What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
"The Shield" is one of the few programmes that have gone from strength to strength in terms of writing and tension over the last few years. While fantastic television such as "The Wire" and "The Sopranos" will place the viewer at distance and let you watch the action unfold, "The Shield" refuses to let the viewer have this comfort. Instead you are thrust head-first into the gangland style action that downtown LA is widely known for.
In terms of narrative you will not find anything tighter in TV or cinema. "The Shield" follows the Farmington Strike Team, an experimental gang enforcement squad who use unconventional methods (such as: drug dealing, murder, and evidence tampering) to get the dangers of society off the street. In the last four seasons the Strike Team have been the hunters in the streets of Farmington taking down all the gangs by whatever means necessary, however this time they have become the hunted (this review will not give a detailed plot synopsis). The always excellent Forest Whitaker plays an obsessive Internal Affairs agent who will stop at nothing to destroy the Strike Team and place them behind bars. As Whitaker's character manipulates the Strike Team, they begin to question their loyalties among each other, which eventually climaxes in what can only be described as purely Shakespearean.
As with every season of "The Shield", season 5 delivers what this groundbreaking show has become known for: tight writing, break-neck pace, fantastic characters that you can sink your teeth into, and asks the viewers intelligent questions such as: what can be categorised as justice and how far does one go to deliver it? While other shows such as "24" fill the season with sub-plots that barely relate to the main story, "The Shield" refuses to sidetrack from the main narrative and delivers in what can only be described as 11 hours of heart-pumping tension filled drama!
In terms of narrative you will not find anything tighter in TV or cinema. "The Shield" follows the Farmington Strike Team, an experimental gang enforcement squad who use unconventional methods (such as: drug dealing, murder, and evidence tampering) to get the dangers of society off the street. In the last four seasons the Strike Team have been the hunters in the streets of Farmington taking down all the gangs by whatever means necessary, however this time they have become the hunted (this review will not give a detailed plot synopsis). The always excellent Forest Whitaker plays an obsessive Internal Affairs agent who will stop at nothing to destroy the Strike Team and place them behind bars. As Whitaker's character manipulates the Strike Team, they begin to question their loyalties among each other, which eventually climaxes in what can only be described as purely Shakespearean.
As with every season of "The Shield", season 5 delivers what this groundbreaking show has become known for: tight writing, break-neck pace, fantastic characters that you can sink your teeth into, and asks the viewers intelligent questions such as: what can be categorised as justice and how far does one go to deliver it? While other shows such as "24" fill the season with sub-plots that barely relate to the main story, "The Shield" refuses to sidetrack from the main narrative and delivers in what can only be described as 11 hours of heart-pumping tension filled drama!
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Despite being two episodes shorter than usual (having made one long season into two smaller ones), The Shield Season 5 is the best so far. Whilst other "big" TV series' are starting to struggle, this one is stronger than ever, with storylines that are as provocative and as well crafted as they were five years ago.
At the end of season 4, we saw Captain Rawling (Glenn Close) initiate an Internal Affairs investigation into Vic Mackey's Strike Team. Although she has since been removed, the investigation takes shape in the form of Jon Kavanaugh(Oscar-winner Forrest Whitaker). Kavanaugh is IAD's top man and is determined to bring Mackey's team to justice for all the crimes they've committed since season 1. To do so, he leans on the one team member on whom has he has some evidence; Lemansky, "the one with the conscience".
And so begins a battle of wits between the Strike Team and Kavanaugh, with poor old Lem stuck in the middle. Will he turn against his team or go to prison? Will Kavanaugh succeed? Will Mackey come out unscathed? You'll have to watch and see...
As usual with The Shield, the main story arcs over all 11 (in this case) episodes whilst other plot threads and incidents pad out the spaces in between. But even the smaller, more isolated storylines are interesting. Claudette's ill health becomes a concern whilst, on the other hand, acting-Captain Billings provides comic relief. There's humour, drama and tragedy in equal measures and the show always manages to show a human side even in the most extreme of circumstances.
As the season goes on, there's a real foreboding felt by the viewer. This season shows that the past will come back to haunt you and by the end of the shattering season finale, you may just feel that the end is not far away for this show.
The extras on the disc are also very good, with commentaries on all 11 episodes. They are all worth listening to but sadly Forrest doesn't appear, and you migtht just find yourself listening to the tracks that feature the key cast members. The best extra, however, is the 90 minute making-of documentary which focuses on the final episode mainly, but is very emotional and fascinating to watch.
At the end of season 4, we saw Captain Rawling (Glenn Close) initiate an Internal Affairs investigation into Vic Mackey's Strike Team. Although she has since been removed, the investigation takes shape in the form of Jon Kavanaugh(Oscar-winner Forrest Whitaker). Kavanaugh is IAD's top man and is determined to bring Mackey's team to justice for all the crimes they've committed since season 1. To do so, he leans on the one team member on whom has he has some evidence; Lemansky, "the one with the conscience".
And so begins a battle of wits between the Strike Team and Kavanaugh, with poor old Lem stuck in the middle. Will he turn against his team or go to prison? Will Kavanaugh succeed? Will Mackey come out unscathed? You'll have to watch and see...
As usual with The Shield, the main story arcs over all 11 (in this case) episodes whilst other plot threads and incidents pad out the spaces in between. But even the smaller, more isolated storylines are interesting. Claudette's ill health becomes a concern whilst, on the other hand, acting-Captain Billings provides comic relief. There's humour, drama and tragedy in equal measures and the show always manages to show a human side even in the most extreme of circumstances.
As the season goes on, there's a real foreboding felt by the viewer. This season shows that the past will come back to haunt you and by the end of the shattering season finale, you may just feel that the end is not far away for this show.
The extras on the disc are also very good, with commentaries on all 11 episodes. They are all worth listening to but sadly Forrest doesn't appear, and you migtht just find yourself listening to the tracks that feature the key cast members. The best extra, however, is the 90 minute making-of documentary which focuses on the final episode mainly, but is very emotional and fascinating to watch.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The 5th season is summed up in one word SUPERB.As IAD finally start their investigation into the strike team,the tension is racketed up episode by episode until it makes you sit watching half the night just to find out what will happen next.As ever Michael Chicklis is wonderful as Vic and this season he is matched by a blood-curdling performance from Forrest Whittaker as the man leading the investigation.The scene where he discovers Vic and Lem have been looking in on a intimate moment between him and his ex-wife was simply stunning in its power.The Shield has been the best cop show ive senn right from the first season and somehow always gets better with each season.I look forward to the next with bated breath.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Michael Chiklis - The Shield
This brilliant series 1 - 7. Made all the more brilliant by the fabulous Micheal Chiklis. This man is a genius (good looking and sexy as well) Purchased from Amazon.
Published 1 month ago by chris silk blues
the shield
ultimately , this was a great product. i bought this from the u.s. as it's a lot cheaper from there, but didn't play on my dvd player despite the fact that previously bought u.s. Read more
Published on 22 May 2009 by angstsneer
BEWARE!
First off, this is another great season of a great show. If you're thinking of getting this, you've presumably seen the previous seasons - so buy it, rent it, enjoy it. Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2007 by Innis Mcallister
The best season yet?
Season 5 of the hardest hitting cop show on the box returns to form after a slightly weak 4th season. Read more
Published on 14 Jun 2007 by R. Mullaney
Sheer Brilliance!
I have loved the Shield since I first caught an episode on TV in the Uk and have bought every box set...after series 2 having them sent over from the States. Read more
Published on 30 May 2007 by Dollybird
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
