Showing posts with label spooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spooks. Show all posts

MI-5, Vol. 5 (5 Discs) Review

MI-5, Vol. 5 (5 Discs)
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Great DVD set. Loved it. The other reviewers have done a fine job. I am bringing another issue to light for you.
When you receive this DVD set, and play the first episode on disk 3, you may think you saw this episode when watching a previous disk. If so, you received one of the old release DVD sets. You probably bought it from an Amazon affiliate such as "mnmsales", not Amazon direct. This is what I did as recently as August 2008.
Warner Home Video will fix this problem for you at no charge a lot faster than mnmsales will. Warner recalled the defective set way back in January 2008, replacing it with a different UPC. Why mnmsales is selling this recalled stock beats me, but they are not answering my email request for a replacement.
If your disk 3 is affected, call 1-800-553-6937 and Warner will arrange to ship you a replacement disk 3 and a reply-paid envelope to return the bad one. I guess if you don't return the bad disk they will want money for the new one which is fair.


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MI 5:V5 - DVD Movie

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MI-5, Volume 2 (2003) Review

MI-5, Volume 2 (2003)
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I continue to be riveted by this show. There is no show on television in America that presents a truer picture of what it means to serve your country in the War on Terror. This season ratchets up the suspense and personal angst of the main characters. There were times as I watched this show that I was literally floored by the actions of these men and women, the lengths they were willing to go in order to do their job as they saw it should be done. Matthew MacFadyen once again turns in a bravura performance and by the end of the season you are actually on the edge of your seat to know what happens. This series continues to be one of the most well-acted and well-written spy shows I have ever seen. Should not be missed by anyone who loves great drama and the spy thriller genre.

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MI 5:V2 - DVD Movie

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MI-5, Vol. 6 (2009) Review

MI-5, Vol. 6 (2009)
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Maybe The Best Ten Hours of Spy TV I Have Ever Seen!!! (Maybe the best TV of ANY GENRE!)
I have watched every episode of MI5 available through DVD - the only way U.S. viewers should do it in order to get the whole story. Season Six was riveting beyond any TV experience, including 24, which I have ever seen for this type of show. It was hard to stop watching, and a couple of nights I stayed up way later than I should have because I had to find out what happened next. Every episode flowed into the next to make what, in effect, was a ten hour movie.
One of the major factors that make MI5 so exciting, and probably somewhat real, is that no one, no one, is safe. They may not all die, but the "service" can take its toll in so many ways.
This can be very heartbreaking because another aspect of MI5 that makes it special is the characters. We come to identify and appreciate these folks because they are humanized more than is usually seen in these types of series - warts and all! Far from shining heroes in all their affairs, these spooks make all kinds of mistakes both on and off the job, they lie, cheat, steal, behave badly and come apart at the seams as the stress eats away at their psyches. In other words, they're just like you and me, only with a much tougher job description.
As a result, these all-too-human secret agents don't always win. They get played all the time, especially by other intelligent groups who are supposed to be allies. It is truly a looking glass world. Indeed, this is a major theme of Season Six.
Sadly, as mentioned in other reviews, the relentless action and intrigue pushes the private lives of Adam, Harry, Ross, Jo and others to the side. Unlike earlier seasons, there isn't a lot of down time. They may need to get back to that in future seasons or they risk losing a vital element.
As an American, I am interested in seeing my country through the eyes of others. At first, it came as a surprise to see the anti-American thread in the show, but as the legacy of Bush-Cheney has rolled out over this decade can anyone really be surprised by this? Season Six makes sure we don't miss that point. The season finale, involving two agents facing long torture and horrible death, virtually editorializes this as one of them, not surprisingly, loses their mettle faced with the terror. Despite the agitprop - I agree but it was facile - this was a powerful moment.
This is great television, start with Season One and sleep when you can.


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he award-winning, edge-of-your-seat spy drama is back with another white-knuckle ride through the perilous world of deadly terrorists, international cover-ups and treacherous double-agents. Having survived the bombing of the Thames Barrier, Adam and Ros recover to find London facing an even greater threat. While attempting to thwart an attack that could jeopardise a historic peace accord between Britain and Iran, the team unwittingly unleash a deadly killer. But with a virus that mimics the pneumonic plague, there can be no negotiation. And when Zaf is kidnapped by armed mercenaries, the team realise that in a game of the highest stakes they hold none of the cards. As the stuff of nightmares becomes increasingly real, London faces total devastation...

