Saturday, October 21, 2006
Mini-DVD Review: C.S.I.: Miami - The Complete Fourth Season (Oct. 31)
C.S.I.: Miami - The Complete Fourth Season (Paramount Home Video/CBS DVD, $64.99)
Join lead criminalist Horatio Caine (David Caruso) and his state-of-the-art forensics team as they investigate hot and steamy Miami crimes using cold hard facts. The CSI: Miami Season 4 Complete DVD Collection features 25 episodes of riveting and shocking mysteries. The evidence leads into seedy nightclubs, privileged suburbs and explosive family secrets. The stakes are higher than ever before, because this time it's personal.
My Review: C.S.I.: Miami is my second favorite series in the C.S.I. franchise. This show has gone through more cast changes than the others. The Miami location is probably the best setting. There are more personal character arcs this season, which made the show more interesting.
This 7-disc set contains all 25 episodes of the fourth (2005-06) season. The episodes are featured in Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround audio. It has a running time of 18 hours, 10 minutes. The attractive packaging features a photo of the 5 main cast members. The overall color theme of this set is orange and yellow, just like they use on the show. The inside case is in a book format that you can flip through to get to the discs. Each disc features a different photo of one of the cast members or the Miami skyline. The menus are also very stylish and easy to navigate. They have a montage a video clips, with some instrumental music playing in the background. Options are available for Episode Selection, Set Up, Previews (only on Disc 1), and Special Features. On the Set Up menu, you can choose either Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround or Spanish 2.0 Surround. Closed captioning is availble for all of the episodes. As you would expect from such a recent show, the video and audio quality is outstanding.
There is an impressive amount and variety of special features included. There are 6 audio commentaries available on the first three discs. Writer Elizabeth Devine, Director Karen Gaviola, and Department Head of Makeup and Special Makeup Effects Cheri Montesanto-Medcalf provide commentary for "From the Grave." Writer Corey Miller and Director Scott Lautanen do the commentary for "Prey." Executive Producer Anthony E. Zuiker, Writer Elizabeth Devine, and Director Scott Lautanen give their comments on "Felony Flight." Producer Don Tardino, Director Matt Earl Beesly, and Director of Photography Eagle Egilsson provide the commentary for "Urban Hellraisers." Writer Ildy Madrovich and Scott Lautanen do the commentary for "Shattered." Writer Marc Dube and Director Sam Hill offer their thoughts on "Payback."
There are three entertaining and interesting featurettes on the creating of episodes that add up to around 45 minutes. "Creating Feature Television: The Concept, Script and Pre-Production of CSI: Miami" (18:58) features interviews with Executive Producer Ann Donahue, Co-Producer/Writer Ildy Madrovich, Executive Story Editor Corey Miller, Story Editor John Haynes, Supervising Producer Sunil Nayer, Co-Executive Producer Elizabeth Devine, Supervising Producer Barry O'Brien, Researcher Brad Iten, Producer Don Tardino, First Assistant Director Marco Black, Director Eagle Egilsson, Production Designer Fred Andrews, Art Director Roland Rosenkranz, Costume Designer Andrea Federman, and Locations Manager Brian O'Neill. They talk about how they come up with the basic story ideas, how the characters are developed, how they do research on cases and specific terms, writing and editing the script, the production and costume design, and location shooting. "Producing Feature Television: The Production of CSI: Miami" (13:54) has interviews with Co-Producer Ildy Madrovich, Executive Producer Ann Donahue, Producer Don Tardino, First Assistant Director Marco Black, Unit Production Manager Sam Hill, Director Eagle Egilsson, Actor Eva LaRue, Actor Emily Procter, Actor Adam Rodriguez, Locations Manager Brian O'Neill, Visual Effects Supervisor Larry Detwiler, Visual Effects Supervisor Michael Leone, Associate Producer Eric Mirich, and Second Unit Assistant Director Natalie Van Doren. They talk about how they have a lot of meetings, new director Eagle Egilsson, how they created the spa in a home, and the visual effects for the chop shop scenes. "Finishing Feature Television: The Post-Production of CSI: Miami" (11:04) includes intervews with Supervising Producer Gina Lamar, Editor Mark C. Baldwin, Executive Producer Ann Donahue, Associate Producer Melissa Black, Supervising Sound Editor Tim Kimmel, Composers Kevin Kiner and Jeff Cardoni, and Foley Artists Joe Sabella. They talk about finishing the episodes after the principal photography has been completed. This includes the editing, looping, adding music, and foley sound effects.
Overall, this is another very nicely put together set. All of the C.S.I. sets seem to be similar and follow the same format. The special features added a lot to my knowledge of the show. So many people are involved with making an episode, and it seems like a time-consuming process. CSI: Miami is now the #1 show on Monday nights and the most-watched U.S. series around the world. My only disappointment with this set is that they didn't include the second part of the CSI Miam/NY cross-over episode. You'll have to buy
C.SI: NY - The Complete Second Season to see that one.
-- Reviewed by Todd Fuller
(4.5/5 stars)
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SitcomsOnline.com Full DVD Reviews Page
CSI: Miami CBS.com Official Site
CSI: Miami TV.com Page
Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Thursday, March 28
The Conners - "Keep On Truckin' Six Feet Apart" (The CW, 8:00PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
The Conners are dealing with the pandemic and life's financial troubles.
The Conners - "Halloween and the Election vs the Pandemic" (The CW, 8:30PM ET/PT) (Repeat)
Halloween has been canceled, so the family works to create an unforgettable experience.
Son of a Critch - "Airing Out" (The CW, 9:00PM ET/PT)
The Critches are doing their annual airing-out-the-house ritual; some family secrets are uncovered.
Son of a Critch - "Cabaret" (The CW, 9:30PM ET/PT)
Mark finally gets the chance to take the stage as a stand-up comedian.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of March 25)
Thursday, March 28
- Joey King (Bent) - Joey talks about We Were the Lucky Ones on ABC's Good Morning America some time between 7-9am.
- Giancarlo Esposito (Bakersfield P.D.) - Giancarlo discusses his starring role in the AMC crime-thriller series Parish on Tamron Hall, so check your local listings.
- Niecy Nash-Betts (Reno 911!/Getting On/The Soul Man/Do Not Disturb) - Niecy stops by to talk about her upcoming starring turn in Ryan Murphy's horror drama Grotesquerie on Sherri, so check your local listings.
- Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary/Emeril) - Lisa talks about Abbott Elementary on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
- Lorraine Toussaint (Where I Live) - Lorraine is a guest on PIX11 Morning News on WPIX in New York at 9:40am.
New on DVD/Blu-ray (November-March)
11/07 - South Park - The Complete Twenty-Sixth Season (Blu-ray) (DVD)
11/14 - Leave it to Beaver - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/05 - Father Knows Best - The Complete Series
12/05 - The Odd Couple - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
12/12 - The Dick Van Dyke Show - The Complete Series
12/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 2 (Blu-ray)
12/12 - That Girl - The Complete Series
12/15 - Letterkenny - Season 11
12/19 - The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - The Official Restored Complete Series
12/22 - Three's Company - The Official 40th Anniversary Collection (includes The Ropers and Three's a Crowd)
01/09 - South Park - Seasons 11-15 (Blu-ray)
01/16 - Ghosts (UK) - Season Five
02/13 - Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. - The Complete Series (Blu-ray)
02/27 - The Really Loud House - Season One
03/12 - Ghosts (UK) - The Complete Series
03/12 - Looney Tunes Collector's Choice - Volume 3 (Blu-ray)
03/12 - Rick and Morty - Season 7 (Blu-ray Steelbook) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
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