted parasitic lifeforms that are suddenly roaming the Earth? That's where Nick Cutter and his team come in, and the fun really begins.
A surprisingly human action-drama, Primeval clearly draws influence from the BBC's megahit, and while it never really threatens to rival it, it is nonetheless a good show in its own right. The special effects are suitably smart, but there's also, more importantly, a half-decent script at the heart of things, and that really does help lift the show.
Already commissioned for a second series, these maiden adventures for the Primeval team offer some rollicking entertainment and plenty of rewatch value. And with that in mind, this complete first season is a smart buy. --Jon Foster
Customer Reviews:
Funny as hell.......2008-03-01
I like Primeval, granted I watched the second one first because I couldn't watch the first season as another programme had been on at the same time. Finding the dvd in the library, which I rented, I just fell in love with it.
Everyone's reaction in the programme is very good and funny for example, the dodos and the golf resort. This one hadn't failed to make me laugh. It was so addictive that I stayed up nearly all night just to watch the rest.
I don't compare programmes with each other as I have only seen one epic of Dr Who and that was only because Kylie was in it. I love the X-Files but Primeval, in my opinion, is a classic on it's own. You don't have to watch it but if you are someone who likes to kick back and just watch something that will make you smile...then this is the programme for you.
Primeval 1.......2008-02-24
Amazing graphics animals including a Gorganopsid and a Hesperonis are prehistoric animals that many people didn't know about(unless your like me, a dino maniac!)no animal's graphics are wrong as far as I know.
P.S. the actors only get a ballon on a stick as a monster:0
Good christmas present .......2007-11-03
I liked primeval and i have this dvd. Its fast pased, funny, and easy to watch. i watch it when thers nothing to watch on sunday afternoon, and you can watch it over and over again, a bit like Dr Who. Its not particularly original but the CGI is good and the twist at the end of the last episode is clever and i will definitly watch series 2. Its not too expencive and i would recomed getting this, it would be an ideal stocking filler!
Sf at it is best..........2007-10-17
I know there are people who feel this show is ITV answer on Dr. Who and for this rubbish... well I liked Dr. Who and I like this series too. It has its minor fauls - but I guess there still a law that says 'who is perfect' even the Doctor has his minor fauls. Plus the Doctor also borrows heavily from other SF series/movies... let not forget that SF has been around for a while now and most ideas have been used at least once or twice by most series --- so we are bound to find some similar ideas in most SF series... so why should Primeval above this?
The general idea/ plot/ characters and cast is good - the monster are real on screen and they do have nice characters interacting well...so a well done from me...
Beside the series is now also embraking on an international career as it was on our TV too
You have to stick with it!.......2007-08-29
I didn't expect much when I stuck the first disc in my DVD, but was pleasantly surprised by what I saw. The premise is interesting, if far from original. The script is pretty good, although some things are over-explained jus to make sure the Saturday night prime time audience understands what's going on. The main cast is very good, their acting is superb throughout, but I couldn't heklp feeling that some of the extras and bit-players could have been better. Special effects are good - for a British TV show, you have to understand. All in all, a fun sci-fi/action romp that your grandmother could understand!
One thing to point out though, you will not appreciate how good the series is unless you watch the last episode. I was thinking it was pretty average up until then - the twist ending (not really a twist, more just a clever "ah" moment) really went down well with me. Apparently, there's a second series on the offing. I for one am looking forward to it!
Amazon.co.uk Review
Disney's huge hit franchise of the moment never has, and perhaps never will, see the inside of a cinema. But given the millions upon millions of followers across the globe, the DVD release of High School Musical 2 will nonetheless rival the sales of any blockbuster you care to mention.
And why shouldn't it? Grounded firmly in the family spirit that classic Disney movies are renowned for, High School Musical 2 isn't the most radical movie you're ever likely to see, but it's had few recent rivals where outright fun is concerned. The plot this time sees Troy, Gabriella, Ryan, Chad, Taylor and Sharpay in the midst of organising a talent competition during their school holidays, which proves all the excuse the film needs to bring on the musical entertainment.
