Like the previous movie games, this one is also based off the motion picture film and depicts Spider-Man bonding with a dark entity that changes his entire persona and life to a great evil. When it nearly ruins his life, he realizes he must cleanse himself of the suit.

While the game follows up on a big blockbuster movie, do not let that fool you. Graphics may be one of the only greatest things about this game. The graphics are the best any Spider-Man video game has seen yet and a step up from the Superman Returns video game graphics. It isn't comparable to Gears of War, but certainly is great on its own level.

However, the downfalls overpower the pros. First is the monotonous city. The hyped up improvements die quickly as the explorable subways and sewers become old. The citizens of Manhattan no longer thank, yell or cheer on their friendly neighborhood, Spider-Man. A few improvements include cars that actually hit you if you get in the middle of a busy avenue- but the lackluster atmosphere of the city from inaccurate landmarks to zombie-like citizens certainly is a downfall.

This time around the missions are different and the player gets a unique feature to play any story missions in any order. Unfortunately there is no continuity as the missions feel scrambled and it is unbelievable that so many things could be happening in the city all at one time. To make matters worse, players only get a mere three missions representing the movie storyline whilst everything else is filler. A few disgruntled fans and critics of the movie argued about cramming too much into a Spidey film. In here- it almost seems mimicked.

Spider-Man is greatly improved however in his own graphics and fighting techniques. He is even more powerful using the black suit. Yet Spider-Man is the only decent character in the entire game and through time, it doesn't even feel like a Spider-Man game you are playing with all the costume changes (Rhino looks like the Juggernaut from X3). Bruce Campbell as the narrator sounds bored with his job this time around and the villains seem to reflect the little screen time they had in the movie.

Sandman for instance appears out of nowhere on your first mission using the black suit and you almost wonder if Spider-Man is having a nightmare. Sandman's transformation in the game is also a rip-off as we see it in a mere 3 seconds in the opening credits. Eddie Brock appears about 2 times tops in the video game, and Venom in only one mission. The same is said for Harry Osborn who makes two appearances and is nothing like the way he was in the movie. Unlike the first two games where we see the detailed and sometimes emotional transformations into their villainous persona's such as Norman Osborn into Green Goblin or Octavius into Doc Ock- the villains here appear in the blink of an eye and are long gone before you realize it.


i was expecting this to be one of my favorite games ever because ultimate spider-man and spider-man 2 games are my favorite games ever but this isn't huge let down its just conclusion of the game is bad if you seen the film harry dies he also dies in the game but when its all over they completely forgot about that and story mode is short to atleaset on the ps2 version but swinging around new york is just pure fun so is story mode but its disappointing that it is so short and playing has black suit is fun but its to bad you cant after you beat the game. So overlay this is another great spider-man game but it doesn't compare to ultimate spider-man and spider-man 2 game.And the spider-man 3 game is better then the first spider-man movie game so i recemond this spidey game is very fun.

Overall:7/10


It's not unusual that people comment on a movie like they're looking for mistakes in the plot, or searching very deep for the weakest points in it, just to give a so-so-rating. Spiderman is one of those kinds of movies... It has some weak points, the story sometimes seems to forget one or other character, and then in the end they all come together like it was so natural. The sandman isn't such a bad guy but seems to be a bit too violent for a person who is just trying to save it's kid... a bit greedy isn't him? And if he's not a killer, why'd he agree to kill spider man so easily?... OK, you can add lots of other bad things in the plot, you'll find'em, but isn't it supposed to be an entertaining movie? Yes, and to put the bad guys together Eddie, wearing the black suit finds the sandman in a blink and make in an allie in less than 5 seconds!! Besides that, and concentrating on the action itself, Spiderman 3 has a very good pace, and most of the situations happen in a "natural" way, entertaining a lot (which is it's main purpose). The special effects are great, lots of CGI of course, but even that is getting better and better, and now Spiderman jumps and action seems more real than ever! That was one of the reasons I went to watch the movie! The black suit is really nice and it was a really good story to pick from(will it return? there is a little sample on the laboratory where Parker left it to be analyzed)... I a Spiderman fan since I was a kid, although I stop reading the comics long ago, but this movie is probably the best in the series, mainly because it's superb special effects and CGI. Because of that, all the weak points aren't enough to say "it's not a good movie"...


What the hell is wrong with Activision? They started off so well with the Spider-Man franchise back in 2000, on the original Playstation. Now they're shoveling tripe, pure unadulterated tripe on us--the hardworking consumer.

