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Luther (2010)

Idris Elba , Steven Mackintosh  |  NR |  DVD
4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)

List Price: $34.98
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Shop and save on other great BBC titles, including "Doctor Who," "Merlin," and "Africa."

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Luther + Luther: Season 2 + Legacy
Price for all three: $47.95

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Product Details

  • Actors: Idris Elba, Steven Mackintosh, Warren Brown, Indira Varma, Paul McGann
  • Writers: Neil Cross
  • Format: Color, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
  • Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
  • Subtitles: English
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: November 23, 2010
  • Run Time: 360 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B0041QSZFG
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,177 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • Learn more about "Luther" on IMDb

Special Features

Luther: The World of a True Maverick

Watch Free Previews and Buy Episodes from Amazon Instant Video (Learn More)

Luther Season 1 - Available Formats

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Idris Elba is the magnetic star of the thrilling BBC police series Luther, a gritty, captivating drama that will impress fans of British TV, police procedurals, and knotty character studies. Elba (The Wire, The Big C, The Office, 28 Days Later) is a nuanced, tortured presence as DCI John Luther, a detective focused on understanding the most horrifying criminal mind. Luther also has sacrificed a normal personal life for his work, and Luther focuses on his back-story as much as on the plot at hand. The supporting cast is as brilliant as Elba, especially Indira Varma as his estranged wife, Zoe, and Ruth Wilson as the fragile-seeming but only marginally sane Alice, with whom Luther has been having a secret affair. The episodes are fairly straightforward police procedurals, including serial killers and other creepy bad guys. But what keeps Luther extra engaging is the superior writing, direction, and production design--making watching Luther an immersive experience for the viewer. And it's not always a comfortable one--this is not the cleaned-up New York of Law & Order, where most bad things happen off screen. Luther's bad guys (and gals) commit their evil deeds on camera and sometimes in slow motion--which only heightens the suspense and deep feeling of immersion. Luther and its focus on its leading character's personal life owes a lot to Helen Mirren's Prime Suspect, but Elba and the supporting cast of Luther do even more to make the viewer feel a part of the imperfect British law-enforcement system. The boxed set includes an excellent documentary with interviews with series creator Neil Cross and the directors and cast members discussing how they deliberately designed the series to be more "impressionistic" than "realistic" in terms of plot. (The interviews would have more impact if they weren't streamed onto a computer screen, but that's a small quibble.) Catch Luther while he tries to catch the bad blokes, and enjoy every twisted step of the journey. --A.T. Hurley

Product Description

Golden Globe Winner Idris Elba (The Wire, American Gangster) stars as Detective John Luther in this thrilling new crime series from BBC America. A self-destructive near-genius, Luther might just be as dangerous as the depraved criminals he hunts. Luther follows his own moral code as much as the rules of criminal law. But he quickly becomes locked in a lethal battle of wits with Alice (Ruth Wilson, The Prisoner, Jane Eyre), a beautiful, highly intelligent mass murderer, and his decision-making process becomes increasingly murky. The strain begins to tell as he’s drawn deeper and deeper into a series of horrific murders, and the shadow of a former case threatens to bring him down. Forced to face his own capacity for violence, he struggles with why his wife left him and what draws him to Alice. As the stakes get higher and more personal, Luther’s lonely path pulls him towards the very edge of temptation. Is he a force for good or a man hell bent on self-destruction?

Customer Reviews

Wonderful show great acting and wonderful writing. Pulpman  |  25 reviewers made a similar statement
Luther is one of the best series I have seen on TV in ages! D. Gilliard  |  21 reviewers made a similar statement
When I watched this series, I love it so much I wanted to see more. Chris Stewart  |  8 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
131 of 137 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling September 11, 2010
Format:DVD
I bought this DVD from the UK sight unseen, based on customer reviews. And after watching the first episode I thought I had made a mistake - it was not bad, but not as good as I had hoped, and I didn't particularly like Luther himself.

But, on a rainy Saturday afternoon a few weeks later, I finally decided to watch the next episode ... and ended up watching to the end, on the edge of my seat.

The episodes look gorgeous, as BBC productions generally do, and the stories are dark and gritty and very intense. Not for the squeamish. But perfect for anyone who appreciates an emotional, finely-crafted drama that will suck you in and surprise you at every turn.

While it is not necessarily as unique as it claims - in many ways, it is a fairly standard police drama, with a damaged detective with personal problems and all the people who have to put up with him - there are always ways to make the old genre feel new, and Luther does this brilliantly. The uniqueness of this series hinges on the characters, especially Alice, and on the twists and turns in the last two episodes that will take your breath away.