Packed in with insanely addictive tunes, and playing very firmly to its fan base, it's hard not to conclude that High School Musical 2 is a success. What's more, there's immense respin potential to the disc, and given the raging success of the first movie, this one too is set to be enjoyed time and time again.
Not jumped on the High School Musical wagon yet? Here's a perfect place to start.
Customer Reviews:
High School Musical 2 Rocks.......2008-03-11
This is a Disney Muscial with good wholesome values/morals and messages but the surprising thing is that the majority of the songs are good and the performances entertaining. As Grease was for the previous generation so High School Musical will be for this growing generation.
There are some good scenes especially when Sharpey sings Fabulous and the disasterous song she sings to Troy which she wants them to perform in the talent contest.
Good Fun and enjoyable.
Excellent, but not excellence...so how come 5 stars?.......2008-01-24
[Firstly, sorry, again I couldn't stop typing.]
So much has been said and written about this movie I wasn't going to even bother writing a review... but then I couldn't help myself.
I could describe the plot to you, but that has been done. I'm mainly I'm going to explain why I selected 5 stars, when in comparison to truly great movies it...well it would hardly share the same category. I'm a believer in judging a movie or TV show by its intentions and the success of carrying them through to the end result, not neccessarily by its place in the Cannon of film. HSM2, as with HSM intended to entertain with great acting, great dancing, a good plot and of course, the Disney morals. With this in mind, it succeeded.
Clearly, the brains behind the franchise realised that the target audience of the tweenies were not the only demographic drawn [almost unwillingly] to the first movie. The sequel certainly shows this realisation and also the growth of the actors and the gentle change in styles.
Loving musicals, but only expecting to get a little fix, I bought the first and was hooked, (though it kind of stands out next to Rent, Moulin Rouge, Chorus Line, Cabaret, etc.). When the sequel arrived, I bought it without a second thought. Surprise, surprise, I loved it. It certainly has a slightly more mature and complex style in the characters' behaviour/interactions with each other, (even their tone of voice) and dialogue. It has a much more complex structure within the music and even more so in the dance, without moving to far away from the established style.
The talents of the actors are shown more clearly with greater respect. Lucas Grabeel, (Ryan) is allowed to shine through his voice and amazing dancing abilties, stepping out from Ashley Tisdale's, (Sharpay) shadow. Particularly in 'I Don't Dance' with Corbin Bleu (Chad) who also gets the same chance. This movie isn't purely the 'Troy and Gabrielle Show', which being amazed by Lucas's talents especially, was refreshing.
It's a musical, [obviously] and that genre can provide a realistic look at life. Although I don't honestly think HSM2 does this, I again go back to intent. This movie gives an impression of realism of American teenagers, close enough for the target audience to relate, but far enough away to escape and dream. As for anyone older watching this movie, I'm not so sure realism actually matters and perhaps its lack of total authenticity is what appeals to us; perhaps we only want the sunny, rosy escapism.
This movie is cheesy, yes. It doesn't stretch the imagination in it's plot or film making, (cinematography, set design, costuming, etc.) though Kenny Ortega's choreography is renowned outside his involvement in this movie and he never lets you down. It is not a work of excellence, in cinematic terms, but there is just something about this movie that has the world in a craze. Perhaps it is simply because the talent is so blatently thrown in front of you on screen. That is something I don't know how anyone can doubt. Dislike the film, fine. Hate the film, ok. But why doubt the talent or the intentions; or the successful executions of them?
This is one of those movies that 'is what it is'. Once you get that, the reason for its seemingly surprising broad appeal is not so hard to understand. It does what it does and it does it with flare.
(Though I'm still kinda embarrassed that I like it so much...or at all.)
