DVD Picks & Pans: TV Dramas

Military.com - Tom Miller

 DVD Picks & Pans: TV on DVD

Since there's a dearth of quality big-screen films being released on DVD lately, we're focusing on the small screen this week.  And, as we've noted before, in the realm of filmed entertainment, size no longer matters.
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Life: Season One
DVD-2008 ($29.98, Universal Studios Home Entertainment)

Damian Lewis (Captain Winters from the acclaimed HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers") plays a quirky detective with one heck of a past in this addictive new drama.

Los Angeles Police Department cop Charlie Crews served twelve years of very hard time for a triple murder that he didn't commit.  When he's finally exonerated and released from prison, he collects a $50 million settlement from the city and reinstatement as a detective with the LAPD. 

Crews, who discovered Zen philosophy while in prison, brings a rather unconventional outlook to his new life and his job.  It makes for some interesting exchanges between Crews and the people he comes into contact with including victims and suspects. 

His fellow cops don't exactly trust him—and vice versa—and The LAPD teams him with another outcast, Dani Reese (Sarah Shahi), a recovering drug addict who's encouraged to spy on Crews.  Crew's unusual methods cause Reese some early skepticism, but the two soon strike a nice balance.

Off-duty, Crews uses his new-found wealth to satisfy his whims and his libido.   The former includes hot cars, a spacious mansion—sparsely furnished—and an orange grove that comes with a red tractor.  The libido, which is rebounding from twelve years of enforced abstinence, requires lots of one-night-stands with a diverse lineup of eager and attractive young women.  He's assisted in these endeavors by his personal, live-in (above the garage) financial advisor Ted Early (Adam Arkin).  Early, also an ex-con, served time for insider trading and shared a cell with Crews.  

Meanwhile, Crews is quietly trying to unravel the mystery of who framed him.  

If you're a fan of off-beat characters, intriguing story-lines, and solid performances (Lewis and Shahi are excellent together), give "Life" a chance.  You might find yourself hooked. 

Military.com Rating: *** ½    

(DVD extras include deleted scenes, audio commentary, a blooper reel, and featurettes "Life Begins," "Fruits of Life," "Still Life," and "Life's Questions Answered.")
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NCIS—The Fifth Season
DVD-2008 ($55.98, CBS DVD/Paramount) 

The fifth season of one of television's most entertaining dramas continues its tradition of quirky crimes.  N.C.I.S. is, of course, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, a forensic investigation unit that's outside the usual chain of command.  

The strength of the series lies in its edgy production values, quirky crimes, and the unusual cast of characters solving the crimes.

In Season Five the lineup of crimes include a showdown with an arms dealer, a deadly case of identity theft, a contract murder in Iraq, and the mysterious death of a young Muslim Marine.  The characters solving the crimes include Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon), a former Marine who heads the team; Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly) who fancies himself a ladies man; medical examiner Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard (David McCallum); Goth lab tech Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette); former Mossad agent Ziva David (Cote de Pablo); and Gibbs' old flame Jenny Shepard (Lauren Holly).

Forensic procedurals seem to be the rage right now, but NCIS sets itself apart with its emphasis on character development and an excellent ensemble cast.  "The Fifth Season" includes all 18 episodes on five discs. 

Military.com Rating: ***

(DVD extras include cast and crew commentaries and several behind-the-scenes features: "Requiem Revisited," "N.C.I.S. Season 5: Stem to Stern," "The Dressing Room: The Costumes and Wardrobe of N.C.I.S.," "N.C.I.S. on Location," and "From Pauley to Abby: Hairspray, Lipstick, and Tattoos.")
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Ghost Whisperer: The Third Season
DVD-2008 ($68.99, CBS DVD/Paramount Home Entertainment)

There's a lot to like here:  including an intriguing other-worldly concept and a heavenly star who TV Guide named the "Sexiest Woman on TV." 

Jennifer Love Hewitt stars as Melinda Gordon, a young woman who can communicate with ghosts who are trapped here on earth.  It's only when the ghosts clear up whatever is troubling them and put their spirit to rest that they can cross over into heaven.  It's Melinda's blessing (and curse) to help them complete the task that will allow them to cross over.

In the third season, Melinda discovers that her family history is linked to the history of Grandview, the town that she and her husband chose for its tranquility.   Now, they begin to suspect that, in fact, Grandview chose them, and that beneath the surface, it's not so tranquil after all. 

Hewitt, who has won three Saturn Awards for Best Actress from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films, heads a solid cast that also includes David Conrad as Melinda's husband Jim, Jay Mohr as occult expert Professor Rick Payne, and Camryn Manheim as Melinda's best friend Delia Banks.  The set includes all 18 Season Three episodes on five discs. 

Military.com Rating: ** ½

(DVD extras include episode commentary by executive producers John Gray and P.K. Simonds and cinematographer James Chressanthis; an Interactive Haunted House; The Other Side II Webseries; and featurettes "Welcome to the Underworld," "Bringing the Spirits to Life," "Evolution of Melinda," and "Payne's World.")
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Medium: The Fourth Season
DVD-2008 ($61.99, CBS DVD/Paramount Home Entertainment)

Here's another young woman who can talk to the dead.  She also has the ability to see the future in her dreams and read people's minds.  That's what I call a trifecta.

Allison Dubois (Patricia Arquette) is a wife and mother of three who works as a consultant for the Phoenix District Attorney using her psychic powers to help solve particularly difficult cases.  She has a supportive husband, Joe (Jake Weber), and three young daughters who share—at least partially—their mother's powers. 

Season Four is a challenging one for Allison.  Her secret powers are publicly exposed, and a new DA fires her.  Cynthia Keener (guest star Anjelica Huston), an investigator for Ameritips, a national firm, recruits Allison for her crime-solving powers. 

There's also trouble on the home front where Joe loses control of his invention to his unscrupulous business partner, Megan Doyle (Kelly Preston). 

Based on the work of a real-life medium, the series is part crime drama and part sci-fi thriller.  The writing is sharp and the cast is solid.  Arquette has collected an Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Emmy for her portrayal of Allison Dubois and has been nominated for Golden Globe and Saturn awards.  Huston has been nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her appearances during Season Four. 

"The Fourth Season" includes all 11 episodes on four discs. 

Military.com Rating: ** ½

(DVD extras include deleted scenes, a gag reel, and several featurettes: "Joe's Crayon Dream," "Introducing Cynthia Keener," and "The Making of Medium: Season 4.")
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Among other recent TV on DVD releases not reviewed here but worthwhile nevertheless are: "Heroes: Season Two," "Entourage: The Complete Fourth Season,"  "The Shield: Season Six," "The Office: Season Four," and "Criminal Minds: The Third Season." 
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Military.com Picks & Pans Rating Scale

* Pan—Save your time
** Borderline Pick—Okay but only as a last resort
*** Pick—Worthwhile & enjoyable
****Enthusiastic Pick—Excellent

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Copyright 2012 by Tom Miller