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MI-5, Volume 3 (2003) Review

MI-5, Volume 3 (2003)
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I had known about MI-5 for almost a year before I decided to fork over the $39.95 or whatever it was for the first season (or as the British say, first "series") box set. Honestly not knowing what to expect, I put on the first episode...and was immediately hooked. If you like your drama complex, with complicated, all-so-human characters (i.e. fallible)who confront conflicts that are never black-and-white but always gray, where the "good guys" are as prone to ethical and moral compromises as great as the "bad guys", then this is the show for you. This is indeed akin to 24 and Alias, genre-wise, but it really bears a greater resemblance to the best shows on HBO like The Sopranos and The Wire, as well as those edgy FX dramas like Rescue Me and The Shield. The series is broadcast on A&E but edited for length, language, and violence. The best way to watch this is on DVD. I bought the season one box set as Christmas presents for two great friends and it took them all of one episode to be as devoted to it as I am. So buy or rent the first two seasons, watch it as quickly as you can (and you will watch it quickly because you'll want to know what happens next to Tom and Zoe and Danny), get this third season, and devote an hour every night until you finish it. Your only regret will be you have to wait for season 4 whenever A&E broadcasts it. It's one of the best shows on television.

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Worlds collide and nothing is what it seems in the thrilling new installment of MI-5. Tom has been branded a traitor and has disappeared, while Harry is in the hospital, seriously wounded. There's dissension in the ranks as Danny and Zoe are determined to clear Tom's name and an enemy they never thought possible has put the entire service at risk. An enigmatic agent, Adam Carter (Rupert Penry-Jones) has been recruited from MI-6 to help pick up the broken pieces but with his track record nobody will be safe.

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MI-5, Volume 4 (2003) Review

MI-5, Volume 4 (2003)
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The fourth series of MI-5 (Spooks) packs a slightly lesser punch than the previous three, but fascinating and entertaining nonetheless.
For my money, this series leaves stuff like 24 at the starting gate - it retains a good grip of the real world and does not treat other countries as either idiotic or as a fiefdom. The fact that the series is working through its' second team of actors is edge of the seat stuff and validates plotlines nicely.
The issues of state sponsored torture, big brother, personal privacy and civil rights are raised throughout, but never challenged to any great extent.
Well produced, slick and gives Mr Bond a run for his money.


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As the fourth season of MI-5 begins the stories are more relevant than ever before. The series has always been fast-paced and hard-hitting but now the battleground of national security provides an even more dramatic backdrop to the challenges facing the team from MI-5. The group were left reeling after the shocking death of Danny at the hands of hostage-takers as the last season concluded. Now Adam, Harry, Ruth, Fiona and rising star Zafar set out to become even stronger in their battle to safeguard the nation. DVD Features:Audio CommentaryDocumentaries:Two-part documentary about the making of Series 4 of MI-5, including interviews with cast members, episode clips and extensive behind-the-scenes footage from both the set and locationInterviews:Exclusive interview with MI-5 director Julian Simpson Peter Firth (Harry) InterviewOther:Spy drama is at an all time high on TV with the success of Alias and 24.


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MI-5, Vol. 7 Review

MI-5, Vol. 7
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MI-5 (or Spooks, its original title) is a long running, award winning British spy series that has enjoyed continued success in Britain and abroad. In the US however, A&E, PBS and BBCA have tried broadcasting the series (seasons 1-4) to universally disappointing ratings. It is no wander though: in order to accommodate commercials, each original episode was mercilessly cut down by a quarter of its running time (from 59 min to 45 min !!!), making it virtually incomprehensible. Thankfully, we have DVD's and can enjoy the series as it was intended! ;o)
Another good news is that Season 7 is the best yet and can be easily followed even without the benefit of the prior six seasons. In episode one we are introduced to a new character, Lucas North, a senior case officer released in a Russian-British spy exchange after eight years in a Russian prison. His story arcs thru entire season 7, though most episodes are self enclosed and deal with subplots relevant to today's viewer. We have nuclear attacks, bank collapse, and the thread of internal espionage (after eight years in Russia, to whom is Lucas really loyal?).
In addition to excellent writing, the series offers inspired casting in lead, supporting and visiting star roles. Mathew Macfayden (Pride and Prejudice), Rupert Penry Jones (Persuasion), Gemma Jones (Bridget Jones Diary), Hugh Laurie (House), Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) are only a few examples. In season 7, the handsome Richard Armitage (Robin Hood, North and South) is Lucas North. It is this actor's charisma as well as the return to Russians as the true and tried "bad guys" that brings new interest to the series.
Interestingly, even though the release date in the US is still uncertain, the set has been available in Australia (Region 4) since April, and will be released in the UK (Region 2) in October. If you want instant gratification (don't we all?), all you need is a region free DVD player.
Enjoy!
BTW: MI-5 is the British Security Service, the equivalent of FBI in the US, I suppose.