Better than High School Musical 1!.......2008-01-15
High School Musical 2 is fantastic in my opinion and exceeds the first High School Musical 1. The songs in this film seem to come thick and fast & are so infectiously catchy.
The East High Wildcats are gearing up for big fun as they land the coolest summer jobs imaginable. Troy, Gabriella, Chad & Taylor are working at the Lava Springs Country Club founded by Ryan & Sharpay's family!
And with the club's annual talent show just around the corner, Sharpay's competitive instincts are sizzling. She dumps Ryan as her singing partner and starts wooing Troy to join her onstage instead. Gabriella is less than thrilled that Troy has agreed to sing with Sharpay.
Things are heating up on the lawns of high society. Will Troy and Gabriella realize that they're meant to be? Or is it already too late for them to sing one last song together? I seriously recommend this film, if you're a fan of High School Musical or if you've got the first film it's perfect for adding to your collection! Buy it now!
FABULOUS!!!!.......2008-01-11
I'm sure you all know the story by now so I'll keep it short - this movie ROCKS!!!
If you liked HSM you'll LOVE this - it's so lovely and summery and happy, and just makes you wanna get up and dance and sing! The soundtrack is really good - full of bright happy tunes, and the dancing and script are really fun to watch too. Plus Zac Efron is HOTT!! haha
So if you like a good, happy, cheesy musical to cheer you up every once in a while (...or everyday in my case!!) then buy this DVD!!!!
Enjoy :) xxx
worst film EVER!!!.......2008-01-06
how can any1 watch this its like someone kidnapping you and the worst torture they could possibly do stick you on a chair and put this on im surprised anyone likes it im 11 and i am so mad, lol, cant watch it listen to the songs i hate it my sister loves it and wherever i go she sings the songs off it it is so annoying.
Customer Reviews:
Shameless - Absolutely Priceless.......2008-02-23
When series one of Shameless first showed on tv, I didn't really take much notice of it to be honest as I didn't really think it would be my cup of tea.
After hearing a couple of friends raving on about the show and catching a couple of the new episodes and a few re-runs of the series one, I realised how wrong my first impressions of the show was and decided to purchase the series 1-4 dvd from Amazon so I could catch up to date with the current series.
If you are new to Shameless like myself, the show is set on the fictional Chatsworth Housing Estate and follows the everyday lives of the Gallagher family. The first series mainly centres around Frank who is head of the Gallagher family, although from the second series onwards the writters centre each episode on a different members of the family and the Chatsworth Housing Estate to a certain degree.
Part of the genious of the show is just how spot on the creators have managed to nail the gritty realism of the rough life on a housing estate which is portrayed in the show. If you go to any city in the UK, I can guarantee you that you will be able to find an estate just like Chatsworth or a family just like the Gallaghers and this is what makes the show so special because it would not work unless the writters got the atmosphere and the storylines absolutely 100% true to life.
The show is full of a great collection of main characters. Everybody will no doubt like myself grow to have a favourite character, wether it be drunk and rambling Frank, daughter Debbie - the wise beyond her years and smart mouthed mother figure of the family or Carl who just appears to be obsessed with breast and constantly getting laid. Each and every one of the brilliant member of the family is creation of utter brilliance.
The entire series 1-4 boxset is made up of 11 discs cotaining a total number of 34 episodes which for anybody new to show should be more than enough to put you up until the fith series is release on dvd later this year.
If the 34 episodes housed in this boxset is not enough for you, the creators of this dvd set has also very kindly squeezed tones of special features including: Meet the cast, A feature lengh Christmass Special, Audio commentarys, Feature lengh New Years Special, Mockumentary: Being Alice Barry (Lillian Unpeeled) and much more.
whether your a new comer to the show like myself of a long established member of the already huge fan base looking for a worthy addition to your dvd collection, this boxset is a must have.
Absolutely the best British comedy series I have seen for a decade!
