Beyond The Ordinary + Crime & Punishment (CBS DVD Compilations)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: D     Episodes: C+/B-

 

 

CBS Home Entertainment has decided to issue what are essentially samplers of the many hit shows they handle.  Some are more popular than others, some better than others, but we have covered most of them and here are the contents of the two single DVDs recently issued, with links to our coverage of the shows where applicable:

 

Beyond The Ordinary

The 4400 – Pilot

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/4159/The+4400+%E2%80%93+The+Comple

 

Joan Of Arcadia – Pilot

This silly two-seasoner has Amber Tamblyn as the title character, who is getting messages from someone, maybe God or the like, but the show is silly, never worked and this first show is not so good to begin with.

 

Medium – Pilot

Patricia Arquette managed to keep this show going for six seasons as she plays a woman who can see visions of how murders take place.  Guess it filled the gap left by the end of Profiler, but I was not impressed despite her efforts and appeal.

 

Star Trek – The Man Trap

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8530/Star+Trek+%E2%80%93+The+Origina

 

 

 

Crime & Punishment

CSI: NY – Blink

One of the endless spin-offs of the hit microscopic/digital era crime investigation series, this is the one with Gary Sinise and it can only repeat the same formula as the original show and the spin-offs.  This is from the first season of the show.

 

Dexter – Pilot

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/8194/Dexter+%E2%80%93+The+First+Seas

 

Hawaii Five-O – Full Fathom Five

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/5298/Hawaii+Five-O+%E2%80%93+The+Fir

 

The Streets Of San Francisco – The Thirty-Year Pin

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/5409/The+Streets+of+San+Francisco+-+Sea

 

 

Trek and Dexter are already on Blu-ray and the others are bound to follow.  Despite the shows we never covered being newer shows in 1.78 X 1 anamorphically enhanced presentation with Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes, the image quality is too soft and soundfields disappointing.  I have higher hopes for Five-O and Streets looking good on Blu-ray than the never shows with their would-be fancy camerawork and editing.  The set reminds us how TV has improved little and declined much.  Now you can see for yourself.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo