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The Unit - Series 1 - Complete [2006]


RRP: £34.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Full of action, intrigue, and espionage, The Unit offers a dramatic, fictionalised look inside the military while also giving viewers a peek inside the private lives of the elite squad. Conceived by the critically acclaimed David Mamet (Glengarry Glen Ross, House of Games), The Unit is an elite, covert Special Forces team that operates outside the military chain of command. The first season's 13 episodes offer insight into the characters without revealing too much about the men who make up the operation. Are they extremely patriotic, or are they adrenalin junkies who have to be in danger to feel validated? The answer probably falls somewhere in between, and the viewer gets the feeling that as much as the men love their wives and children, it's their jobs that give them their true reason for living. Led by veteran Jonas Blane (Dennis Haysbert, 24), the Unit deals with terrorism, rescue missions, and assassinations quickly, discreetly, and efficiently. If all goes well, someone else gets the credit. If things go awry, it's their necks on the line. In the first season of The Unit, the action is fast, the plot is succinct, and the acting is well done (when dealing with the deadly missions). It's the secondary storyline involving the wives that's less successful. The newest member of the Unit, Bob Brown (Scott Foley, Felicity), apparently didn't fill his wife Kim (Audrey Marie Anderson) in on what their new life would be like. From the beginning, she resists the hoo rah attitude that the other wives exhibit. But rather than coming across as an independent free thinker, she is presented as a whining drip of a woman who has no clue about the definition of a secret. Of course, when faced with the military's version of The Stepford Wives, who could blame her? As Jonas' supportive wife Molly, Regina Taylor (I'll Fly Away, Courage Under Fire) is less sympathetic than usual. In the early episodes, she comes across as an almost stalkerish busybody who is always there when Kim is trying to cope with a life she never wanted. Throw in an affair between commanding officer Colonel Tom Ryan (Robert Patrick, Terminator 2: Judgment Day) and one of the wives and you've got the makings of a military soap opera. The show is at its best when it concentrates on the men and their missions. We may not understand why they do what they do, but we're grateful that someone is doing the dangerous job for us. --Jae-Ha Kim


Covert military Ops - Mamet and Ryan Style
Review date: 2008-10-20 Rating: 8 out of 10

A U.S delta force unit led by Jonas Blane(Dennis Haysbert) and under the overall command of Col Tom Ryan(Robert Patrick)trawl the world and home soil putting out fires that range from hijackings to 40 lb bombs to guarding political summits etc.Their missions are constrasted with their families lives on base and the steps they have to take to protect their husbands real identities.
Military soap opera has some excellent performances,a thoughtful and well drawn account of the lives of those left behind and some exciting and hair-raising moments for the "Unit".
Created surprisingly by David Mamet and Shawn Ryan(The Shield)The Unit is a well written and engaging series marred only by the occasional story lull,some obvious twists and a preposterous final episode that was just too silly for words.Haysbert stands out as the beacon of responsibility and decision making in the field in a well chosen cast of characters who are all allowed to develop quite nicely.
Solid Entertainment.

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Reviews


To be avoided
Review date: 2008-10-16 Rating: 2 out of 10

Dreadful rubbish, it's a bit like 'Desperate Housewives' meets 'Terminator 3'. Bought it because I heard that Shawn Ryan. who wrote the excellent 'The Shield' had also created this. He should be ashamed of himself.

At the moment, the best TV military series
Review date: 2008-10-04 Rating: 10 out of 10

After Over There (sadly stopped after only a season) is the best military TV series on the screen. Perfect, realistic and variated plots, in style with Andy McNab first books, with an eye on the "internal front" made of wifes and "domestic" dramas. A very good cast, with a perfect Dennis Haysbert and a "reborn" Robert Patrick. A good soundrack. What else ?

Fantastic Action
Review date: 2008-08-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

I got into this basically on the strength of the wonderful Dennis Haysbert after his work on 24 and wasnt dissapointed.

Great scripts, great acting and fantastic action make this possibly the most under rated show for a long time.

The casting again is spot on as apart from the aforementioned Haysbert, Max Martini looks like he was born to be in Special Forces.

Watch it, you WILL be hooked

Decent, but not up to The Shield quality
Review date: 2008-06-15 Rating: 6 out of 10

Good action, but dialogue not as high quality as The Shield (Shawn Ryan's other show).

Usually mixes action in the field/mission and unit life on camp for their wives/families. Dennis Haysbert is good (played President Palmer from 24!).

Slightly disappointing thing is that it might come across as slightly unrealistic, e.g. it paints the special forces as total heroes, who dont make mistakes like killing innocents during their missions. I can understand why they wouldn't put something like that in, but I prefer realism. Maybe it will get more gritty during season 2 which I hear is better.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Regina Taylor
Dennis Haysbert
Robert Patrick
Max Martini
Scott Foley

Creators:
Dennis Haysbert (Primary Contributor)
Robert Patrick (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
EAN: 5039036030199
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 4
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2007-04-30
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 549 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2006
Language: English (Original Language)

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