I haven't heard yet if this series has been renewed for a second season, but even if it isn't (and I sincerely hope it is), there is enough greatness here to make it one of those legendary shows that you never forget.
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43 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was originally turned on to BBC's crime procedural "Luther" with some pretty strong sentiments. It was supposed to be "wild," "unpredictable," and "unlike anything else on TV." I'm not sure, ultimately, that "Luther" lives up to such effusive hyperbole--but that doesn't mean that it isn't thoroughly entertaining and compelling in its own right. While "Luther" can certainly be wild and unpredictable, it is not breaking the mold of many other rogue cop hero shows that have populated the modern TV landscape. As the titular Detective John Luther, Idris Elba brings much passion, conviction, and gusto to the standard role of a cop who must sometimes cross the line to do what's right. But to the program's credit, Elba can be extremely erratic as well and does push the notion of a "good" cop to an uncomfortable, and at times, violent level.

Elba, though magnetic, is not the show's primary asset in my estimation. Nor are the actual crimes, for that matter. It's all about presentation. One story line revolving around a cop killer had some quite unexpected and shocking violence. One thing lacking from most TV procedurals are a palpable feeling of tension--of "anything can happen"--and "Luther" can leave you effectively unsettled. And as the season progresses, that latter episodes become progressively more unhinged. Another routine abduction case was brought to vivid life with a diabolical, super creepy villain and notorious face licker. But my favorite element of the show, by far, is that "Luther has managed to cast a psychotic murderess in its leading lady role. Ruth Wilson provides a fantastic foil for Elba and I loved every moment of their interactions!

As is typical with British TV, this season is short by American standards (some call it a mini-series) with only 6 episodes. But if you like cop shows with flawed heroes battling their inner demons (and who doesn't?), this is an easy recommendation. Not revelatory TV, but dirty fun. 5 HUGE stars for Ruth Wilson. Sometimes, however, I did miss her when she wasn't around and I wasn't always enamored with Elba's domestic issues, ex-wife, etc...But overall, solidly entertaining. If this sounds appealing to you, you'll probably enjoy it! KGHarris. 11/10.
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30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant November 13, 2010
Format:DVD
Simply an amazing series. Never have I seen such a complete and fulfilling story brought to life in just 6 episodes. I've watched all 6 episodes in their entirety three times now. The acting is top notch and the story is well written and brought to life.

I can't recommend this enough. Do yourself a favor and watch this series. It will stay with you for months to come.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
Very fresh! It kept me guessing and totally entertained. Luther is so well played by Elba, and I felt fully invested in and sympathetic to his character.
Published 9 days ago by Carol DeCoursey
5.0 out of 5 stars Idris at his best!
I just love watching him, he should of shot a scene with out his shirt on.What actor and great performer the complete series of the Wire is next...
Published 22 days ago by jhadee
5.0 out of 5 stars Looove!
If you are second guessing yourself on this purchase...stop. Go ahead and get it.
You won't regret it. Luther is by far my favorite show. It is compelling and not repetitive. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jazzi.
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
Characters we have not really seen before dealing with situations we would never encounter. However Idris and company portray them in ways that make it all work and make you want... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Richard Battle
5.0 out of 5 stars Idris Alba is great!!
Wonderful show great acting and wonderful writing. The show is not upbeat so be warned you will feel drained by some episodes. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Pulpman
5.0 out of 5 stars Good show!
The strange woman criminal (who has a crush on Luther) is psychotic! She is one of the best parts in the show. Will do anything for Luther ... including murder.
Published 2 months ago by Robert in PDX
4.0 out of 5 stars good drama
One of my favorite dramas. I found this on netflix last year and quickly caught up on the first 2 seasons. Read more
Published 2 months ago by C. Russell
5.0 out of 5 stars Luther, Yes!!!
I truly enjoyed season one. I had seen this beofre in bits and eices on public TV so after I taped a few episodes I was hooked and happy to find that I could get them all and enjoy... Read more
Published 2 months ago by A
5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly as advertised
We like many of the British programs. And Luther is an interesting character. We caught an episode on Masterpiece Theatre, and we wanted to see the whole series. We're glad we did.
Published 3 months ago by Carl Hughes
5.0 out of 5 stars I have no words !
Found some. The British just keep bombarding us with unknown great shows and actors. It's the British invasion of the 60's music industry all over again. Read more
Published 5 months ago by submariner
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Anybody know if this will be released on Blu-Ray?
I also want to know about this if anyone has heard anything!
Apr 25, 2011 by Ryan |  See all 3 posts
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