Customer Reviews:
Absolutley fantastic!!!!!!!.......2008-03-06
What a series, utter brilliant, with laughs and tears all the way from the very first episode, such great acotrs and a great writer this makes it so scucseful, you can watch it over and over again and like someone put in their review when it has finsihed you do feel like you said goodbye to friends and that you are part of their crew. got some really really funny parts in as well and one liners which will floor you, this is must have!!!
Cold Feet is the best.......2007-10-30
My husband bought me this box set last christmas and it took a while before I got around to watching it. I played each episode every day while on my exercise bike. I had forgotten just how good it was, and although I had seen it first time around I still laughed and cried. Why don't they make shows like this any more. The script is fantastic and the actors great.
Nothing but the best.......2007-02-27
Occasionally there is a series or programme when everything comes together as near perfectly as can be imagined - acting, writing, production and so on. Cold Feet is one such series.
There is a sense that though it is clear the actors worked well together, they may have gelled off screen as well. The writer's consistency is remarkable as he tells the story of these characters through so many agonies and ecstasies of life. Cold Feet never descends into the trivial or maudlin, never tries to get laughs just for the sake of laughs, but shows true sensitivity to the natural comedy of life as well as the difficult and tragic.
All elements are woven together so very well by all concerned and, as a previous reviewer has written, these people become friends from whom it is difficult to take one's leave at the end.
It was probably wise to stop at five series; few can tell when things are going to degenerate if production continues, but Cold Feet went out on a high and there are elements that keep you watching to the final frames.
One of the best of purchases that will be on and off the screen for us for many years.
There are interesting bonus features with this DVD, too.
Missing old friends.......2007-01-29
We live abroad and so miss good British TV. This show is the best of British TV. My wife would remind me that it was only a show and not real, but I'd have to do the same for her when she got too involved in the characters and plot. When we got to the end of the series we felt like we were saying goodbye to old friends. Hopefully, that tells you how great the show is, rather than how sad we are.
Excellent.......2006-11-02
Cold Feet is fantastic-full of entertaining trials and tribulations of LIFE itself. I was never bored with watching these fantastic actors.
Amazon.co.uk Review
Watching Zodiac with Se7en and Fight Club in mind might disappoint those expecting a typical David Fincher movie, but his exploration of a serial killer's reign across 70s San Francisco is highly rewarding, provided you're willing to put in the (2 and a half) hours. The Zodiac killer submitted citizens of California to everything from fear to mild bemusement for the better part of a decade with his media-baiting ciphers and acts of terrible violence. Meanwhile reporters, police and an obsessed cartoonist named Robert Graysmith spent those years trying and ultimately failing to put a face to the name. Fincher's own fascination with the case really comes across here, and while he doesn't shrink from the horror of the murders, this is his most traditional, but most accomplished feat of storytelling to date.
The pin sharp dialogue and perfectly paced story is accompanied by a first rate cast - most notably Robert Downey Jnr's hack Paul Avery and Mark Ruffalo's dogged homicide detective David Toschi. The story veers away swiftly from standard serial killer fare to intense procedural, focussing on the obsession of the men trying to stop Zodiac. And the real accomplishment here is that audiences will feel their regret, because to this day, the killer has never been caught. Despite this and the intimidating running time, those with the patience will be rewarded with one of the best crime thrillers in years. --Luke Mawson
Customer Reviews:
8/10. The Devil is in the Detail.......2008-02-23
David Fincher's brave take on Robert Graysmith's book gets to grip with the obsessive complexity of the source, evoking its spirit through compelling analysis of the minutiae of the case. Those expecting a thrilling cat and mouse chase in the mold of Seven may be disappointed, but comparisons to Fincher's earlier classic are unfair. 'Zodiac' is as much about the mood of 1960s and 70s California as about the mystery itself, about the dying idealism of the principle characters and their belief in being able to solve the case. Like The Transamerica Pyramid, which we see in the process of construction, the Zodiac case goes to the heart of San Francisco's modern history. The architecture, clothing and technology of the period are much more than background in a film about police procedure. Progress is hampered by juristictional boundaries, lack of cooperation, and the absence of 'telefax'. Anthony Edward's stoic cop makes a succession of phone calls at one stage to various regional police departments to collect evidence, a lumbersome process reminding us of a world pre-internet and email. With is focus on procedure and character, Zodiac belongs to a tradition of films that could be said to have begun in the 1970s with Alan J Pakula's All the President's Men and The Parallax View, and continued more recently with Michael Mann's The Insider.
