Rating: 
Summary: Great show deserves a better DVD transfer and extras.
Review: "Cracker" may be just another in a long line of British crime dramas that were very popular in the early 90's, but "Cracker" stands out as one of the sharpest, wittiest, and most intelligently written of them all. I would say it is even better than "Prime Suspect", which is another personal favorite. Robbie Coltrane plays his most memorable part as Fitz, a criminal psychologist who has an uncanny ability of getting into the minds of his subjects, and getting under the skin of anyone who knows him. His is an overweight, alcoholic compulsive who gambles, chain smokes, and cheats on his wife. This is balanced out by his brilliance and articulate nature. The series follows him as he helps a group of police inspectors solve various murders, while he copes with the problems in his own life. To call the series riveting is an understatement, it is bloody brilliant. The episodes in the first season are "The Mad Woman in the Attic", where a young woman is found murdered on a train, and the only suspect has amnesia. This is one of the best episodes. The next one is "To Say I Love You", a Bonnie & Clyde story where two young lovers go on a murder spree. And the last episode is "One Day A Lemming Will Fly", where a young boy is murdered and the only suspect is the boy's English teacher, who is also believed to be homosexual. All episodes are 2 hours long, so you can expect to spend a good 6 hours with this DVD set. The quality of the episodes is where the perks of this set ends. If the quality of the DVD package was the sole consideration, I would recommend this to nobody. For starters, the episodes are presented in 4:3 full frame, not widescreen like most other TV shows transferred to DVD tend to have. The credits are cut off from the screen, and the transfer quality suffers from apparently have no mastering at all done. I am hard pressed to find any differences between this DVD transfer and the old VHS tapes I have. Secondly, there are no extras, save for a Robbie Coltrane biography. With a show as good as "Cracker", commentaries, featurettes, and interviews would be in order. Am I the only one who thinks so? The only reason why I am recommending this DVD set is because it is the only time "Cracker" has seen the light of day on DVD, and the VHS tapes are long out of print. Personally, I am able to look beyond the lousy DVD package and appreciate the episodes themselves, but for people wanting more, you will be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Deffective: disc 3 missing an episode
Review: As a previous reviewer has noted, disk three - "One Day a Lemming Will Fly" - has only the first two episodes and is missing the third. So before buying it, make sure you can return it.
Rating:
Summary: Deffective: disc 3 missing an episode
Review: As a previous reviewer has noted, disk three - "One Day a Lemming Will Fly" - has only the first two episodes and is missing the third. So before buying it, make sure you can return it.
Rating: 
Summary: Perenial favorite - a must!
Review: FINALLY! It's now on DVD and if you have ever enjoyed this series when it was overwhelmingly popular as a TV series or even (as I do) take the time to rent it on the ever-difficult to get video version, then _get_ this set! "Cracker" was a deserved mainstream hit, although it does have elements within it that will challenge the usual fan of murder mysteries. With its anti-hero Fitz with his big heart, even bigger mind and soul destroying addictions; long-suffering wife and family and the crew of coppers who face and fall under the onslaught of death, misery and mayhem that violent crimes produce... you'd never believe that you could be so engrossed by a series that does present the viewer with some really depressing and brutally realistic scenarios and never once slips from being quality drama. This series won awards for its acting and production and that's not just reflecting the staggeringly brilliant episode 'To Be a Somebody' with Robert Carlyle. This was the series that made Coltrane (an excellent 'Comedy Strip' era comedian as well as a popular actor since this time) a winner with the CableACE award for Best Actor, and Best Actor awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in 1995 and 1996. Don't be daft, if an Australian like myself can see how this series is a classic, definitely give it a go. And please don't give me any grief about the US series - that was simply a joke with no reflection on the quality of McGovern's et al.'s work in the UK edition.
Rating:
Summary: American Viewer: It's All There!!
