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Editorial Reviews
**24 episodes on 12 discs. 24 hrs.**
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
57 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Easily as eliptic, complex and mysterious as "Twin Peaks" with more magic in its soul "Carnivale" only lasted two seasons on HBO because the witless suits didn't have the imagination to see the value the series added to their schedule. Keep in mind these are the same folks that also cancelled their second most watched series "Deadwood" after having already renewed if for a third.
Set during the 1934 dustbowl we first meet the ragtag members of the Carnivale as they pass through Oklahoma. Ben Hawkins (Nick Stahl) mother has just died. His home is about to be bulldozed and the dust storms that struck the midwest rage incessantly. Jonesy (Tim DeKay)the head roustabout stands up to those about to destroy Hawkins home and helps him bury his mom as do the other members of the carnival. Suddenly their family whether Hawkins likes it or not.
It seems Hawkins has the ability to heal others and perform miracles. He's a lost soul in denial of his abilities and focused on discovering who he is. Across the U.S. in California Preacher Brother Justin Crowe (Clancy Brown "The Shawshank Redemption" and Mr. Crabs in "Spongebobsquarepants")discovers he has a similar gift but through circumstances beyond his control this fire and brimstone preacher who wants to do good loses his faith in God and finds himself on a very different path from the uncommunicative, uncertain Hawkins. The two men are linked both by their abilities and a series of dreams. "Carnivale" gives us their stories as they discover whether they are good or evil and find a place in the world for who they are as well as who they become.
Featuring an excellent cast (Michael J. Anderson from "Twin Peaks" as Samson, Clea DuVall, Patrick Bauchau of "The Pretender", Adrienne Barbeau, Amy Madigan, Ralph Waite and others)the thoughtful well written stories always manage to examine the darkness and light in each of these characters as they face their struggle tod discover to exist in a harsh world.
The show was designed as a six year experience. Unfortuantely HBO cancelled it after two. Although the ratings fell during the first set they began to pick up again during the end of the second season. The network elected to cancel the show and cut their losses. It's a pity as this was one of the most ambitious fantasy shows on TV and had a great storyline that I would have loved to see resolved. Hopefully one day creator David Knauf will have that opportunity in a movie.
The boxed set has some terrific extras for both seasons with commentary tracks, production featurettes and all of it is nicely packaged. It's a pity that HBO didn't give this show the same opportunity as "Deadwood" with a series of TV movies to close out the show. I've lost faith in the network's ability to recognize great programming and they've become just as bad as the other networks (if not worse because you're paying for it so you don't have to put up with the ads).
This twofer is definitely worth getting making the show much more affordable.
Set during the 1934 dustbowl we first meet the ragtag members of the Carnivale as they pass through Oklahoma. Ben Hawkins (Nick Stahl) mother has just died. His home is about to be bulldozed and the dust storms that struck the midwest rage incessantly. Jonesy (Tim DeKay)the head roustabout stands up to those about to destroy Hawkins home and helps him bury his mom as do the other members of the carnival. Suddenly their family whether Hawkins likes it or not.
It seems Hawkins has the ability to heal others and perform miracles. He's a lost soul in denial of his abilities and focused on discovering who he is. Across the U.S. in California Preacher Brother Justin Crowe (Clancy Brown "The Shawshank Redemption" and Mr. Crabs in "Spongebobsquarepants")discovers he has a similar gift but through circumstances beyond his control this fire and brimstone preacher who wants to do good loses his faith in God and finds himself on a very different path from the uncommunicative, uncertain Hawkins. The two men are linked both by their abilities and a series of dreams. "Carnivale" gives us their stories as they discover whether they are good or evil and find a place in the world for who they are as well as who they become.
Featuring an excellent cast (Michael J. Anderson from "Twin Peaks" as Samson, Clea DuVall, Patrick Bauchau of "The Pretender", Adrienne Barbeau, Amy Madigan, Ralph Waite and others)the thoughtful well written stories always manage to examine the darkness and light in each of these characters as they face their struggle tod discover to exist in a harsh world.
