The Wire - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

For the best part of a year a good friend of mine had been constantly telling me to watch a show called 'The Wire', telling me that out of everyone he knew I would love it more than anyone else, and that I would love a character called Omar. Knowing little about the show except what my friend had told me my partner and I instead watched (for the first time) the DVD box sets of shows like '24' and 'The Sopranos', preferring to go with the more well ...
...in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, with the first season being centred around a specially created police squad's investigation into drugs king pin Avon Barksdale and his crew. Created by former journalist David Simon and creator of award winning mini-series drama 'The Corner', executive producer Robert F. Colesberry who had worked with Simon on 'The Corner', and (to a lesser extent) former teacher and homicide detective Ed Burns. Much of the basic story ...

Mcicp1981 06.03.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
Review of The Wire - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

. The Wire is like nothing I've ever seen. It's ruined everything else on TV for me and practically stolen my life. And I blinkin' well love it. I first heard about the wire through my fiancé's brother, who was at the time getting to the fifth series. Having not really enjoyed police dramas before and having no real interest in anything in that genre, I was extremely sceptical. Little did I know. After some persuasion to borrow the first series ...
...we're now half way through the fourth series and it's only been a few weeks since we were given the first. Prepare to become a recluse. Let's get one thing straight, I will not be able to do The Wire justice in this review, I just don't think I'll be able to describe it well enough. I will be able to gush about it though, so get ready. ===What's It About?=== The Wire is set in Baltimore, Maryland in the US. Focusing on power, corruption and the ...

Ottavia 04.11.2008 (01.10.2008) · Read full review
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Review of The Wire - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

...time one-in-three black men between the ages of 16 and 30 in the United States are in the penal system in some capacity, that rather unfortunate statistic the essence of The Wire, HBO`s biggest and best cop show running right now, and I believe all five series soon to be shown on BBC2 for your pleasure. With Barak Obama in power there could be no better time to get into this, yet another excellent drama from over the pond. It's subtle message is ...
...man to be the President, whilst its narrative is the war on drugs in Americas cities. The one-in-three black Americans of that age group that could legally vote in November for their brother because they haven't been to prison are ironically the most likely to get made redundant and lose their houses in the Obama presidency, hardly a fair payback for their unstinting loyalty to their colour at the ballot box, that crushing unemployment creating yet ...

thedevilinme 09.10.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Wire - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

...Wire' is easily one of the most engrossing, intelligent and amusing shows on television. It has become cult-viewing of the highest standard, and you've likely heard about it from either the media or any one of the growing number of Wire enthusiasts. But if you haven't heard about it, heres my attempt to convince you that 'The Wire' is essential TV viewing not just for lovers of crime shows, but all lovers of quality television. SYNOPSIS The Wire ...
...influence of drug dealers and the corrupt bereaucrats of the police department and local government. In theory the show follows a unit of special investigators who attempt to take down one of the city's major drug lords, running their operation from a basement and attempting to gather enough evidence to finally pin the guy down. In practice though, the show dosn't take sides between the 'good' and the 'bad', instead giving characters from both sides ...

DanB17 13.04.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Wire - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

...was a little apprehensive about The Wire, all of the reviews I have read in the press seem to rate it very highly, as did my friends in the USA who have had 3 seasons to enjoy. ================================================= The Plot ================================================= The Wire is set in Baltimore, Maryland on the East Coast of the USA and is basically a cop show, with a difference. The best way i have heard it summed up would ...
...against an underworld kingpin by the name of Avon Barksdale. Our main character is homicide cop, alcholic, divorcee Jimmy McNulty who appears at the trial of " D " otherwise known as D'Angelo Barksdale, the nephew of our kingpin. After seeing D walking away from a murder despite overwhelming evidence to convict him and send him to the chair or similar fate. Jimmy digs a little deeper to the annoyance of his superiors who are eager to clear this ...

Matt.Blundell 23.05.2005 · Read full review
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Review of The Wire - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

The best cop show ever made? Absolutes are hard to prove, but The Wire - gritty and realistic, with great performances and a story that completely sucks you in - is certainly a strong contender. Set in Baltimore, the title refers to a wiretap, the key ingredient of a surveillance operation initiated by homicide detective Jimmy McNulty (Brit Dominic West - The Forgotten, 28 Days) amidst indifference in the police department and against political opposition. ...
...UK vampire show, Ultraviolet), and the story is told from both sides - that of the police and their suspects. This 13 episode show is from US cable channel HBO - who brought the likes of The Sopranos and Deadwood to our screens, and the creative minds behind it are that of David Simon, the man responsible for Homicide:Life On The Street, and Ed Burns, himself a former Baltimore police officer. With that sort of pedigree, you know you can expect ...