Review: I am writing to address concerns that the DVD set is not complete. This is the *entire* first series as it aired in the U.S. I watched when it was shown on A&E in the early 90s. I taped it on my VCR (I still have the tapes) - finally I have the DVDs and they aren't missing a thing! The Cracker series is amazing. Please don't miss out because of other reviews saying this DVD series in not complete. The menus on the DVDs are a little confusing, but the episode "One Day a Lemming Will Fly" does *not* end with the suspect being brought into the station - that is only the Part I of the episode/disc and if you continue watching after the credits for Part I, Part II will start! And yes, the transfer could have used a little more effort but the show is so engaging and the acting is so good that I didn't think about it once after the initial credits rolled. I patiently (or somewhat patiently...) await for April when Series III will arrive.
Rating:
Summary: American Viewer: It's All There!!
Review: I am writing to address concerns that the DVD set is not complete. This is the *entire* first series as it aired in the U.S. I watched when it was shown on A&E in the early 90s. I taped it on my VCR (I still have the tapes) - finally I have the DVDs and they aren't missing a thing! The Cracker series is amazing. Please don't miss out because of other reviews saying this DVD series in not complete. The menus on the DVDs are a little confusing, but the episode "One Day a Lemming Will Fly" does *not* end with the suspect being brought into the station - that is only the Part I of the episode/disc and if you continue watching after the credits for Part I, Part II will start! And yes, the transfer could have used a little more effort but the show is so engaging and the acting is so good that I didn't think about it once after the initial credits rolled. I patiently (or somewhat patiently...) await for April when Series III will arrive.
Rating:
Summary: American Viewer: It's All There!!
Review: I am writing to address concerns that the DVD set is not complete. This is the *entire* first series as it aired in the U.S. I watched when it was shown on A&E in the early 90s. I taped it on my VCR (I still have the tapes) - finally I have the DVDs and they aren't missing a thing! The Cracker series is amazing. Please don't miss out because of other reviews saying this DVD series in not complete. The menus on the DVDs are a little confusing, but the episode "One Day a Lemming Will Fly" does *not* end with the suspect being brought into the station - that is only the Part I of the episode/disc and if you continue watching after the credits for Part I, Part II will start! And yes, the transfer could have used a little more effort but the show is so engaging and the acting is so good that I didn't think about it once after the initial credits rolled. I patiently (or somewhat patiently...) await for April when Series III will arrive.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Detective Drama
Review: I have these episodes on video, and I have to tell you, Cracker is one of the best mystery/detective dramas EVER. Robbie Coltrane, as Fitz (the "Cracker" of the title) is compelling to watch, as he deals with his attraction to the young DI Penhaligon (Geraldine Sommerville), his gambling problem, his drinking problem, his ever-more-irritated wife Judith, his ever-more-distant children, and whatever mystery he is solving in each episode. Fitz, a forensic psychiatrist, is called (oftne over objections from some of the detectives) to assist the police force in their investigations.
The entire cast is flawless, particulary Coltrane, Summerville, and Christopher Eccleston as DCI Bilbrough. The mysteries are involving, it is impossible to stop watching! Don't start watching this at night. You won't want to go to bed until you've seen them all.
Excellent British detective series, excellent drama about a man fighting his own demons along with those of society.
Rating:
Summary: This is a great DVD, but it is NOT the entire season, folks!
Review: I have zero argument with the many positive reviews of this DVD on this site; the three episodes are indeed wonderful. HOWEVER, please note, this 3-DVD set is NOT the entire *Cracker* season. There are at least four other episodes available on VHS (I have all seven, being the fan I am). And without giving anything away, episodes five through seven contain material that will, if you're a fan of dark, provocative, intelligent filmmaking, *rock* you, Amadeus! So while you can't go wrong with these first 3 DVDs, remember: They are only the tip of the *Cracker* iceburg. Hey, what the heck, at least you'll have something to look forward to (the release of the rest of the series, fingers crossed).--Paul Schneider, L.A.
Rating:
Summary: not all there
Review: if this is the one i bought here in the states and it sounds like it is, then it is edited and missing most of the shows. For example "Someday a Lemming Will Fly" ends with the teacher being brought in to the police station. It implies his guilt. If you want the whole, complete 10 disc season UK amazon has it but you need a DVD player or a computer that can play region 2.
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