The show was designed as a six year experience. Unfortuantely HBO cancelled it after two. Although the ratings fell during the first set they began to pick up again during the end of the second season. The network elected to cancel the show and cut their losses. It's a pity as this was one of the most ambitious fantasy shows on TV and had a great storyline that I would have loved to see resolved. Hopefully one day creator David Knauf will have that opportunity in a movie.
The boxed set has some terrific extras for both seasons with commentary tracks, production featurettes and all of it is nicely packaged. It's a pity that HBO didn't give this show the same opportunity as "Deadwood" with a series of TV movies to close out the show. I've lost faith in the network's ability to recognize great programming and they've become just as bad as the other networks (if not worse because you're paying for it so you don't have to put up with the ads).
This twofer is definitely worth getting making the show much more affordable.
41 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
To me this was the absolute finest production ever made for television/cable and because "only" several million totally devoted viewers could not get HBO to finish the four or five year series, we are left with two and will never know where this journey could have taken us all. It is magnificent but it is painful to watch because you know that it is unfinished "business." I for one have never watched HBO again because to make the time and emotional investment in Carnivale that so many of us made only to hear we didn't count, says to me that they can and most likely will do the same thing again.
HBO seems to thrive on super violent material that is laced with meaningless four letter words. The actors on _The Sopranos_ certainly have a payroll that out does the production costs of Carnivale yet maybe there is no room even on cable for works of complexity that demand that viewers think.
So buy it and yes, HBO owns it and will profit - but just this one last time. They abused their trust and far be it from me to ever again add to their coffers.
HBO seems to thrive on super violent material that is laced with meaningless four letter words. The actors on _The Sopranos_ certainly have a payroll that out does the production costs of Carnivale yet maybe there is no room even on cable for works of complexity that demand that viewers think.
So buy it and yes, HBO owns it and will profit - but just this one last time. They abused their trust and far be it from me to ever again add to their coffers.
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Why HBO didn't renew this series, I'll never know. It's based back in the "dust bowl" era of America with a boy in a traveling circus and a preacher gone evil. It deals with the power to heal, good vs evil, and more. Carnivable was based in a time of nobility. However man created wonder for reason. And the show takes you back to that time of wonder and after each episode you think back to that time of nobility.
A very well made series! But why didn't HBO keep going with it????
A very well made series! But why didn't HBO keep going with it????
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Aimed High, Shot Low
I know what Carnivale tried to be, trouble is, it failed to achieve what it set out to accomplish. Maybe had it been allowed to run its entire planned six-season arc it might've... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Notnadia
HBO WAKE UP !!
I totally agree with the 'previous' reviews on this short lived series. I could NOT believe that at the end of the 2nd season ... it WAS the end ... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Natural Woman
love this show
wish they had more season. good dvds, only prob is that they still skipped even though they were brand new. not sure if it was the dvds or my playstation.
Published 7 months ago by fallintomyworld85
Love IT!!
This item arrived in a timely fashion and was in the appropriate condition. It is a great series and I am really glad that I finally got my own copies to add to my library.
Published 8 months ago by Fred Williams III
Phenomenal Show!!!
I hate that this show was canceled. So creative and unique, and the cast was perfect. The dvds are nice. The picture and sound are great. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Marneygirl
Carnivale Review
Carnivale is one of the most intense, authentic and original shows I have ever seen. From the first episode, you know you have to see the rest of the seasons. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Ben
PORTENTOUS FLIM-FLAM
I was drawn to this series by the numerous glowing reviews and the mystery that it seemed to behold. Read more
Published 14 months ago by H. L. Mason
unsatisfied
Some of the discs in do not play at all in any player I insert them into. I believe it is a problem with thae actual disc itself. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Taneisha
Crushed
I used to watch this show faithfully when it was on HBO. I gave up nights out so I could catch it when it aired, something I NEVER do. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Jennifer Henson
Awesome Series! Must see for surrealist and magical thriller fans
I only heard of it recently, so I bought the 2 seasons. I read the raving, glowing reviews beforehand, so after the first couple of discs, I was wondering if I'd been had. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Elizabeth Renee Blue
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