C.S.I. Miami - The Complete Fourth Season
CBS Television - CBS Television
Release date: 2006-10-31
DVD
Actors: David Caruso, Emily Procter, Adam Rodriguez
4, 4th, C.S.I., CSI, Four, Fourth, Feature Film-drama, Television
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C.S.I. Miami - The Complete Fourth Season
Date undefinedI could not find this product in my town any where but Amazon had it and let me tell you it is swwwwwwweeeeeetttttttt.
C.S.I. Miami - The Complete Fourth Season
Date undefinedCSI Miami is, according to Reuters, "the most-watched U.S. series around the world", and one can easily understand why.
American TV shows have been a vehicle used to spread and promote the American way of life (occasionally while glorifying it) for years. In my opinion, no other show conveys the essence of the American dream better than CSI Miami - and that's the source of its phenomenal success.
Police work and life in general have never looked so attractive and fulfilling; Florida, what a beautiful land, even more when all the females you ever get to see (cast members or random passers-by) are top models. The cars the police officers drive are fancy Hummers, the equiptment used for the CSI work is always on the top of the line. Most of the crimes are committed in the best and wealthiest neighborhoods, mostly by - you must have guessed - handsome/beautiful, charming and occasionally rich criminals. The poor victims seem almost good looking on their deathbeds. Add to that the amazing speed in which justice is served (usually within 40 minutes), and you get the most easily watched syndicated program in the history of television.
It should be noted that the creators of the show do not shy away from planting the expected crimes in places in which sometimes the most unusual, disturbing and bizarre types of behaviors found within the American society happen; from getaway promiscuous parties for bored wives, to arranged dates for men with shameless gold diggers going to one night stand meetings for men and willing women, and so forth. These outrageous and often sensational plot contexts undoubtly contribute to the appeal of the series no less than all the other elements.
The entertainment-value of the final outcome is undisputable. I've seen many episodes and was never bored or indifferent. The stories are interesting, engaging and fast-paced. David Caruso, the leading actor, plays well, has the necessary charisma and is famous for employing special mannerisms like no other. Even so, there's a downsize; when everything is said and done, more often than not, there is no special memory left in mind, there isn't a deep lesson, moral or intellectual stimulation that leaves its mark. Not much remains other than the general atmosphere of things which is -- a sort of a representation or maybe a taste of the American dream.
C.S.I. Miami - The Complete Fourth Season
Date undefinedWhat is most remarkable about season 4 is the amount of human interest and character development it offers. Horatio falls in love (without wanting to spoil anything there is - as is to be expected - no happy end).
Eric DELKO has a streak of bad luck - he is suspect in a narcotics investigation, he is in debt and his sister has cancer (on top of that she is also witness of a robbery turned awry - see episode DRIVEN). He also has a brief romance with new lab girl, Natalia Boa VISTA (love that name), a most welcome addition to the cast. Not only is her character charming, actress Eva LA RUE also looks gorgeous.
While I did not like his character in the previous season, this time I got used to Ryan WOLFE (Jonathan TOGO). The poor guy also gets shot with a nail gun (!) in the eye in the NAILED episode; his impaired vision will cause him lots of trouble on the job. Additional conflicts concern an annoying female reporter (a recurring character) and the crush Calleigh DUQUESNE's has on a Secret Service agent (this guy also starred in the last but one season, if I remember correctly).
So there is a lot in store for the characters in this season. As if all of this
was not enough there is a mole in the crime lab and a federal investigation is underway...
All in all I had the impression that the series is more action driven than previous seasons; particularly Horatio gets to use his gun often. A recurring theme of season 4 is the fight against the powerful and ultra-violent South American gang Mala Noche (clearly inspired by real life gang MS 13).
I also would like to give kudos to actor Rex LINN, who is great as detective Frank TRIPP. Mr. LINN knows how to portray a tough cop!
My favorite episode of season 4 is URBAN HELLRAISERS, which has juvenile criminals re-enacting a GTA-like computergame in real life. In my book a real innovative story!
The Miami locations are put to great effect as usual, this time even including a cruise ship (OPEN WATER). And I really loved the sharks!
I have mixed feelings about some episodes due to a certain slant. Take for instance 28 HOURS TO LIFE, where a young black named Tobey HOLLINS is cleared of not only one, but two murders. First he is arrested for the murder of a white woman on a yacht, only to be accused in jail of a second murder (this time of a white inmate). It turns out that the woman was shot by the yacht's prospective buyer and the prisoner was stabbed to death (with a sharpened turkey bone!) in self-defense. HOLLINS had priviously been the victim of male rape at the hand of the white prisoner. It is hard to believe that with CSI's reputation for getting all forensic/criminalistic facts right the episode's writer should not be aware of the fact that prison rape is more or less exclusively black-on-white ... That said 28 HOURS TO LIFE with its meandering storyline, which keeps you guessing throughout, and an admittedly convincing performance by the black actor, is gripping entertainment.
There are also some rather too far fetched story contrivances (e.g. two snipers, operating indepently and for different reasons at the same time at the same crime scene in the episode RAMPAGE).
And I really would love to see an episode in CSI MIAMI at least once, where the crime turns out to be a freak accident, as is regularly the case in Vegas or New York.
As usual, there are not that much extras, but they are welcome. The three featurettes detail the brainstorming, scriptwriting and preproduction process, art direction, location scouting, set building and dubbing. Really interesting stuff! Running time for the documentaries is a bit over 40 minutes.
All in all required viewing for the CSI MIAMI fan, despite political correctness and other shortcomings!