I brought the PS2 version of this game and sold it back the next day, it was so unbelievably bad. The graphics made me want to vomit. The PS2 is hardly a graphics powerhouse system but this was unforgivably ugly. As for the game-play, it didn't make me sick. No, it made me want to kill someone. Seriously, if a felon was arrested for committing a string of horrific crimes and offered playing this game as a defense at his trial, the judge would have to let him off--the game-play is just that bad.

Case in point, the mega-brawls. Every now and then, you have a major fight, with over eight enemies on screen at once. When this occurs, the game slows to a crawl and Spidey sinks into whatever surface he's standing on. It's like he's fighting on water, which just happens to look like concrete or grass. This same choppiness also prevents Spider-Man from using his incredibly limited repertoire of attacks effectively, since any attack activates about 2-3 seconds after the corresponding button has been pressed. Ugh, it stinks! However, what truly makes it horrible is comparing it to the highlight of this now failing franchise, Spider-Man 2.

In Spider-Man 2, also for the PS2, the game-play was so good. Yeah, the story kind of blew, but the control was so unbelievably immersive. You could climb walls, run along walls, wall slide, and perform 360 degree swings with the greatest of ease. You could smack someone into the air, juggle their butt, then, just for kicks, hang them from a lamppost, and so much more. Unfortunately, in this game, you can't pull off a fraction of the aforementioned moves.

In this game, if you want to climb a wall faster--too damn bad. You want better control over your swinging--not going to find that here. You want to unleash rapid fire combos on the bad guys--you'll wish you could. I can't begin to count the ways that this game whomps, in comparison to a title which predates it by three years.

Activision needs to shape the hell up!! They should stop trying to reinvent the wheel and go back to what they know worked. Ultimate Spider-Man was somewhat of a step backwards in terms of game-play, from SM2. Spider-Man 3, on the other hand, is like a quadruple back-flip from a skyscraper from SM2. I don't know what they did to hack Activision off, but before Web of Shadows gets anywhere near alpha, Activision needs to get the two lead programmers from SM2 back. Those dudes seemed to have a pretty damn good idea about how to effectively portray this character in a game. If Activison doesn't, I'm pretty sure that Web of Shadows will end up being another black hole of suck which they see fit to present us with. No, I didn't like this game.


I have to say that this is the worst video game I have ever played right next to Eragon. It is repetitive, slow, and the graphics hurt your eyes. Never play this if you are a major Spiderman fan who is looking to play a great game for it is NOT! Get Ultimate Spiderman or get Spiderman 2 if you haven't already. I thought the movie was bad enough, they didn't have to ruin the game.

Graphics: Crap. It is horrible and it hurts your eyes. Watching Spidey swing through the city is probably the worst graphic problem this game has. This is coming from someone who doesn't really care about graphics anyways. 1/10

Story: Ehhhhh... It has it's ups and downs but mostly downs. Repeating gang missions is really annoying and Sandman doesn't come in way into the story. Venom is as bad as the movie, maybe worse. It is short and extremely easy. 3/10

City: I've seen better. The city is definitely not as great as Spiderman 2 or Ultimate Spiderman's. It really needs improving here and there and WHY can't I die when I jump off the Empire State Building. That was really fun in 2.

Overall: It sucks. 2/10


Just got the game a few hours ago, and holy crap, once you get past the training level, you just don't wanna stop playing the game, its so fun, swinging around new york as spider-man and now BLACK spider-man!, and this time, New york is MUCH larger than in Spider-man 2. You can do so much, and on the Ps3 version, there's 10 Story lines, one of those being the movie storyline of course, this is a massive game, the voice acting is surprisingly great as well. The Swinging and getting up buildings quickly will be hard to grasp at first, but after an hour or two, you won't wanna turn off your ps3.

9 out of 10


The first two Spider-Man games based off the films were flat out awesome! I'm big on voice talents, graphics, and gameplay. Those things matter to me most of all. Spider-Man 3, great graphics, the gameplay for PC is a little shaky. Tobey, like always, blows me away as Spider-Man and Peter. He's hysterical in-game! Bruce Campbell is a real treasure as the tour guide. The game is good. Kirsten didn't come back to do the voice for MJ in the third game. What really shocks me is that Bryce Dallas Howard, who played Gwen Stacy in the film, didn't provide the voice for her character. I mean, Gwen isn't even in the game! What are you guy's thinking?!!! AaaaarrrrrgggghhH! For those who loved the film, for those who love the soundtrack, for those who love the book based off of the film, I recommend that you skip this game entirely. Toby is the only real highlight of the game. Unlike the second game, where the pedestrians talk with Spidey and comment him while you're swinging around the city, the third game is completely dead in this area. And also, you could hear the wind blow past you as you swing faster in the second game. There's no wind here. He swings in the same way every time for this game too. It get's boring quickly, unlike the first and second games. I loved the film, but, this is the first game in the Spidey franchise that has left me disappointed! I LOVE Spider-Man 2 for Gamecube and the first Spider-Man Movie game!! But, Spidey 3, yuck! Good graphics, but the rest is just plain bad. And, it got too hard WAY TO FAST! The difficulty didn't gradually progress as you went along!!