This could have been dull and plodding, but the director and cast manage to sustain interest and tension throughout. Very true to the facts - some would say constrained by them - the film tells the murders as they happened, refusing to sensationalise them. In some instances, this shows the killer to be quite clumsy and opportunist, not the dark genius that you might imagine. The film is not in awe of the killer's stealth, but shows how legal infrastructure and human failure conspired to prevent his capture. It is also a timely reminder how the oxygen of publicity both inspires murder and inhibits our ability to solve it.
Despite brilliant acting throughout, there are a couple of niggles in the characterisation that handicap this film slightly. Jake Gyllenhall's Robert Graysmith is not really relevant as a character until about half way through, and the film misses some fleshing out of his character to lend verisimility to his obsessive personality. We see his descent and near unravelling in the riddles of the case, but before we can be convinced of some inherant character trait that might explain his fixation. Likewise, Robert Downey Jnr - who is remarkably not irritating as the reporter Paul Avery - becomes fairly peripheral in this film. We are told of his extraordinary knowledge of the case, and we see his subsequent descent into alcaholism, but are we to assume the two are connected? His interest in the case is unclear - is it merely professional, or is it the root cause of his self-destruction? Some fleshing out here would have helped, despite the film already running into two and a half hours. The length has been criticised, but in my opinion the film stays engaging and tense until the end. Great stuff.
True life is never as fast moving as fiction.......2008-02-17
If you want a fast moving film don't rent or buy this. If you want a film that shows the slow progress of a real crime & how the law is stopped from going after people because the evidence is not strong enough then this is for you.
Zodiac - .......2008-02-16
If you ever meet an nameless American girl (KB will remain nameless) and she asks you to watch a film with her and the title starts with Zodiac, I would approach with caution or give her a slap! There are no negative star facility on this website, so please don't think that it grants itself any accolade with me in any respect. I went in 18 and exited the cinema a pensioner. I saw the film at 7pm and at one point in the film, they are having breakfast...my God I didn't know whether it was time to sleep or leave to get some breakfast of my own... really time has never slowed so much (good for those with an essay due in very soon or those insomniacs looking for that cure!) Send this to people you don't like or people you want out of your lives, they are sure to get the picture after this.
Turned up for work.......2008-02-05
In order to keep a discerning audience's attention for two and a half hours, a movie needs to be doing some pretty hard work with plot, character and suspense... this one turned up for work, but fell asleep in the staff room. It's a dramatisation of a true story and you can kind of see where the cinematic bits have been slotted in to try and make a film out of it (our bumbling hero drives to an old house in the middle of the night in the pouring rain and follows a creepy man into a dark cellar. Why? To wake us up.) However, despite its clunky moments of crass direction the story in itself is quite interesting and the film is made watchable by a very enjoyable performance from Robert Downey Jr.
A really interesting film!.......2008-02-05
I really enjoyed Zodiac. Although it does last for 2.5 hours, I honestly never felt bored, I was genuinely interested in the subject of the film. It can get slightly confusing at times as lots of new characters are brought in throughout, so it does require a lot of concentration on the viewers part.....anyone looking for a fast paced, gruesome thriller that doesn't tax the brain too much would probably switch this off after the first hour!
