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Summary: L&O, Back to Basics
Review: This DVD set is a real treat for those of us who feel that Law & Order was at its best during its early years. The first season features an entirely different cast from the current program and story lines that are more intense, raw and unpredictable than the watered-down L&O of today. The characters of Ben Stone and Mike Logan are particularly interesting, as many fans labeled them the "heart and soul," of the series. Often times, we find that we know who is guilty within the first 20 minutes of the show and the moral complications come in. This is best exemplified in the episodes, "Subterranean Homeboy Blues," "Life-Choice," and "Indifference." It is also neat to see recurring characters such as the fiery Shambala Green and the cop's cop, Tony Profaci. These supporting players, along with the main cast, had personality and helped drive the show, unlike their bland, cardboard counterparts of today. Although the show is focused on the plot, we get small glimpses into the personal lives and personalities of the characters through incidental dialogue. This era of the show may have been a bit too preachy at times, but it is made up for by riviting drama that has long since died on the L&O set. I'd recommend this set to anyone who wants to see Law & Order at its dramatic best.
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Summary: Where's " L & O: Season Two"???
Review: This great DVD set contains a claim that "Law and Order: Season Two" box set will be available Spring of 2003...???!!!!Where is it!!???
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Summary: Law in Order
Review: This is a great purchase for all Law and Order lovers like me. It's a lot of fun to see all the first episodes.
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Summary: Why no extras on the dvd?
Review: This is a great show. No doubt about it. It has spun-off TWO successful series, it has gone through numerous cast changes, and it STILL DELIVERS after all these years. So, I ask the makers of this DVD why the only extras on the dvd are an interview with Dick Wolf and a lame preview for some computer game? Does this show not deserve better treatment? I think so. The show = 5 stars. The dvd - unfortunately = 3 stars. My rating (the average of the two) = 4 stars.
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Summary: Law & Order - The First Year
Review: This is my favorite Law & Order season out on DVD. My favorite episode is "Indifference" when they really go behind Noth's character. This is of course the first year Law & Order started. I think it was November 1990 which was fifteen years ago (rounding off to 2005). My favorite season of all time is season 5 though. It has all my favorite characters: Det. Mike Logan, Lennie Briscoe, Jack McCoy, and Claire Kincaid. Over this past Tuesday Jerry Orbach (Lennie Briscoe) passed away from prostate cancer in Manhatten. Law & Order: Trial By Jury is not going to be the same without sarcastic Lennie. He was 69 years old!
R.I.P. Jerry Orbach (1935-2004)
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Summary: The beginning
Review: When Dick Wolf's innovative prime time cop drama hit TV in 1990, few, if any, could have predicted the longevity and impact that Law & Order would accomplish. Each hour long episode begins with partners Greevey (George Dzundza) and Logan (Chris Noth) investigating the crime and making the arrests, while the second half focuses on the ensuing trial, prosecuted by assistant D.A.'s Stone (Michael Moriarty) and Robinette (Richard Brooks) under the supervision of Adam Schiff (Steven Hill). These 22 episodes contained herein display the series in it's early stages; having not yet perfected it's now patented style, but on it's own it still manages to be an above average cop drama that would lay the groundwork for brilliant future seasons, spin-off's, and other shows that attempted to mimic it's style; many of which failed while Law & Order kept rolling, even when it suffered wholesale changes to it's cast season after season. Look for guest appearances by Samuel L. Jackson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and William H. Macy.
Rating:
Summary: The beginning
Review: When Dick Wolf's innovative prime time cop drama hit TV in 1990, few, if any, could have predicted the longevity and impact that Law & Order would accomplish. Each hour long episode begins with partners Greevey (George Dzundza) and Logan (Chris Noth) investigating the crime and making the arrests, while the second half focuses on the ensuing trial, prosecuted by assistant D.A.'s Stone (Michael Moriarty) and Robinette (Richard Brooks) under the supervision of Adam Schiff (Steven Hill). These 22 episodes contained herein display the series in it's early stages; having not yet perfected it's now patented style, but on it's own it still manages to be an above average cop drama that would lay the groundwork for brilliant future seasons, spin-off's, and other shows that attempted to mimic it's style; many of which failed while Law & Order kept rolling, even when it suffered wholesale changes to it's cast season after season. Look for guest appearances by Samuel L. Jackson, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and William H. Macy.
Rating:
Summary: Setting a higher standard
Review: When I was quite young, I didn't think it was POSSIBLE for Television to ever approach the quality of one drama: Hill Street Blues. While I still LOVE and watch that great show, LAW AND ORDER surprised me in rising from the mire of 90's television [along with NYPD BLUE] to elevate television drama to an even higher level.
What makes LAW AND ORDER "the best"? In my view, it is the "resolution" within each episode. We aren't given a window into the "personal lives" of the principals, and each episode "begins and ends" within the 60 minute confines.
Even with this "formula", the principal characters do NOT come across as "stiff" or "strangers": through the best writing since HILL STREET, and great acting, I feel a much deeper "connection" to them than the "mawkish" delivery in other dramas [especially "ER" and that horrible Anthony Edwards]. The "passing comments" about their beliefs and lives- related to the cases, speak volumes about the soul of each character. This also has to be the best directed TV show in history- even better than HILL STREET.
LAW AND ORDER has spawned "spinoffs" in "SVU" and "Criminal Intent"; I LOVE SVU as much as the original [what male could NOT love a show with "Olivia"? I keep hoping for an episode of her in shorts or a mini-skirt!!] as it has the same grainy, "no non-sense" directive as the original. Criminal Intent, I think, sucks. Vincent D'onofrio is "set-up" as Columbo "super-cop" without the "big picture" involvement of the other two shows.
I hope the Original and SVU continue for years to come [let's lose Criminal INtent], with return shows with Chris Noth. God rest Jerry Orbach's soul, as I grew to love "Lenny" through the years!!
jm
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