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MI-5 Volume Seven stays true to form as the award-winning intelligence drama returns for more highly topical stories with new castmember Richard Armitage (Robin Hood, North and South)! The BAFTA- undercover operations and double-agents, this time with an added danger… a deepening schism with Russia raising new Cold War tensions. Newly free after eight years in a Russian prison, Lucas North (Richard Armitage) is welcomed back by MI-5 supremo and old friend Harry Pearce, who was instrumental in finally securing his release. Lucas is keen to get back to work straight away and, with Section D\'s current priority operation having a strong Russian connection, he could well prove invaluable. But, after eight years with only a high ranking Russian spymaster for company, can Lucas\'s loyalty really be taken for granted?

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MI-5, Volume 1 (2003) Review

MI-5, Volume 1 (2003)
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There've been some uncommonly intelligent spy films produced by British television: TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY and SMILEY'S PEOPLE (both starring Sir Alec Guinness as the owlish George Smiley), and THE SANDBAGGERS miniseries. In all three, the agency involved is Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service (MI-6). The operatives are a tweedy lot, and the headquarters, either at the old "Circus" or the more modern Century House, are, like the remains of Empire, comfortably shabby. Thus, it was with some misgivings that I began MI-5, the ongoing glitzy miniseries featuring the SIS's less glamorous sister also known as the Security Service, which like America's FBI, deals with domestic intelligence, anti-subversion and counter-terrorism. The glitz is of Hollywood proportions - almost, for me, an instant turn-off. I'm glad I stuck with it.
The lead "spook" is Tom Quinn, played by Matthew MacFadyen. He runs an undercover operations team, the most prominent members of which are Zoe Reynolds (Keeley Hawes) and Danny Hunter (David Oyelowo). The interior of MI-5's London HQ, Thames House, is ultramodern and high tech; the CIA probably never had it so good. Tom's boss is the hardboiled and sphinx-like Harry Pearce, played by Peter Firth.
Admittedly, I didn't become engaged until episodes three and four, when I realized that the intricate scripts, fast-paced and tautly presented, transcended the glitz. I'm now hooked, and eagerly await the DVD release of the Season 2 episodes in late 2004. My only remaining complaint is the too clever lead-in to each episode which requires excessive button-pushing on the remote to navigate. I mean, just get on with it. Prince Charles will become King in a shorter time.
The storylines are contemporary: embassy take-overs by militant nationalists, insidious plots by Arab terrorists, illegal arms deals by enterprising Russians involving Whitehall cabinet officers, and the occasional appearance of IRA bombers. Gone are the good old days of KGB machinations on behalf of the Evil Empire. The episodes are slickly written with surprising plot twists. And MI-6 across the river maintains a scheming and patronizing presence.
Part of the show's attraction is that it doesn't paint its MI-5 heroes as perfect. They have relationship problems; they embezzle money from the Service; and perhaps have dark secrets in the past that invite blackmail during intra-office power struggles. Why, it sounds like any company I've ever worked for!
The end of the last episode in Series 1 is one of the best I've ever seen. It'll make you think twice before installing that elaborate security system on your house, or at least make you aware of the dangers posed by a small child when catalyzed by chocolate icing.

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Defending their country, deceiving their friends, MI-5 takes us into the secret world of the clandestine UK security service and the people who make up the elite team. This exciting, fast paced drama, full of split screens and technical wizardry, explores the passion, jeopardy and intrigue of people who have to lie for a living and deceive their loved ones about what they do. DVD Features:Audio Commentary:Commentaries on all episodes!BiographiesDeleted ScenesFeaturette:Numerous Behind-the-Scenes featurettes on the making of the programInterviews:Exclusive interviews with the cast and crew!


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