Paramount TV On Blu-ray: 'Star Trek,' 'C.S.I.' and 'Dexter'
Quality entertainment with a top notch presentation
Over the past three weeks Paramount Home Video has released three impressive Blu-ray sets from three of my favorite television shows and for fans of any (or all) of these series you would love adding these to your collection.
Releasing today, May 12, is the first season of "C.S.I." and last week saw the release of season two of Showtime's "Dexter" and then the week before that was the first season of the original "Star Trek" series and these shows have never looked better.
Below I take a quick look at each set with a couple of thoughts on each that will hopefully help you decide if they are worth your dollar.
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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – The Complete First Season
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| I have never been a big crime show fan. As a matter of fact, outside of the "C.S.I." series of shows I have never watched any of the others. Never seen a single episode of "NYPD Blue," any of the "Law and Order" shows or even "The Closer." I don't avoid them as much as I really don't need them as I feel the "C.S.I." trio (yup, I watch all three) take care of my crime show void. However, I wasn't sure what I would get revisiting the first season of "C.S.I." These shows have been all about flashy effects and cooler-than-you characters. However, on Blu-ray this nine-year old series looked like it had just rolled out of production.
For the most part, the picture is pristine. I say "for the most part" because I did notice a slight bit of digitization on a couple of episodes inside the bright red wardrobe of one of the characters, but other than that it was flawless. What makes it even better is that it is presented in 16:9 widescreen for the first time, something I hope other television series recognize and follow suit. Hopefully, when Warner Home Video debuts "The West Wing" on Blu-ray they will give the first season the same treatment. As for special features, there is only one new featurette, which is a look back at the show presented in HD, which appears to have been made just before William Petersen left the show. Other than that, there is a director's cut of the pilot episode with a commentary track, an awful gag reel, a vintage featurette and some deleted scenes and outtakes. Overall, it's worth it merely for the show alone as the widescreen HD presentation is feature enough for me. |
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Dexter – The Complete Second Season
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| If you haven't seen "Dexter" then you are missing out. It took me a long time to get this trio of mini-reviews written because I had to make sure I took in this Blu-ray series before doing a write-up. I had seen it (and reviewed it) on DVD, but I wanted to get the high-definition experience and boy is it worth it. This show about a serial killer working for the Miami police is comical, dramatic and thrilling all wrapped into one and star Michael C. Hall is outstanding, so much so I couldn't imagine another actor taking over the role as he has truly made it his own.
Season two, like season one has its flaws, mostly revolving around the women in Dexter's life and how annoying all of them can be. This includes his sister, played by Hall's new bride Jennifer Carpenter, his main love interest played by Julie Benz and his season two slut Lila played by Jaime Murray. However, this is a minor complaint, with Hall as Dexter and especially Erik King as Sergeant Doakes, the first two seasons are well worth the watch. Unfortunately for supplement fans, the features on the Blu-ray are rather weak and not even worth discussing. If you haven't seen this show you owe it to yourself to give it a watch, I can't imagine you not falling in love with it. |
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Star Trek (Original Series) – The Complete First Season
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| Here we have the original series of "Star Trek" remastered in high-definition with new visual effects and DTS sound. What more can you ask for in quality Blu-ray entertainment? If your answer is to ask for the original series "Star Trek" without new visual effects and in original mono, then you are in luck, because this one has that too. Didn't see that coming did you? Paramount has not only reintroduced "Star Trek" to a brand new audience with a spectacular new motion picture, it has given those same new fans a reason to find the original series all without the stigma of needing to be a Trekkie geek to enjoy it.
This release comes with all 29 first season episodes, each with new visual effects, and a series of special features to satisfy any hardcore fan or casual newcomers interested in the origins of the series. I have reviewed the original series releases since the standard definition DVD release in 2004 to the 2007 HD DVD release and I will say this is the best of the bunch. The menu system is improved, the packaging no longer takes up a ton of shelf space and the ability to switch back-and-forth from new effects to old on-the-fly is a stroke of genius. I love this release and can't wait until I have the final two seasons to go with it. |
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