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Product Description
Stephen Tompkinson (Wild at Heart, Grafters) leads the cast as detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, based on the hugely successful novels from award-winning international crime writer Peter Robinson. Tompkinson stars in the TV adaptation of three Inspector Banks novels: Playing with Fire, Friend of the Devil and Cold is the Grave.
In Playing with Fire two bodies are found after a fire on some narrow boats and Banks and DS Annie Cabbot find themselves on the trail of an arsonist who has killed two people. In Friend of the Devil a young student is attacked in the middle of the city and in another part of Yorkshire a woman has her throat cut, but the two different murders have disturbing similarities.
Cold is the Grave is a case terrifyingly close to home as Banks is asked by his boss, Superintendant Gerry Rydell, to find his missing teenage daughter…
In Playing with Fire two bodies are found after a fire on some narrow boats and Banks and DS Annie Cabbot find themselves on the trail of an arsonist who has killed two people. In Friend of the Devil a young student is attacked in the middle of the city and in another part of Yorkshire a woman has her throat cut, but the two different murders have disturbing similarities.
Cold is the Grave is a case terrifyingly close to home as Banks is asked by his boss, Superintendant Gerry Rydell, to find his missing teenage daughter…
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital Stereo ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.78:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: 2-DVD Set, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Stephen Tompkinson (Wild at Heart, Grafters) leads the cast as detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks, based on the hugely successful novels from award-winning international crime writer Peter Robinson. Tompkinson stars in the TV adaptation of three Inspector Banks novels: Playing with Fire, Friend of the Devil and Cold is the Grave. In Playing with Fire two bodies are found after a fire on some narrow boats and Banks and DS Annie Cabbot find themselves on the trail of an arsonist who has killed two people. In Friend of the Devil a young student is attacked in the middle of the city and in another part of Yorkshire a woman has her throat cut, but the two different murders have disturbing similarities. Cold is the Grave is a case terrifyingly close to home as Banks is asked by his boss, Superintendant Gerry Rydell, to find his missing teenage daughter... List of Episodes: 1: Aftermath 2: Playing with Fire 3: Friend of the Devil 4: Cold is the Grave ...DCI Banks - 2-DVD Set
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 49 people found the following review helpful
By Miss S. Hocking
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
I'm a big fan of crime dramas and always have higher hopes for British ones. I really enjoyed D.C.I Banks particularly because the stories were really gripping and I always love a good 'who dunnit?' mystery which most of the episodes are. The series follows D.C.I Alan Banks and the Serious Crimes Unit and a series of murder mysteries which the force are called to. Each double episode (there were three stories so six episodes) has a self contained plot but the character's own subplot stories continue throughout the whole series. The very first double episode isn't quite as good as the second and third (my main reason for 4 stars) but it's still really great so push past if you find it a bit slow. The storylines are actually really clever especially 'Friend of the Devil' and 'Cold is the Grave' and got quite creeped out by the latter as it's so well written.
UPDATE!! - As I purchased this DVD but reviewed it based on watching when it was broadcast on TV, I've only just noticed a lovely surprise. I didn't know before this series, there was a double episode called 'Aftermath' that was broadcast in 2009/10 and this is included in the box set so an extra double episode for you - which was actually very good also!
D.C.I Banks himself takes a while to become likeable but I really grew to like him as the series progressed, and that's the same for the other characters but as they are more revealed you grow to like the whole team.
The acting is pretty good too, not really amazing but enough to keep you interested. Overall, a good crime drama that keeps you guessing with really original story lines. I'm hoping for another series.
UPDATE!! - As I purchased this DVD but reviewed it based on watching when it was broadcast on TV, I've only just noticed a lovely surprise. I didn't know before this series, there was a double episode called 'Aftermath' that was broadcast in 2009/10 and this is included in the box set so an extra double episode for you - which was actually very good also!
D.C.I Banks himself takes a while to become likeable but I really grew to like him as the series progressed, and that's the same for the other characters but as they are more revealed you grow to like the whole team.
The acting is pretty good too, not really amazing but enough to keep you interested. Overall, a good crime drama that keeps you guessing with really original story lines. I'm hoping for another series.
