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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In some ways, the BBC are onto a hiding to nothing by adapting the Kurt Wallander novels of Henning Mankell. Firstly there are the afficiandos of the books who might be offended, then there are the lovers of the swedish adaptations that appear on BBC Four. However, thanks to Kanneth Branagh's brilliant performances, I think they have delivered in this second series, probably more than the first.
Branagh is astonishing. His acting is pitch perfect throughout the three episodes. By the last one in this series - The Fifth Woman - you almost feel like smashing through your screen to give him a hug. It's not just that he does misery well - and these shows are bleak, both in subject matter and style - but he also manages to get across the sudden bursts of hope that are almost more painful than the agony. The most impressive moment was when he learns of the death of a close relative. His face, his manner, his tone were all spot-on. It made me think of the moment when I heard about the death of the same person in my life; a jolting, uncomfortable moment for me, but one that left me pointing at the TV and telling my kids, solemnly, that's exactly what it's like.
The other pluses of the show are a strong supporting cast; superb locations; a haunting title track and his mobile phone ring tone - which just about undercuts all the wintry despair every time it trills.
I have read all three novels that these adaptations were based on and, yes, some elements of the books gets lost. I found this especially in 'Faceless Killers' where Wallander - in the book - is an utterly compelling train wreck, but Branagh more than compensates for the deviations and deletions from the source material in his performance. The man is Kurt Wallander.
I saw all of these on the telly, but I will be buying this set so I can put it next to those other Branagh masterclasses on my DVD shelf - Shackleton, Conspiracy and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Branagh is astonishing. His acting is pitch perfect throughout the three episodes. By the last one in this series - The Fifth Woman - you almost feel like smashing through your screen to give him a hug. It's not just that he does misery well - and these shows are bleak, both in subject matter and style - but he also manages to get across the sudden bursts of hope that are almost more painful than the agony. The most impressive moment was when he learns of the death of a close relative. His face, his manner, his tone were all spot-on. It made me think of the moment when I heard about the death of the same person in my life; a jolting, uncomfortable moment for me, but one that left me pointing at the TV and telling my kids, solemnly, that's exactly what it's like.
The other pluses of the show are a strong supporting cast; superb locations; a haunting title track and his mobile phone ring tone - which just about undercuts all the wintry despair every time it trills.
I have read all three novels that these adaptations were based on and, yes, some elements of the books gets lost. I found this especially in 'Faceless Killers' where Wallander - in the book - is an utterly compelling train wreck, but Branagh more than compensates for the deviations and deletions from the source material in his performance. The man is Kurt Wallander.
I saw all of these on the telly, but I will be buying this set so I can put it next to those other Branagh masterclasses on my DVD shelf - Shackleton, Conspiracy and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
There are plenty of police dramas in the world already, but Wallander is a welcome addition to the canon. It is set in Sweden, and although it features an all-British cast the bleak rural Swedish landscape becomes a character in it's own right. Kenneth Branagh has won all the accolades going over the course of his career, but personally I've never seen him better. He creates a believable, battered centre to the stories featured and his performance alone is worth the price of this dvd. The plots develop slowly, engrossing and involving just the same. A fantastic series, one of the best new detective dramas to appear on British screens for some considerable time. I have never seen the Swedish version - some people swear that it's better, although I don't know whether that's to do with a kind of one-up-man-ship or not. What I can do is highly recommend the English version.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I used to watch the original Wallander on the BBC and I found it good enough to watch. But when I started to watch the new series of Wallander which I had not seen before with Kenneth Branagh I was blown away. He is brilliant in this and the supporting cast are amazing. The vistas of Sweden and the dark undercurrent that permeates it pull you in and it is escapism in a way. The stories have excellent plots and Branagh's tortured soul brings much to the depth of story. I hope more Wallanders are made by the BBC. I found the original Wallander played by a Swedish actor (obviously) to quiet spoken and flat without the demons that Branagh plays out. Also Kurt's ringtone is cool as well. Recommended!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not bad, but over-dramatized
If one does not compare it to the original series the interpretation with Brannagh is quite okay. Brannagh himself as Wallander is brilliant and convincing as always, although the... Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. Van Limpt
Wallander Series 2 - Brannagh at his dark and moody best
Presented here on two discs are all three episodes of the second series for UK TV of Wallander, starring Kenneth Brannagh as the Swedish detective with more character flaws and... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Victor
Wallender series 1 and 2.
I bought these 2 for part of my husband's Christmas present, and as usual, they arrived very quickly and we are enjoying them. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mrs. R. H. Morgan
Excellent drama
For the uninitiated, Kurt Wallander a is cult TV Swedish series where a Swedsh detective in Ystad solves a collection of brutal and baffling cases. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mr. J. Fuller
2nd rate interpretation. See the original.
Having watched the Swedish versions I was interested to see what we (the Brits) could do. And boy was I disappointed. These Brannagh interpretations are simply dreadful. Read more
Published on 28 May 2010 by R. Harris
I have NOT recived anything yet.
I am very sorry to tell that I have recived no item and no explanation from amazon. I am waiting...
Published on 2 May 2010 by Castelloten
A perfetc adaptation
"Wallander" is excellent. The atmosphere of Henning Mankell crime thrillers is perfectly reflected in all the 6 episodes (Wallander 1 and 2) and Kenneth Branagh is perfect, just... Read more
Published on 3 April 2010 by Moncho
Branagh is terrific.
Kenneth Branagh is terrific as the lonely, relentless Wallander....The series is compelling, intelligent, and well-written...I only hope it continues.
Published on 3 April 2010 by A. M. Kelly
Well-acted but a tad contrived
Set in a grey-ish downbeat Swedish small town, these stories follow a dual narrative of Wallender's own troubled life set against his investigations. Read more
Published on 3 April 2010 by Roman Clodia
His Blue Heart
The haunting opening song and the landscape sets the mood for these
well crafted stories. Growing up in Minnesota I can relate to the somber
Nordic mind set, these scenes... Read more
well crafted stories. Growing up in Minnesota I can relate to the somber
Nordic mind set, these scenes... Read more
Published on 2 April 2010 by Michael J. Seibert
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