GrimArc 09.02.2006 · Read full review
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Review of The Wire - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

Believe the hype. This is possibly one of the best TV programs ever made. On the face of it The Wire will come across as a Hill Street Blues or St Elsewhere type of well written and realistic piece of programming, but it seems to take that trend one step further which I didn't believe could be possible. Before I wax lyrically about this first series I have to warn you that The Wire isn't for easy watching. It makes 24 seem like watching an episode ...
...but a programme like The Wire shows up other TV shows for being the pure entertainment that they are. The Wire truly makes you think and as I said it doesn't make for easy viewing. Some friends of mine enjoy spending an entire weekend watching 24 in real time (i.e. a whole series in one sitting), but it's difficult to do that with The Wire as you want to sit and contemplate what you are watching. The main theme of the first series is drugs. But ...

bumbybumbum 07.09.2008 · Read full review
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Review of The Wire - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

...would be much appreciated. The Wire is without a doubt one of the most entertaining shows on TV. The first season concentrates on the police as they try to infiltrate the West Baltimore drug ring. The drug ring is headed by Avon Barksdale and his ruthless right hand man Stringer Bell. The police investigation is run by a small team of police, headed up by Lieutentant Daniels, who has a dark past of his own. Throughout the season we see a case ...
...and we see that the drug money runs deep. However, the small team working on the case have to deal with constant problems as the higher powers in police force interfere and try to stop them moving the case forward. In the drug ring we see that the characters are ruthless and bloodthirsty. They have a corrupt lawyer on their side constantly getting the muscle behind the gang out of prison. As the season goes on the character development is excellent ...

oo2bea 01.09.2008 · Read full review
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Review of The Wire - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

...have you engrossed after watching the first disc. The basic story is of a group of police working on Wire Taps to bring down a Drug ring in the Baltimore Projects. The unique aspect of the Wire is that they also follow the side of the Drug Dealers and the inner working of their circle. This means that you can feel a real connection with the supposed 'Bad Guys' as well as the cops and it is not just a case of wanting the cops to catch the crooks like ...
...and every character is believable. The writing and story lines are well written with lots good twists and turns. There is also some comedy moments which can be a good change of pace from the more heavy story lines. The only real negative I can think off is if you are easily offended there is allot of swearing in it and the storyline can be very dark and gritty. It does have an 18 certificate though so this really should be expected. Also there are ...

DonKing2000 03.08.2007 · Read full review
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Review of The Wire - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

...series, and extremely subtle also. The real strength in the Wire is that much of the drama is implied - for a 'cop show' there isn't really much action. The acting is fantastic, and all the characters are instantly believable. Ostensibly the series is about a team of Baltimore detectives trying to arrest the kingpin of the local drugs trade, but one of the main strengths of the series is that the line between the 'good' & 'bad' characters is blurred ...
...difficult issues relating to living and growing up around crime without pointing the finger or glamorising the gangster lifestyle. It is almost like a documentary with no narration or agenda as it left to viewer to decide where the blame lies for the situations the main protagonists find themselves in. ...

JohnnyDexter 08.07.2007 · Read full review
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Review of The Wire - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

Having had the program recommended to me by my friend who is (almost!) never wrong about films and tv I have to say that this was definately one of his best suggestions! One of the problems I have with a lot of crime programs/ films is that they make it look incredibly easy to solve crimes. The Wire holds it all out there for you to see - in fact the whole series is based on the same case and how it unfurls as they investigate. It shows the cops ...

lrb9 10.07.2008 · Read full review
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Review of The Wire - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

...on HBO, definitely one of the most significant and iconic US dramas of this decade. The porgramme has been whipped into a frenzy as must-see TV, and has been publicised very well. I hope to prove to those curious about the show, and what the raving is all about, is how great this show really is. The Plot Set in Baltimore, the city is in a terrible state with illegal activity and crime at high levels. following a team of special investigators who ...
...on the city. The investigators domain is the lowly basement, from which they make their next big moves. The character development is convincing, however, the show cosies down into a tremendously realistic world, where those who give to the community, and those who take from it, aren't painted in the same old shades of light and darkness. There are mental struggles on each side, and nobody's perfect. I like how i see more sympathetic sides to the ...

Putley 25.11.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Wire - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

...I couldnt tear myself away. The story is great but what I love most is that the script doesnt treat you like an idiot and you actually have to use your mind. the performances are pretty good apart from a couple of the actors who resemble trees. I have heard from many people that this is the most realistic thing on tv. I think that's nonsense. Of course it's more realistic than CSI:NY but what isnt. That show looks like it was written by an 8 year ...
...may be more realistic but it still follows the cliches of many police shows. the drunk cop with broken family who bends the rules but gets results, the permanently angry police chief who always after his gun and badge. Having said that .... buy it buy it buy it! ...

spiffy123 06.07.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Wire - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)

This is a review of The Wire the TV programme and not the actual DVD itself. This one's not for me. When I heard that BBC2 were going to show it right from the start I couldn't wait. I'd heard so many good things about it, I thought this would be my latest US police drama to obsess over, but I couldn't be more wrong. I felt that on the first episode the character were already too fully formed so I thought I'd actually missed a few episodes. I watched ...
...emotions. This was something that the show didn't do and I found it quite cold. I watched four episodes in total, so I didn't give up straight away, and it never grew on me. I've never regretted not watching it and don't understand why it had so many glowing reviews. In fact I was very disappointed that I didn't like it as I need a new US police drama to watch as the latest series of Monk has ended on Hallmark and Third Watch isn't been shown anywhere ...

kell.b 26.08.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Wire - Series 1 - Complete (DVD)