Bonekickers (2008/Acorn Media DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C Episodes: B-
A small
new wave of smart Science Fiction/Action TV is happening on British TV thanks
to the revival of Doctor Who and all
the networks there are trying to join in on the fun and have a hit. Bonekickers
tries to participate by combining archeology and forensic science with
controversies in a decent show that is out to press some buttons to its
credit. Episodes include:
1)
Army Of God
2)
Warriors
3)
The Eternal Fire
4)
The Cradle Of Civilisation
5)
The Lines Of War
6)
Follow The Gleam
If you
like earlier history from The Crusades and King Arthur, to religion and 20th
Century World Wars, you’ll find the show effective and there is some graphic
violence and images throughout which adds to the realism since it is in the
context of the storylines and narrative.
Julie Graham (At Home With The
Braithwaites, reviewed elsewhere on this site) plays the leader of the team
that includes Adrian Lester (Primary
Colors, Hu$tle), Hugh Bonneville
(Iris), Michael Maloney (Forsyte Saga) and Who alumni Gugu Mbatha-Raw.
They have chemistry and will make you wonder why this was not a bigger
hit show. Maybe the DVD will change
that, but those curious will not be disappointed.
The anamorphically
enhanced 1.78 x 1 image is a little soft throughout, partly from the style of
the show, in other ways because of this transfer, but does not look bad from
episode to episode otherwise in what is an HD shoot. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has some vague
surround information and is nicely recorded from show to show. Extras include behind the scenes pieces for
each show.
- Nicholas Sheffo
