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Amazon.co.uk Review
The Danish television series, Forbrydelsen, earned ecstatic reviews as it gradually rolled out around the world. But, given that the show was in the Danish language, its audience was limited. It was almost inevitably that an American remake would be on the cards, and the 13-episode series, The Killing, is the result.
It’s best to treat The Killing as a different show to its Danish forbearer, although the content is similar. The central premise surrounds the murder of a young girl, and the police investigation that follows into the crime. It’s this single case that provides the main thrust of the series, but what The Killing does is approach it from a series of different angles. Thus, we see the case from the perspective of the police, the victim’s family, and the assorted suspects. It makes for a crime drama far deeper than usual, with a collection of compelling characters, all coloured in shades of grey.
The storytelling of The Killing is deliberately slow and measured, but then there’s a lot that needs to be taken in. And, particularly in the early stages of the series, it proves a worthy companion to Forbrydelsen.
That said, The Killing does stumble a little, on its way to an ending that could comfortably be described as divisive. There are no spoilers here, short of to say that the final episode is bound to invoke some kind of reaction. It’s best for you to work out whether that’s a good thing for yourself.
At its peak, The Killing is excellent television, however. It’s confident enough to measure its story out, and only occasionally relies on familiar story conventions to sustain interest. For the most part, it’s intense, character-driven and compelling drama. No wonder a second season was ordered so quickly. --Jon Foster
DVD Description
From writer, executive producer and series showrunner, Veena Sud (Cold Case), The Killing is based on the wildly successful Danish television series Forbrydelsen and tells the story of the murder of a young girl in Seattle and the subsequent police investigation. The Killing ties together three distinct stories around a single murder including the detectives assigned to the case, the victim's grieving family, and the suspects. Set in Seattle, the story also explores local politics as it follows politicians connected to the case. As the series unfolds, it becomes clear that there are no accidents; everyone has a secret, and while the characters think they've moved on, their past isn't done with them.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
3 stars or 4 stars? I really couldn't decide.
Having watched the Danish version and loved it, I thought I'd take a look at the American version. Although I prefer the original, I am aware that screening a 20 hour long series in Danish with English subtitles in the US is hardly going to be the juggernaut of the ratings. Full credit to the team for then attempting to convey the Danish brilliance into a format acceptable to an American audience and beyond.
The story is initally an exact replica of the original but then slowly finds its own path. There are decent performances from the cast and Seattle is probably as good a US city as any for the story to be based in. I particularly like Joel Kinnaman in the series. He has recently done quite alot of Swedish cinema and certainly plays the role of Holder pretty well, even if it is quite different to that of the Danish version of his character.
It can be hit and miss with remakes. I've yet to see how the upcoming Girl With The Dragon Tattoo will appear in it's newer version. Again the Scandinavian version seems to have set a rung on the ladder that could be very hard to beat. I did watch Queer as Folk years ago. As much as I liked the British original, I preferred the US remake.
The Killing is ideal for you if you want to enjoy a decent whodunnit which explores grief, but without having to sit through subtitles.
Make your own mind up, it's worth a go. But if you like this, then try the original as well. You'll be impressed.
Having watched the Danish version and loved it, I thought I'd take a look at the American version. Although I prefer the original, I am aware that screening a 20 hour long series in Danish with English subtitles in the US is hardly going to be the juggernaut of the ratings. Full credit to the team for then attempting to convey the Danish brilliance into a format acceptable to an American audience and beyond.
The story is initally an exact replica of the original but then slowly finds its own path. There are decent performances from the cast and Seattle is probably as good a US city as any for the story to be based in. I particularly like Joel Kinnaman in the series. He has recently done quite alot of Swedish cinema and certainly plays the role of Holder pretty well, even if it is quite different to that of the Danish version of his character.
It can be hit and miss with remakes. I've yet to see how the upcoming Girl With The Dragon Tattoo will appear in it's newer version. Again the Scandinavian version seems to have set a rung on the ladder that could be very hard to beat. I did watch Queer as Folk years ago. As much as I liked the British original, I preferred the US remake.
The Killing is ideal for you if you want to enjoy a decent whodunnit which explores grief, but without having to sit through subtitles.
Make your own mind up, it's worth a go. But if you like this, then try the original as well. You'll be impressed.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Like everyone I loved the Danish version of THE KILLING. Yes I've been boring friends and family telling them they had to watch it. All 20 episodes .. and then Series 2. Finding it hard to wait for Series 3! But I'll have to ...
Suffering such extreme withdrawal symptoms, and despite reading many less than enthusiastic reviews, I decided to buy the American remake of THE KILLING. Its £10.99 price tag meant it was no big risk.
