Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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73 of 75 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Top Drawer Entertainment, September 1, 2002
By A Customer
Having discovered this intense drama in syndicated reruns on A&E, we felt a little behind the times---how on earth did we miss such a well-produced show? Needless to say, we've become hopelessly addicted to the program. We've watched the cast changes, some for the better and some not, but cannot fault the show for its attention to detail and gritty realism. Now in its thirteenth year, "Law & Order" continues to provide top quality entertainment in the vast wasteland known as television.
The premise of the show is fairly simple: The first half of the show is devoted to the police investigation of a crime, the second half to its prosecution. Procedures are followed and when they aren't, disasters sometimes occur and justice isn't served. Not every episode features a happy ending and some are every bit as unsettling as real life.
The cast has shifted around over the years, sometimes due to the producers and other times due to an actor's desire to leave. Not all the changes have been improvements; we're still waiting for Ed Green to grow on us, and Serena leaves us cold. We still miss Mike and the crusty Adam Schiff, and it's a toss-up between the mercurial McCoy and the more methodical Stone. Claire was by far the best of the ADA's, and we're thankful they haven't lost either Lenny or the steely Van Buren. We're hoping that the spin-offs stop---why go with a pale imitation when you've got the original? But patience is a virtue, and throughout all the crazy changes, the original show has never quite lost its edge.
If the viewer would like to sample some of the better episodes, this video set is a good start. These installments include such difficult subject matter as child abuse ("Indifference"), race relations ("Sanctuary", "Conspiracy"), mistreatment of homosexuals ("Manhood"), delayed justice ("White Rabbit") and a game of cat-and-mouse between a brilliant criminal and the justice system ("American Dream"). Each episode features a set of excellent guest stars, including famed attorney William S. Kunstler as himself in "White Rabbit". Zeljko Ivanek is probably the best for his portrayal of the dangerous defendant toying with Ben Stone in "American Dream". Of course, the Law & Order cast is great in these, too, no matter what the line-up, mainly because this set doesn't stray past the fifth season when Logan was still on the team. (He and Briscoe had a terrific bond of sarcasm and cynicism that at times made them almost like father and son, or at least brothers.)
In summary, this set is a good and fairly economical way for a person unfamiliar with this strong series to get his feet wet, or for a diehard fan to garner a collection legally. The series is coming out on more serious video collections in the near future, and buying this set might help in deciding whether or not to get any more. We enjoyed these videos very much and felt that we got our money's worth in entertainment.
Our dream cast for the series: (Unfortunately, no longer possible) Adam Schiff/Steven Hill, Ben Stone/Michael Moriarty, Claire Kincaid/Jill Hennessy, Anita Van Buren/S. Epatha Merkerson, Lenny Briscoe/Jerry Orbach and Mike Logan/Chris Noth. This was a great group while it lasted.
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27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Show on Television, Bar None, August 6, 2000
The 10-year old NBC series is on the way to becoming one of the medium's best-produced dramas in television history. This six-episode set exemplifies why the show has garnered critical and viewer approval. Always willing to take chances and draw subject matter from the headlines, "Law & Order" tackles the controversial with expertly crafted stories and superb acting from its various principals and guest stars.It has been said that producer Wolf feels that the stories are the key to the show's success, spending very little time delving into the personal lives of the main characters. However, the brief glimpses afforded by the "off the cuff" remarks and their reactions to the crimes and their jobs allow the viewer to make judgments about the individuals. Featuring a diverse cast, the set offers a chance to see how the actors tackle their characters with skill and emotion. It is indeed a pleasure to watch the passionate Ben Stone, as played by Michael Moriarty, in the courtroom as he endeavors to present the state's case. Sam Waterston, with his expressive face and masterful delivery, is a lesson in the fine art of acting. S. Epatha Merkerson, as Lt. Anita Van Buren, is a no-nonsense, take-charge dynamo with absolute control. In one fine installment, Chris Noth as Det. Mike Logan makes a revelation that shows the reason for his intensity regarding that particular case. Richard Brooks fares well in his role of Assistant DA Paul Robinette. Jill Hennessy is genuinely sincere in the role of Claire Kincaid, assistant to the DA. Steven Hill, as Adam Schiff, gets all the best lines as the "elder statesman" of the cast. However, the fantastic Jerry Orbach illuminates the screen as the sardonic, experienced Lennie Briscoe, one of the best detectives ever to grace the small screen. Although all six episodes are outstanding, the best are "Conspiracy," "Sanctuary," "Manhood," and "American Dream." The first two have similarly themed stories based on strained race relations. Both feature bravura acting from guests Joe Morton, Gloria Foster, Eric Bogosian, Michael Jayce, Tony Todd, and Michael Constantine. Lorraine Toussaint is captivating as defense attorney Shambala Green. "Manhood" tells a tale of prejudice among the ranks of New York's finest against gays. The ending of that one is a true indictment against our society. However, the best acting job goes to Zeljko Ivanek in a the role of an egomaniacal murderer who plays a cat-and-mouse game with Stone in "Dream." His performance is worthy of an Emmy and is one that will remain with the viewer.
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17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I'm not surprised...................., August 26, 2000
that this show has been airing on TV for a decade. Each episode is better than the one before (and EVERY episode is good!) transporting the viewer from crime scene to courtroom, the scriptwriting, and taut, controlled production is second to none, and each cast member, including the guest stars and cameos, brings his or her character to life, openly revealing little of their character traits unless confronted by a situation which forces them to do so. In years to come, people will regard "Law And Order" as a television classic. More than just a cop show, more than just a courtroom drama, this is a show which reveals the dark side of humanity as well as the justice system - people commit terrible acts upon their fellow man, people make mistakes, in some cases justice doesn't triumph but in some cases it does - that will provoke deep thought in the viewers long after the final screen credits have rolled.
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