CBSDVDCrimeandPunishment

CBS DVD – “Crime and Punishment”

This release is a four first-episode introduction to some of the great “Crime Drama” series from over the years.

Hawaii Five-O – This long-running series began in 1968, and is best remembered for its fast, brassy theme song, and the beautiful Hawaiian scenery where the series was filmed. While not the first show of its type, its huge popularity made it the benchmark that spawned many of the police dramas and CSI shows to come.

The DVD includes the episode “Full Fathom Five.” It introduces the Jack Lord as Det. Steve McGarrett of a special Hawaiian Police Force that chases after a husband-and-wife team of killers murdering wealthy widows and stealing their money without a trace. Book ‘em, Danno.

Streets of San-Francisco – With another memorable theme by Henry Mancini, and the occasional funky porn-jazz slap-bass wakka-waaw, wooka-waaah this 1972 drama revolves mostly around two cops, veteran cop (Karl Malden) with his rookie partner (a young Michael Douglas) usually investigating some sort of homicide. On the streets of San Francisco.

The DVD includes the episode “Thirty Year Pin.” A cop gets shot in the line of duty, who happens to be a long-time friend of Malden, who breaks all the rules to hunt his killer down. (Well… what rules they had in the 70s, at least.)

CSI: NY – We fast-forward to 2004, and the second and somewhat darker spin-off of the original Crime Scene Investigation series. Forensics, crime lab work, unusual murders… the usual for the CSI line and about a half-dozen related series, but this time it’s in New York.

Personally, I’ve never been really fond of CSI: NY. The team’s lead, Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) doesn’t have the same appeal as Gil Grissom of the original CSI, and doesn’t radiate the awesome that Horatio pulls off in CSI: Miami. Though in Mac’s defense, he’s at a disadvantage- without the overacting and cheesy one-liners, Taylor…. (puts on a pair of sunglasses)… he just can’t compare. [YEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!]

I guess they didn’t want two series taking place in Miami on the same disk. The DVD includes the episode “Blink” where the team tracks a killer with the help of a victim paralyzed everywhere except her eyes. She has to blink to respond. (See, the episode title and all…)

CSI: NY will be starting its sixth season Sept. 23rd.

Dexter – A newcomer, starting on Showtime in 2006, Dexter is a cop drama with a twist. Dexter is a forensic expert in blood splatter analysis for the Miami PD by day, and a serial killer by night. After being caught by his father mutilating animals, and knowing the sick freak can’t be cured, he convinces Dexter to vow to a strict code of only hunting down and killing people who really do deserve to die. Dexter sedates his bloodlust by tracking down killers, rapists, molesters, and the like, and then uses his training from his Father and the police to make his kills untraceable. This one is a surprisingly good series, and highly recommended one hunts down a few episodes if you haven’t seen it before.

The DVD includes the pilot episode, where Dexter reveals a bit of his back-story and is fascinated by a killer who chops his victims into neat little pieces while leaving no blood behind as evidence.

A fun little collection featuring two classic cop-dramas, and two newcomers that will be remembered.

3 out of 4

reviewed by Jeremy Gaggins