A couple of episodes in, I was pining for Lund and more than a little appalled by the portrayal of American brashness and brutishness when compared with 'olde' Europe's sophistication and style. But then the appreciation of these differences made it become much more interesting. Also the longer it went on, the story line took on a different pathway (culminating in a very different ending) and these differences emphasised this wasn't just a remake in American English (and at times subtitles could have helped with some of this), it was taking the story out of a Danish setting and relocating it in the cultural setting of blue collar urban America.
It portrays a West Coast urban city existence that is tough, harsh and yes very wet. It introduces into the storyline the contentious issue of legal gambling on native Americans tribal reservations (and the huge amounts of money made through their casinos).
American remakes of Scandinavian movies will often opt to concentrate on the relationship between the main protagonists. Hence this American re-make explores and exposes in much greater depth the lives of the two lead detectives which means we lose out on so many fully drawn other personalities being created as we have in the Danish version (this same concentration on the key pairing is also evident in the Hollywood remake of THE GIRL WITH A DRAGON TATTOO when compared with the Swedish original).
So overall the further I got into this American remake of THE KILLING the more I began to become absorbed by it. It didn't start well but in the end I really have enjoyed it. And interestingly, I'm sure it was made even better for having first seen the Danish version. Whilst it isn't as good as the Danish version (but what is?), it makes for fascinating viewing and so in my view deserves a 5 Star rating.
Suffering such extreme withdrawal symptoms, and despite reading many less than enthusiastic reviews, I decided to buy the American remake of THE KILLING. Its £10.99 price tag meant it was no big risk.
A couple of episodes in, I was pining for Lund and more than a little appalled by the portrayal of American brashness and brutishness when compared with 'olde' Europe's sophistication and style. But then the appreciation of these differences made it become much more interesting. Also the longer it went on, the story line took on a different pathway (culminating in a very different ending) and these differences emphasised this wasn't just a remake in American English (and at times subtitles could have helped with some of this), it was taking the story out of a Danish setting and relocating it in the cultural setting of blue collar urban America.
It portrays a West Coast urban city existence that is tough, harsh and yes very wet. It introduces into the storyline the contentious issue of legal gambling on native Americans tribal reservations (and the huge amounts of money made through their casinos).
American remakes of Scandinavian movies will often opt to concentrate on the relationship between the main protagonists. Hence this American re-make explores and exposes in much greater depth the lives of the two lead detectives which means we lose out on so many fully drawn other personalities being created as we have in the Danish version (this same concentration on the key pairing is also evident in the Hollywood remake of THE GIRL WITH A DRAGON TATTOO when compared with the Swedish original).
So overall the further I got into this American remake of THE KILLING the more I began to become absorbed by it. It didn't start well but in the end I really have enjoyed it. And interestingly, I'm sure it was made even better for having first seen the Danish version. Whilst it isn't as good as the Danish version (but what is?), it makes for fascinating viewing and so in my view deserves a 5 Star rating.
91 of 109 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I started watching this having managed to completely miss the original Danish version, The Killing [DVD] [2010] but aware of the encomia heaped upon it. After about three episodes I was having serious doubts about this US remake.
By episode eight I had pretty much given up. The reason? I'd managed to get hold of the Danish one on DVD, scampered through ten or so episodes and was forced to face facts.
Forbrydelsen, the Danish series known here as The Killing, IS TEN TIMES BETTER THAN THE AMERICAN REHASH!
In terms of overall presentation, music, photography, the original is better but more importantly regarding two important areas of the unfolding story: the police and the politicians. Neither Mireille Enos as Sarah Linden nor Billy Campbell as Darren Richmond are a patch on Sofie Grabol or Lars Mikkelsen. Kristin Lehman as Gwen, Richmond's girlfriend, pales into insignificance alongside Marie Askehave. Richmond is too po-faced, the campaign scenes too boring, nothing to compare with Troels Hartmann's fraught but thrilling challenge to the mayor. I think I read that Enos didn't watch the Danish series because she wanted to make her Sarah different from Grabol's Sara Lund. She succeeded, but the Seattle cop is a bore, her travails as a single mom uninteresting. She just looks sour most of the time. Grabol is brilliant at giving the detective a quiet intensity, a sharp mind constantly at work as she remains stubbornly, even obstinately, unruffled by the hand-wringing and criticism coming at her from all sides.
Lund's partner, Meyer (Soren Malling) is more believeable than Linden's grungey junior replacement, Holder (Joel Kinnaman). After half a dozen episodes, I was much more interested in him than Linden, since his grungey look and odd vernacular invited more speculation than Linden's frowning. Which isn't really the idea. Lund and Meyer have a more combustible relationship, his approach more confrontational but also risky, hers subtle and respectful, inviting confidence. On the subject of Ahmed vs Rama, the US version goes off on a different tangent, one that might seem more pertinent for US audiences but is less believeable. Only the actors playing the grieving parents are just about on the same level as the two Danes. Sensibly, the recapitulation at the start of each episode, in the Danish one, reminds us of Nanna Larsen, the US one doesn't remind us of Rosie's terror, and you could be forgiven for forgetting all about her.