A friend and former roommate and I just happened to be sitting around watching TV, not expecting anything special, when this came on. It was a pilot episode and NBC threw it on the air during the dead summer months. We were bowled over by the sense of humor, right in our ballpark. The stamp of O'Brien and Smigel, that we now are quite familiar with from over 10 years of watching them on Late Night, is all over this puppy.

Adam West plays an actor who played a 1970's TV detective, who thinks he's a real detective. That's about all you need to know, but the writing and acting really sell the show. One of the funniest ideas ever. My friend and I still talk about it from time to time. (Okay, fine, we're losers who have nothing else to talk about.)

It is one of the crimes of television history that NBC did not pick this up even for a 6 episode run. I've been thinking about trying to dig up a copy of this masterwork. When I try to describe it to people who haven't seen it, they just shrug and go "whatever," but I assure them that they are missing out on comedy gold.

Okay, maybe I'm overhyping it, but it sure is one of my favorite undeservedly obscure TV nuggets of all time. I put it up there next to "Quark" with Richard Benjamin. At least that one had 6 episodes. Somebody dig this up and put it as a bonus on a DVD of Late Night or something, would ya?

NOTE: As of late 2006, the show is readily available on several different internet video sites for viewing. Apparently the show made an appearance on the late lamented Trio cable network within the past 5 years, and some people recorded it. Catch it if you can.


Some time ago, the cable network TRIO aired the pilot for LOOKWELL as part of its "Brilliant But Cancelled" series. I TiVoed it and have watched it many times since.

Ty Lookwell is the role Adam West was born to play, which is good as it clearly was written for him. The writing plays to West's strengths as a comedian, particularly his surreal delivery of lines that no one else could say without cracking up.

It might have been exhausting to keep this going week after week, but I sure would have liked to see them try.

Someone should assemble a "great unsold pilots" DVD series; LOOKWELL could certainly headline the comedy edition.


I have seen Lookwell (the television show) which was canceled years ago without it been given a chance by NBC. Let me tell you that this show would have been bigger than Seinfeld, Married With Children, ER, Friends, Everybody Loves Raymond, Super Bowl VI, The Larry Sanders Show, Live With Regis and Kelly, Dallas, and Live With Emeril Lagasse COMBINED. OK, maybe I'm exaggerating, but Lookwell was the funniest thing I've ever seen. To my pleasant surprise I found out, right on this web site, who wrote the script for Lookwell. It was a young Conan O'Brien AND the guy who does the voice for Triumph The Insult Dog (Robert Smigel). I just pray that that show, the little of it that was recorded, becomes available on video so that I can buy it. People this was FUNNY with a capitol T. Americans should be making long lines in Macys department stores all across America to kiss Conan O'Brien's, Robert Smigel's, and Adam West's ass. No animals were hurt during the making of this memo. Enough of this, let me go make a sandwich. Sincerely kneeling FrankPenab@AOL.com


This pilot for a tv show is the funniest 30 minutes I have ever seen. Adam West is perfectly cast as a hasbeen actor who used to star on a detective show back in the 70s who now thinks he can fight crime.

If anyone has this on tape let me know. I would love to see this again.


I saw this show today and was highly entertained! The writing is excellent (I wasn't surprised, knowing O'Brien and Smigel were involved) and Adam West was as great as ever. The type of storytelling here isn't exactly new, but with the writing and the ever-likable West, it really worked. Too bad the networks didn't agree.

So, how about now? Would this show work now if they did it again? I'm sure Mr. West would be willing to give it another go, and if it was on NBC, well, they need all the help they can get right now and this is the kind of show that could help them get out of their 4th place rut, if only to a small degree. I know I would love to see this cult hit resurrected!

Random thought: if The Max Weinberg 7 played the Lookwell theme as Conan went to his desk and he didn't know about it, I wonder if he'd recognize it?


"Lookwell" is the thinking man's "Police Squad," a fiercely funny sendup of the TV detective genre. It's a national tragedy that NBC execs pulled the plug. Adam West's deadpan delivery is so slyly self parodying that at times you wonder if he was in on the joke.

O'Brien and Smigel manage to drop in references to nearly every Quinn Martin 70s police drama while at the same time weaving a bitterly hilarious ode to the chew-em-up, spit-em-out world of Hollywood TV actors who go from being essential pop-culture icons to unemployable has-beens in what seems like weeks.

