Search - Prime Suspect 6 - The Last Witness on DVD

FABULOUS, BUT YOU'RE BUYING THE WRONG VERSION!

BOB | LOS ANGELES, CA | 01/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I will demur extended comments on the film to the reviewers below. Suffice to say, it is more taut, edgy, fast-paced, and visually compelling than the preceeding films. Obviously, the great script was paramount in Ms. Mirren's decision to return to the role.

My review has to do with the DVD presentation. I obtained this U.S. release from Netflix before I knew that it had been cropped and mastered in pan & scan. Much of this film has been shot with a super wide-angle lens, so after 30 seconds of viewing that P&S bastardization, it went back in the Netflix return envelope. Then I purchased the widescreen Region 2 PAL version from Amazon UK. It arrived in Los Angeles in under 10 days.

I have a Sony 34" 16X9 direct-view set, and an all-region JVC NTSC/PAL DVD player. You can pick up name-brand all-region NTSC/PAL players all over the web for usually less than $100. They come in very handy with DVD's that are not available in the U.S.

The Region 2 disc looked fabulous; I cannot imagine watching this film butchered in P&S. I highly suggest buying the widescreen version.

When you view all the other Pime Suspect DVD's, which are all also mastered in pan & scan, you realize they were originally filmed in widescreen. Perhaps some day, the entire, awesome series will be made available in the correct aspect ratios."

Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness Is Best In Series -Superb!

Jana L. Perskie | New York, NY USA | 04/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Helen Mirren once again returns in her Emmy Award-winning role as Jane Tennison in what is, I believe, the series' most powerful police drama yet. This sixth episode in Prime Suspect, "The Last Witness," has Tennison hunting down the leaders of a paramilitary death squad in London. These men had perpetrated heinous crimes against humanity during the Balkan Civil War and could possibly be the cause of a terrible murder in Jane's jurisdiction.Former Chief Detective Tennison, has now been promoted to overseeing all murder investigations in London. She is, as usual, battling the male establishment and coming to grips with advancing middle-age. At 54 she feels she is being pushed toward early retirement and the pressure and presence of ambitious younger colleagues who would love to have her job are ever present. At this point in her life Jane Tennison is also beginning to realize that her career has become her life - a sad and lonely realization.When the body of a young Bosnian woman turns up, with signs of brutal, sadistic torture, Jane takes over the case. Her investigation leads her to one man, and perhaps two, who are alleged war criminals with much to hide as they attempt to make new lives for themselves in Britain. The murdered woman's older sister is finally found and promised protection in return for her story and assistance with the ongoing investigation. The police protection proves to be weaker than the will of the murderer to eliminate all possible witnesses to his crimes. And disaster strikes again with horrifying results. As usual Tennison risks all in her determination to bring the guilty to justice and in this sixth episode "all" could mean her career.The Prime Suspect series has long been a favorite. Helen Mirren is superb as an actress in any role and absolutely shines as Jane Tennison. Ms. Mirren lends the correct mix of tough independence and vulnerability that are such an important part of the character. And her face mirrors all the emotion her character is feeling more eloquently than words. I heard Ms. Mirren say, in a recent interview with the press, that this will be the last Prime Suspect episode. I am very sorry to see it end but can't imagine a more fitting conclusion. Wonderful acting and drama. Highly recommended!
JANA"

Full Screen version - NOT widescreen

Drew In Canada | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 05/20/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"When this aired in Canada on CBC, it was the original widescreen presentation. I missed it when it aired on PBS recently, so I'm not sure if they showed a widescreen or full screen version. However, I assumed that HBO and Warners would release the original widescreen presentation, enhanced for 16x9. Apparently, that's how the DVD was released in Region 2. But despite what it says here on Amazon in the technical specs, this DVD is a full screen presentation. That's a real shame, and it makes me want to purchase an "all region" player and order the Region 2 DVD from the U.K. - so I can see Prime Suspect 6 as it was meant to be seen."

Full screen feature... widescreen extras!

Drew In Canada | Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 05/21/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"What makes this DVD even more frustrating is that while the feature itself is full screen, the bonus 'making of' featurette is widescreen and enhanced for 16x9!The widescreen 'making of' featurette contains clips from the feature, and if you do an A/B comparison, you can clearly see how the left and right sides of the image have been cropped for the full screen presentation.Shame on Granada, HBO or whoever was responsible for this decision."