To sum up, The Killing USA is a literally pale imitation of the european original and unless you're one of those oddballs who can't cope with subtitles you should navigate away from this page and buy yourself the Danish production. The Danish is even easier on the ear and you'll still need subs to understand the english language in the American version because they mumble a lot.
The Killing [DVD] [2010]
By episode eight I had pretty much given up. The reason? I'd managed to get hold of the Danish one on DVD, scampered through ten or so episodes and was forced to face facts.
Forbrydelsen, the Danish series known here as The Killing, IS TEN TIMES BETTER THAN THE AMERICAN REHASH!
In terms of overall presentation, music, photography, the original is better but more importantly regarding two important areas of the unfolding story: the police and the politicians. Neither Mireille Enos as Sarah Linden nor Billy Campbell as Darren Richmond are a patch on Sofie Grabol or Lars Mikkelsen. Kristin Lehman as Gwen, Richmond's girlfriend, pales into insignificance alongside Marie Askehave. Richmond is too po-faced, the campaign scenes too boring, nothing to compare with Troels Hartmann's fraught but thrilling challenge to the mayor. I think I read that Enos didn't watch the Danish series because she wanted to make her Sarah different from Grabol's Sara Lund. She succeeded, but the Seattle cop is a bore, her travails as a single mom uninteresting. She just looks sour most of the time. Grabol is brilliant at giving the detective a quiet intensity, a sharp mind constantly at work as she remains stubbornly, even obstinately, unruffled by the hand-wringing and criticism coming at her from all sides.
Lund's partner, Meyer (Soren Malling) is more believeable than Linden's grungey junior replacement, Holder (Joel Kinnaman). After half a dozen episodes, I was much more interested in him than Linden, since his grungey look and odd vernacular invited more speculation than Linden's frowning. Which isn't really the idea. Lund and Meyer have a more combustible relationship, his approach more confrontational but also risky, hers subtle and respectful, inviting confidence. On the subject of Ahmed vs Rama, the US version goes off on a different tangent, one that might seem more pertinent for US audiences but is less believeable. Only the actors playing the grieving parents are just about on the same level as the two Danes. Sensibly, the recapitulation at the start of each episode, in the Danish one, reminds us of Nanna Larsen, the US one doesn't remind us of Rosie's terror, and you could be forgiven for forgetting all about her.
To sum up, The Killing USA is a literally pale imitation of the european original and unless you're one of those oddballs who can't cope with subtitles you should navigate away from this page and buy yourself the Danish production. The Danish is even easier on the ear and you'll still need subs to understand the english language in the American version because they mumble a lot.
The Killing [DVD] [2010]
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Tha Killing US
The mistake was to say this is a version of the original Danish production. It is not remotely in the same class let alone the same story! Read more
Published 16 days ago by SIE
The Killing - excellent entertainment!
Superb first series & very unusual. All 13 episodes focus on one crime story. A teenage girl is murdered & the story focusses on her family's trauma, the police investigators &... Read more
Published 26 days ago by CLAIRE MEESON
Dreadful, don't bother
Just a schlock remake. Bog-standard murder story peopled with characters you don't care about. I bought it by mistake - I was after the 'real' Killing - so am furious. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Book club Katy
The Killing [US version]
I bought this for a friend of mine to convince him that the US version of this series was worth watching. Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. G. Spry
Image quality too variable.
In general I'm quite satisfied with this product, but the quality of the image is variable, some scenes are what you will expect of a BluRay, but in others the image has a lot of... Read more
Published 1 month ago by eL
US The Killing A Worldwide Killer
Terrific crime series. If the Dannish original is better than this. It has to be truly wonderful. Everything is right about this.And in the last third of the show. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Paul Barrett
Fragile DVD?
I had a really unfortunate experience with this, the US version. Just as I was getting disc 2 out of the box the disc split in two. Read more
Published 1 month ago by NVG Gondolo
second series please
thoroughly enjoyed this series, compulsive viewing for us, we are hoping that a second series is in the making- excellent price for many hours of viewing
Published 3 months ago by finches
WHAT A DIV HEAD I BOUGHT THIS BY MISTAKE
I saw a couple of the re-runs of the original series and loved it - and then fell asleep through the next - and was out the next day (I have no taping facility). Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mrs. L. Watson
Arrgghh!!!!
I have just spent 14 hours of my precious time watching this and I still dont know who did it, what a waste of time. I feel very frustrated. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Lorraine
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