Rating: 
Summary: Excellent show, DVD has problems
Review: "Monk" is by far one of the more original detective series out there. Tony Shalhoub is a very gifted actor who brings charm, wit, and intelligence to a role that could easily have -- in lesser actor's hands -- been contrived and cliche [Side note: for examples of his range watch his comical Antonio Scarpacci character on "Wings" and his obsessive cook in the highly underrated movie "Big Night"]. Although the writing can sometimes be a bit inconsistent the characters more than make up for that. The show is more light-hearted than most crime shows out there (you won't find the hardcore level of detailed investigative police work that would on, say, the CSI shows and NYPD Blue) but that's the tone it's going for. The show is a breath of fresh air in a genre that recently feels compelled to bludgeon you with high-speed, invasive camera shots through people's brains, combing through cadavers' stomach contents, and dwelling on casual conversations over the mutilated bodies of women in dimly lit morgues.
I am sad to report that the DVD set is a small disappointment. One episode in particular, "Mr. Monk Goes to the Asylum" (featuring an utterly hilarious Kevin Nealon character named John Wurster) you find an entire scene inexplicably cut out -- where Monk and Wurster are in the basement walking through construction in the mental ward. This episode marks another inconsistency in the writing of the show in that the character of Monk (despite having had time to establish the character in several episodes) displays some wildly inconsistent OCD behavior compared to episodes leading up to and following this episode. Granted the reason he was admitted in the first place was that he was showing signs of going off the deep end but nevertheless one would have expected more pronounced OCD behavior in such a situation rather than a near-complete ignorance of its previously demonstrated symptoms.
Like many DVD sets the bonus features for this set are on the last disc which, if you're like most people, you won't get to for a few weeks or months (the relevance of which will shortly be apparent). In my particular case I found myself anticipating the behind-the-scenes interviews and featurettes even as I was deeply enjoying watching the episodes. Alas when I finally got to the bonus features I discovered that the audio on all bonus material was mysteriously and annoyingly eclipsed by the music from the DVD's menu screen. I was unable to figure out what the problem was, as I had never seen such a glitch. Because of the amount of time that lapsed from the time I received it as a gift from my wife and the moment of discovery in the bonus features I am not sure what merchandise exchange options will be available to me.
All in all you will be hard pressed to find a better recent detective comedy on the market today. If the thought of thirteen 43-minute long, gore-less escapes -- viewed in between your parade of overly realistic and depressing crime dramas -- appeals to you then this is certainly your purchase.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent comedy, short season
Review: A funny show where a quirky detective is alternately helped and hindered by his obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and several phobias. The premiere was two hours long and episodes were 60 minutes long. I'm impressed that this is widescreen and DTS! Four discs and running time of 563 minutes doesn't leave much room for the extras, but I haven't been able to find much detail about the extras or their length.Premiere: 1 & 2. Mr. Monk and the Candidate: Monk works as a private investigator after losing his job on the police department due to his psychiatric problems. Three years later, he gets a call from his old boss who needs his help to solve a murder. 3. Mr. Monk and the Psychic: Monk and a psychic stage a psychic reading to catch a murderer. 4. Mr. Monk Meets Dale the Whale gs: Adam Arkin: Monk tries to prove how a bedridden 800 pound man could have murdered a judge. 5. Mr. Monk Goes to the Carnival: Monk tries to discover who murdered a man riding on a ferris wheel. 6. Mr. Monk Goes to the Asylum: While incarcerated in a psychiatric facility, Monk learns of an unsolved murder. 7. Mr. Monk and the Billionaire Mugger: A billionaire is shot dead while supposedly mugging a couple outside a movie theater. 8. Mr. Monk and the Other Woman: While investigating the murder of a lawyer and his assistant, Monk is attracted to another woman who understands him. 9. Mr. Monk and the Marathon Man: Monk tries to find out who killed a woman during the San Francisco marathon. 10. Mr. Monk Takes a Vacation: Monk goes on vacation to the beach with Benjy and Sharona. The vacation ends when Benjy witnesses a murder. 11. Mr. Monk and the Earthquake: A man dies during an earthquake and Monk tries to prove that he was murdered. 12. Mr. Monk and the Red-Headed Stranger gs Willie Nelson: Willie Nelson (playing himself) is suspected of killing his manager. 13. Mr. Monk and the Airplane gs Tim Daly: Monk's concerns about flying doesn't keep him from investigating what he thinks might be a murder. The flight attendant is played by Monk's wife in real life, Brooke Adams.