Jake Gyllenhaal and Anthony Edwards are great in this film, in fact the whole film is very well acted.....and the murder scenes had a very `real' feel about them without being overly gruesome, but at the same time I was quite disturbed by them. All in all I would definitely recommend Zodiac, if you're willing to concentrate for the 2.5 hours you won't be disappointed, it's a gripping true crime story.
Amazon.co.uk Review
In year 3, Boston Legal continues to toggle with ease between comedy and pathos. The season begins on a bittersweet note as Denise (Julie Bowen) gets engaged to the terminally ill Daniel (Michael J. Fox), who disappears to try an experimental treatment. Enter two new litigators, smart-talking associate Claire Sims (Constance Zimmer) and cocky partner Jeffrey Coho (Craig Bierko). Once Daniel exits the picture, Jeffrey and Brad (Mark Valley) compete for Denise's affections. The firm soon welcomes a third new face: legal secretary Clarence (Gary Anthony Williams)--also known as Clarice, Clavant, and Oprah.
As before, cases vary from minor to major. Story arcs include the murder of a judge's wife (with Ashton Holmes as the suspect and Katey Sagal as his mother) and an outrageous peeping tom (David Dean Bottrell) with a jones for Shirley (Candice Bergen). Denny Crane (William Shatner), meanwhile, finds love with diminutive attorney Bethany (Meredith Eaton-Gilden)--and her mother, Bella (Delta Burke). And Alan (James Spader, who scored a second Emmy to add to the one he received for The Practice) helps former co-worker Jerry "Hands" Espenson (Christian Clemenson) out of a few jams. By the end of the season, Jeffrey is gone, while Jerry returns to Crane, Poole & Schmidt.
Throughout the year, the firm tackles a variety of timely issues, ranging from religious freedom to immigration law. Reporter Gracie Jane (Jill Brennan), a Nancy Grace doppelgänger, also comes in for some ribbing. Aside from recurring characters, like Jane Lynch (as a sexual surrogate), the third season counts a few actors behind the camera, such as Eric Stoltz ("Dumping Bella") and Adam Arkin ("Nuts"), from David E. Kelley's Chicago Hope. --Kathleen C. Fennessy, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
Disappointing.......2008-03-05
Too many ridiculous plot lines, too many irritating characters. Not surprised it finished. And why do the always win their cases?
Denny Crane.......2008-02-29
Very enjoyable, great lines, watching two or three episodes back to back makes for a great stay at home evening
Judge Jibberjabber and Little Green Men.......2008-02-23
Alan Shore (played by Emmy award-winner James Spader) is the primary star of Boston Legal and he is a monumental presence. In season 2, we were shown much more of his humanity, and we came to see how deeply caring and empathetic he is. Season 3 continues in that vein... a couple of minor quibbles, and I'll broach them now so as to get to the good, more important, stuff: David Kelley seems to be using Alan's wonderful closing arguments to extensively wax lyrical on political issues he wants to address. I quite concede that it's his show to do with as he pleases, but the lengthy soliloquies can become a little taxing.
Next, Jerry Espenson is a wonderful character: a gentle, shy giant who suffers terribly from Asperger's, and his friendship with Alan is genuinely touching. But in season 3, they've turned him into a Jekyll and Hyde character, depending on whether he's got a wooden cigarette in his mouth or not. It sounds daft, and unfortunately it's just as daft in the watching. That being said, having Jerry around more is a treat and the cigarette-thing doesn't make it all the way through the season.
Final complaint is regarding a new character called Clarence. He's a painfully shy man who masquerades as his "sister" Clarice when he can't cope with the pressure or stress of a situation. Clarice, like Hyde doesn't last the entire season, but *neither* character brings very much to the show, and I find their respective scenes less enjoyable than everything else. However, Boston Legal at its very worst is still better than 99% of the dross on tv these days.
Those are my only complaints, and none of them are serious enough to turn this season into a 4-star one.
