The Wire : Complete HBO Season 1 | 
 enlarge | Actors: Dominic West, Sonja Sohn
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: £50.99
Buy New: £14.98
You Save: £36.01 (71%)
New (16) Used (5) from £14.50
Rating:  80 reviews
Sales Rank: 3
Format: Pal
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region: 2
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 5
Running Time: 720 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.7
EAN: 7321900253949
ASIN: B0007IK5Z0
Release Date: April 18, 2005
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Television really doesn't come much better than this. Criminally ignored by far, far too many people, The Wire has proven itself to be that rarest of things: an intelligent, clever, character-driven show, that's lasted more than one season.This boxset brings together all the episodes from the maiden series of The Wire, spread across thirteen episodes. Yet those episodes, unlike many in the police genre where the show spends a good deal of its time, are dedicated to just one case. Furthermore, it follows both sides of the case. Thus, there's the Baltimore police department, with its statistics to manage, its internal politics to manage and its chain of command to respect, set against a highly organised drug gang, who too have more than their fair share of problems. The Wire is a slow burn show, taking time to delicate put its pieces in place. Rarely do you get a dramatic end to an episode, and it's not afraid to humanise and blur the lines between good and bad. But, bluntly, there's nothing--not even The Sopranos--that US TV has broadcast in the last ten years that can hold a torch to it. This first series is genuinely outstanding television, and really deserves your attention. And the good news? Excellent as it is, this first series isn't even the best that The Wire has to offer…--Simon Brew
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| Customer Reviews: Read 75 more reviews...
Perfection Defined. August 22, 2008
R. Hudson (Leeds, UK)
The best TV show ever, from season's 1 to 5. This TV show looks at many aspects of life and seems to get better the more you watch it. An essential buy for any fan.
Make sure you order this now August 19, 2008
Ian Davies (Doha Qatar)
I haven't written a review on Amazon for a while - but this show has made me write one.
The Wire is the best TV series I have ever seen.
That's all I need to say
Fantastic Series - Must Watch August 16, 2008
S. Patel (London)
What a series - I really loved every minute of this exciting series.
Its as captivating as Prison Break but more intelligent though non-glamorous. Does show you the real frustrations and politics going behind the Police and Homicide departments and what a great job they do, in spite of everything.
Seriously not to be missed!!! I have already ordered Series 2 and 3.
A novel approach to television cop shows August 13, 2008
M. D. P. Meechan (Glasgow)
'The Wire' is the brainchild of prolific writer David Simon, who also created the excellent 'Homicide: Life on the Street'. Drawing on his experiences of living and working in Baltimore, Simon has crafted a multi-layered television series that addresses some of the major problems affecting Baltimore, and indeed American society as a whole. Over five seasons, we see the working class, government, education and the media come under the spotlight; but, in this first season, the focus is on drugs.
A large cast of characters inhabit 'The Wire' universe, and we get to see the perspectives of everyone from police commissioners down to teenage drug dealers. The size of the cast is initially daunting, and I found it took me a few episodes until I could identify each character by name! This makes the show all the more impressive, however, as screen time is afforded to all characters, inkeeping with writer Simon's vision of the show being a visual novel (each episode being a chapter of the story). Furthermore, the first season's tagline - 'listen carefully' - is good advice to the viewer, as there are no 'previously on' recaps should you miss an episode or plot point.
You will be compelled by many of the characters on this show, and the cat-and-mouse game played between the police department and drug baron Avon Barksdale is thrilling. The show has a gritty, real-life feel to it, and thankfully the creators have eschewed the need to conform to the glossy format of other TV cop shows. Although the show is primarily a drama, there is also much humour to be had from the antics of characters such as Bunk, McNulty and Bubbles. Watching 'The Wire' is a rewarding experience, and this first season works as an excellent standalone series. My only wish is that the DVD had included more special features, such as a documentary about the real Baltimore.
took my breath away August 3, 2008
Mr. D. Wells
this is a superb series....i was guided onto the first series by all the reviews and their fulsome praise. like most viewers i was conditioned to episodic series....a beginning a middle and an end ...so when the first episode finished without a solution i was annoyed.....the second episode followed the same format and i realised this was a marathon....not a sprint.....but ,by then i was gripped....i had to restrain my finger from pushing the 'fast forward 'button......watched it all the way thro' in one go....it is a thinking person's series....since then i have puchased series 2 and 3....SUPERB SUPERB SUPERB........
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