Rating:
Summary: Passing the torch
Review: For many years I waited for a detective show to come along that could capture my interests with a great mystery and a great mystery solver the way that Columbo did. I was beginning to think it would never happen, but with Monk, it did. I hope that Tony can continue to play Monk on into his 70's, just as Mr. Falk has continued to play Columbo. Excellent show!
Rating:
Summary: awesome
Review: Great great show. Shalhoub stole the show when he was on "Wings" and he's still great. This is one of the better shows on television, and I can't wait to get season one.
Rating:
Summary: Obsessive. Compulsive. Detective. Monk!
Review: He's just like me. OCD, fear of heights, darks, germs, & confined places.
I started watching this when series when the episode "Mr. Monk and the Airplane" was on. I laughed till it hurt.
I never got to watch anything before that except some excerpts.
This Season One Box set will be terrific, I'm going to buy it as soon as I can.
Rating:
Summary: DVD Sound problems
Review: I also could not hear people voices on the bonus material on my DVD player. But when I played the DVD's bonus material in my PC's DVD player the voices were present. Must be the way the voices are encoded, some will here them and some will not.
Rating:
Summary: Off to a Strong Start
Review: I blew it. I didn't start watching this show until it's second season. Little did I know what I was missing. Tony Shalhoub stars as Adrian Monk, a former police detective no longer on the force because of his obsessive-compulsive disorder and his phobias. He does still consult on some of their most bizarre cases, however. For example, how could an 800-lb. man commit murder? Why was a billionaire killed while mugging a man on a date? Did a fellow airline passenger really kill his wife? How could a man commit murder and run a marathon at the same time? This series falls into the classic puzzle mystery genre, my personal favorite. Sometimes I have an idea why or how, but it takes the ending for me to know for sure. More often then not, I'm stumped. Along the way, we get plenty of laughs at the various situations we find Mr. Monk in. The obsessive-compulsive disorder and his fears are handled just right. They provide the clues needed and humor without being over the top or annoying. Of course, the series is helped by its actors. Tony Shalhoub is excellent as Monk with a performance just slightly understated. He deserved his Emmy win for this season. Just as praise worthy is Bitty Schram as Monk's nurse Sharona. She mixes exasperated and compassionate while providing a strong sidekick character that doesn't get lost behind the lead. Ted Levine and Jason Gray-Stanford as the police Monk helps and Stanley Kamel as Monk's shrink are equally excellent. The writing is sharp and manages to find humor without mocking Monk, a subtle but clear distinction. This DVD set is great for old and new fans alike. All twelve first season episodes are present, including the previously released two-hour pilot. They're presented in widescreen and look sharp. The sound, while presented in 5.1 surround, is nothing spectacular. Still, it gets the job done. Disc four has some short extras discussing the creation of the show, obsessive-compulsive disorder, the cast and crew's obsessions, the Emmy win, and the casting of Bitty Schram and Ted Levine. I would have loved a commentary track or two and some outtakes, but they aren't to be found here. While the extras could have been just a tad better, this set is a must have for those who love light mystery. It was nice to catch the cases I'd missed. This is one mystery show you can watch time and time again for the humor and character even if you remember how it ends.
Rating:
Summary: Better Late Than Never!
Review: I came to be familiar with Mr. Monk late in the second season, so I was excited to purchase season one (and yes season two as well). Our family has enjoyed our very own MONK film festivals each weekend while waiting for the newest installment on Friday nights. If you love a great mystery-you will fall in love with Monk--OCD and all. It proves we all have something to overcome. I highly recommend this series.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Show on TV
Review: I have been a fan of this show since it first aired on USA. Monk is one of the best written shows to come on TV in years and the acting is tremendous! The only problem I have with the DVD collection is that there are no deleted scenes with the bonus material. That aside, Monk is still worth buying. I look forward to Season 2 coming on DVD and I hope it's soon.
Rating:
Summary: finally
Review: i loved watching this show, and i was beginning to thing that this dvd would never come out. iit pretty much about a detective who has ocd in the worst way and it very funny. Buy this DVD
| 