Onto the good stuff: in season 2, we met Judge Jibberjabber (the amazing Shelley Berman, who should be made king), who doesn't tolerate jibberjabber and poopycock in his courtroom. I fell in love with him within 30 seconds, and in season 3 we are spoiled, as his appearances are far more substantial. In episode 16, Alan is defending a pre-eminent psychiatrist fired for his insistence that he's seen aliens, and Jibberjabber's questions and comments alone are worth the price of the box-set. Just glorious. He's in another 6 episodes besides that one: all as hand-clappingly fantastic as the last.
In season 3, Denny Crane becomes increasingly absurd and wonderful. The interaction between he and Alan is beautiful beautiful television, and it's fascinating to watch. As he slides further into quintessential Republican stereotype, Alan swings the other way, becoming increasingly liberal, and yet their relationship only improves and they become more and more like an old married couple who are still desperately in love. They make each other laugh, and they'll make you laugh, too.
It's astonishing that 3 years in the writing is still as fresh as the first season. It continues to break the fourth wall, too, in that wonderful Boston Legal way. In episode 2, we are introduced to Claire and Jeff Coho and the conversation goes as following:
Coho: "We're the new guys."
Crane: "Oh, please. If there were new guys they'd have shown up in the season premiere." He then proceeds to proposition Claire appallingly, fondle her dreadfully and welcome them to Boston Legal before glancing at the camera and saying "Cue the music..." Genius!
Those moments are a part of what makes Boston Legal so special. Add to that Denny, Alan and Shirley Schmidt, along with the entire host of loveable grotesques that pass through those famous doors, this show is just absolutely unbeatable in every way. From the opening scene of every episode, you know you'll laugh out loud at least 3 times; as soon as that awesome 70s-style wowow guitar theme music kicks in, you tap your toes and settle in for 45-odd minutes of near-heaven.
Boston Legal season 3 isn't quite as good as season 2 (which trumps absolutely everything that has ever come before it - except, perhaps with the exception of Ed, but that's for another review if and when the Powers That Be decide to release it on DVD) but it is still wonderful and deserving of more superlatives than you can shake a stick at.
Another first class season.......2008-01-30
The series maintains a first class mix of social comment topped by wonderful comic punctuations. Denny Crane is virtually becoming Boston Legal's Falstaff with his sideways glances and outraged facial expressions-pure theatre. Indeed right from the off his wonderful comic set pieces include midgets, sex dolls and transvestites, and come thick and fast. The balcony scenes have become legendary now but by season three could have become smaltzy and overly sentimental. However in the hands of these actors they remain fresh and poignant. In fact, James Spader's character is part of the reason I respect the show. He portrays a rare thing on American TV these days, a character taking up a sociologist's perspective and swimming against the tide of tabloid prejudice and man-in-the-street `common sense'. All of this `do gooding' however is beautifully counter-weighted throughout by Shatner's old school Republican - Denny Crane. The two produce some delightful moments in season three; well worth watching.
It keeps getting better.......2008-01-27
I make no bones about it Iam a huge fan of Boston legal. I have watched it from its very first episode and have seen it grow as a series and season 3 keeps that growth going. It mixes comedy with real world issues seemlessly and the story lines are gripping. William Shatner as Denny Crane is in top form in this series and provides a lot of the comedy along with james spader as Alan Shore. In season 3 the show seems to have found a bunch of characters it is happy with as a in earlier series characters seemed to come and go with extreme regularity. The two new main characters of Jeferry Coho and Claire come from the New York office and fit well into the series. Also Alan Shores love intrest Vanessa helps you to see more of the excellent character of Alan Shore. One slight critism that is still present in the series is that they seem to win cases most of the time if not all of the time and this takes away some of the tension. All in all this series is a gem, where else could you see William Shatner in a red spandex wrestling suit one minute and a case about detaining terror suspects the next, only in Boston Legal. A must have.
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