Prime Suspect 1

Rating:
Summary: she's got what it takes ...
Review: ...balls? In this superbly performed thriller, the focus is not so much in the gory details of a serial killer murders, but in the kind of pressure that woman inspector Tennison has to handle when taking over the investigation, thus stepping into a men's world. She had an idea of what was going to happen, and she is prepared to face the downright rejection of the all-male team supposed to work under her orders. What she is not so well prepared for is the consequences that her dedication to her work will have in her personal life. And underneath the whole thriller plot, we can sense dark and dirty secrets among some of the police officers that Tennison can only begin to grasp. Beware of the ending ... it's a cliff-hanger!

Rating:
Summary: Superb production - maybe not the best presentation though
Review: As the other reviews here attest, this is a tremendously compelling series - initiated beautifully in 1992 with this nearly 4-hour episode (the next three episodes were about the same length...PS5 and PS6, which I don't think actually had those titles, were about 2 hours each). Lynda La Plante's script reconsiders the drab police procedural as a breathtaking and life-shaking event. Indeed there is much here that can be savored and appreciated on repeated viewings. Helen Mirren's performance is nothing less than astonishing. She is very human(e) and someone who endures much that both women and men will be able to easily identify and empathize with. However, while this series is certainly welcome (and wanted!) on DVD (although Prime Suspect 1 and 2 were available briefly on DVD in 1998 - and now out of print), this new edition - issued in 2003 - may not be the perfect release. (1) There is at least one full scene missing (Tennyson meets George's mother at her seaside rest home). (2) There seemed to be a couple of brief - though not awful - visual glitches on the first disc of my copy. (3) The handsomely packaged 2-disc set is quite expensive. None of these reasons is meant to fend anyone off of such an incredible performance (Dame Mirren) and one of the best crime series ever aired on TV. But such great work certainly deserves a little better attention.

Rating:
Summary: Great series - poor DVD
Review: As usual the UK has produced and delivered a series that puts to shame anything that American television has to offer. Helen Mirren is ranked one of the world's best actors-and for good reason.
I have all of the DVD's in the Prime Suspect series, having watched them first on public television's ExxonMobil Theatre. If you are one of those who make deliberate choices based on quality, then do not miss this series. It is one of, if not THE best, that television has to offer.

Rating:
Summary: Helen Mirren is at the top of her form....
Review: As usual the UK has produced and delivered a series that puts to shame anything that American television has to offer. Helen Mirren is ranked one of the world's best actors-and for good reason.
I have all of the DVD's in the Prime Suspect series, having watched them first on public television's ExxonMobil Theatre. If you are one of those who make deliberate choices based on quality, then do not miss this series. It is one of, if not THE best, that television has to offer.

Rating:
Summary: Strongest sustained character turn ever.
Review: Helen Mirren is onscreen through almost every minute of this series (that's over 1,100 minutes through episode 5), and through it all she never loses an ounce of credibility, and she's always fascinating to watch. The later stories get a little slapdash, with episode 5 in particular being rather forced together, but Mirren's Tennison conquers all. European fans have had a region 2 box set of the whole series available since Spring'03. So what's the hang-up for region 1?

Rating:
Summary: Riveting Television ... The Way It Should Be Done
Review: Helen Mirren stars as Chief Inspector Jane Tennison in this dramatic BBC miniseries.

A serial killer is at large, and Tennison inherits the mantle of investigating the lead suspect. While certain elements of the story are largely predictable, there is also an unexpected element of surprise with the way the tale unfolds. Mirren adds a definitive credibility to the vulnerable character of Tennison, struggling for any reasonable work/life balance, and she proves to be the most interesting sleuth to come out of England since Sherlock Holmes.

Time Magazine voted this, in its initial airing, the second most important television event of the year ... right behind Johnny Carson's farewell show. A must viewing for serious fans of mystery genre.

Rating:
Summary: Riveting Television ... The Way It Should Be Done
Review: Helen Mirren stars as Chief Inspector Jane Tennison in this dramatic BBC miniseries.

A serial killer is at large, and Tennison inherits the mantle of investigating the lead suspect. While certain elements of the story are largely predictable, there is also an unexpected element of surprise with the way the tale unfolds. Mirren adds a definitive credibility to the vulnerable character of Tennison, struggling for any reasonable work/life balance, and she proves to be the most interesting sleuth to come out of England since Sherlock Holmes.

Time Magazine voted this, in its initial airing, the second most important television event of the year ... right behind Johnny Carson's farewell show. A must viewing for serious fans of mystery genre.

Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Crime Dramas Ever!
Review: If you like great acting, great directing and a great suspense story, look no further. Helen Millen does a superb job of portraying a female detective (DCI Tennison) in London who takes over a homicide investigation into serial murders after her male colleague passes away. Besides trying to come up with concrete evidence to put the prime suspect away, she must battle her own department, run by male colleagues who don't trust her competence simply because she's a woman. Tennison is able to rise to the occasion, rally the department behind her, and solve the murders. Mirren does a fascinating job of portraying Tennison as an intelligent and competent detective, an overchiever who often puts her work ahead of her relationships. Even though Tennison is seen with her flaws and all, the audience believes in her and roots for her all the way. This excellent drama was originaly an HBO miniseries and is followed by several sequels, which are just as outstanding. Highly recommended!

Even though I loved this movie, I was disappointed by the DVD in that it did not have close-captioning.

Rating:
Summary: Easily Passed For Dull - This one is a twisting turning plot
Review: Normally I would consider any movie made by the british bbc affilated company as a bore, however this one really cooks! Its plot line twists, and turns and really gets you involved until the end.

Rating:
Summary: Too bad there aren't more movies like that around!
Review: Simply an outstanding detective story with incredibly life-like acting. It shows superbly the realities of everyday police work, without the glamours of all those Hollywood stories.