34 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have given this series five stars, because it deserves five stars. I love police dramas and this series is up there with Waking the dead, Silent witness and anything by val mcdermid and a lot of other great British serials.
Stephen Tomkinson is just a natural as DCI Banks. ITV could not have chosen any better. He just moulds into the role and there is nothing pretencious about the guy which makes him so believable. The cases are hard and at times not easy to watch as we see the worst in human beings. This is not done for show or ratings, but merely to show how evil people can get. Dci Banks comes across as your average copper and he is far from that. There is a lot more to him than meets the eye and his character developes with the series.
Hopefully ITV will continue this great series as it has tremendous potential. With so much rubbish on tv today this series was a breath of fresh air and i recommend it most highly. So put it in your Christmas stocking!
Not for the faint of heart!
Stephen Tomkinson is just a natural as DCI Banks. ITV could not have chosen any better. He just moulds into the role and there is nothing pretencious about the guy which makes him so believable. The cases are hard and at times not easy to watch as we see the worst in human beings. This is not done for show or ratings, but merely to show how evil people can get. Dci Banks comes across as your average copper and he is far from that. There is a lot more to him than meets the eye and his character developes with the series.
Hopefully ITV will continue this great series as it has tremendous potential. With so much rubbish on tv today this series was a breath of fresh air and i recommend it most highly. So put it in your Christmas stocking!
Not for the faint of heart!
23 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have read and enjoyed most of the books by Peter Robinson but these adaptations leave a fair bit to be desired! I don't understand why the books haven't been filmed in chronological order so that the personalities of the characters can be developed though the series. Annie Cabot is especially poorly portrayed with none of the depth of relationship she and Banks have. Nor is Banks given any persona outside the police force so we learn virtually nothing of his children, relationship with his ex-wife, love of music etc making him appear rather shallow. This is a great shame as the books should have made excellent television and I've been wondering why they hadn't been filmed before.
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
BANKSY
ANOTHER GREAT BRITISH COP SERIES, WHAT A CHANGE IT MAKES YOU THINK WHATS NEXT,THEN OUT OF THE BLUE ANOTHER TWIST WHICH HOLDS YOU TO THE TV
Published 4 days ago by Mfgrosse
3.0 out of 5 stars
Quality
Comparing to the British series that I have purchased in the past, both audio quality and video quality are sub-standard. The pictures are quite dark.
Published 21 days ago by Antonio Chow
3.0 out of 5 stars
Ignore the books
Peter Robinson's books are finely crafted stories, with depth to the characters and meat on the plots. Read more
Published 1 month ago by R. C. Harris
3.0 out of 5 stars
Sadly misses the mark when compared with the books
I loved the books, but found that the DVD has taken too many shortcuts, not allowing the development of the characters and the settings which I had come to expect (the area of... Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. C. PETER
5.0 out of 5 stars
DVD BANKS
SPOT ON MISSED WHEN IT WAS ON TV BUT AM A FAN OF THE BOOKS THE DVD WAS NOT A LET DOWN WILL WATCH TIME AND TIME
Published 2 months ago by Mr. M. P. Condon
5.0 out of 5 stars
see review of series two
Stephen Tompkinson warms to his part as this first series progresses, he is ably supported by a fine cast of actors, The female lead is a wonder of a part played to perfection, all... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Peter Humphries
5.0 out of 5 stars
DVD
Husband works abroad and missed the majority of the series so got him the set for christmas. One happy man!
Published 2 months ago by Theresa Kemp
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nitty, Gritty, Crime Thrillers
Excellent characterisations by Stephen Thomkinson and Andrea Lowe as Banks and Cabbot. Great stories with unexpected twists and turns plus wonderful real settings in Yorkshire. Read more
Published 3 months ago by S. Gilchrist
3.0 out of 5 stars
A good police procedural
A watchable first release of Peter Robinsons DCI Banks books. I thought that Tompkinsons portrayal of the character was some how not quite in keeping with Robinsons book character.
Published 3 months ago by Brian Morgan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Solid police procedural
This type of series is right up my street. Solid, enjoyable well written and acted. Just really good solid entertainment
Published 3 months ago by Mike
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