Often overlooked in glowing tributes to "Lookwell" is the work of longtime television director E. W. Swackhamer, a veteran of the very shows "Lookwell" parodies, who imbues every frame with the dead-serious crime-fighting authenticity of "Tenspeed and Brownshoe" and "S.W.A.T." One imagines the mighty O'Brien could feasibly get "Lookwell" back in production, and he should do so at once. An essential piece of television.


This show is really about Adam West. His deadpan delivery and obliviousness to his own shortcomings (or maybe it's denial, tough to tell from just one episode) is really what fuels the comedy here. It's campy and hilarious, but it's mostly a specific type of humor and while there are some jokes that deviate from this basic strategy, the show is not a conventional sitcom (which relies heavily on one-liners). The show is about characterization, specifically that of Lookwell. If you see him interacting with someone for 30 seconds and don't find it funny, it's not for you. If you like West's portrayal as Mayor West on Family Guy, you'll probably find this pilot hilarious and I'd recommend trying to find it online.


Sure, it's not for everyone. It probably won't make an impact on anyone that never sat through hours of Banacek, Mannix, Cannon, Rockford Files, Magnum PI, or the 30 or so "Quinn-Martin" productions mentioned in the pilot.

The deadpan delivery of Adam West as the likable, sad, washed-up actor is incredible. Why was he never given a chance after Batman? His portrayal of a man tempered by constant rejection, yet bravely holding on to dignity and hope that the next audition brings, is fascinating. Arthur Miller could not have done it better. Did I mention he's funny as hell, too? In today's terms, that character's name is Johnny Drama, instead of Lookwell.


Having just watched this absolute GEM HOW COULD IT NOT BE PICKED UP !!!!!! It is exceptionally rare for me to find a program that is laugh out loud funny - but this is it!!! Adam West was born to play this role The sheer absurdity of the deductive process is fantastic. If only I had the capacity to commission the series myself!!!! This could have been family guy!!! Any chance Conan and friends could be persuaded to try and resurrect this one?

Turning up to the audition dressed as the character was inspired. Could have cameo appearances from Burt ward, get teamed up with Leslie Nielsen.

Definitely an opportunity missed by the networks here in my opinion


I located and watched this show because I'm a fan of Adam West's Batman, Conan O'Brien and Robert Smigel. Now that I've seen it, I can understand why people tend to either love it or hate it.

The premise is great, Adam West is great, and the Lookwell character is hilariously annoying and genuinely noble at the same time.

The clash between the luxury show business side of Los Angeles and the regular, scruffy side is great, too.

The actors seem to be well cast, but one issue is that, in some cases, they do stage-y, sketch comedy style acting instead of regular TV show acting.

I think a bigger problem is that the script isn't structured all that well. There are too many different characters who get about the same amount of screen time, and suspense doesn't build the way it should.

It looks as if neither this show nor Andy Barker, PI has a story editor. It seems to me that a good, experienced story editor would have ideas for ways to make shows like these hold together better.


I finally just saw Lookwell after years of hearing about how brilliant and funny it is.

It's simply neither. It is mildly amusing, and because it is 22 minutes it is bearable, but that's it. I really don't understand what all the hype is about. Maybe because it is so obscure, people feel like they've stumbled onto a hidden gem? Because of Adam West? O'Brien and Smigel? It's just not very funny.

That is all I had to say but not this web page is saying I do not meet the minimum number of lines of text. So I am writing this. I'd recommend you ignore this text. Why would a comment area want users to have a minimum number of lines of text?

It's as idiotic as Lookwell.


It's easy to see why this failed pilot didn't get a chance to become a series. Adam West's character Ty Lookwell seemed too one-not to me to every career a series (we get it he's an actor who played a detective in the past and now believes he can be a real detective, but is an idiot), and the writing by the usually capable and very funny Conan O'Brian and Robert Smigal falls flat here, I hardly cracked a smile. IMDb reviewers tend to look at any failed pilot like if it got the green-light for a series would be pure gold. Well guess what, not ALL failed pilots are gold, not even most. I'd wager a VERY few handful. THIS show is not one of those.

My Grade: D-


When the movie's trailer released in TV,I thought it will be cool. After watching it,I felt huge disappointing.

"Ming Ming is a 21st Century martial arts princess and lady Robin Hood who steals for love. Her Prince Charming is D, a maverick fighter and irresistible rogue who posted this challenge to his swarms of female admirers - give him 5 million dollars and he'll run away with his benefactress to Harbin. Ming Ming meets D's another girlfriend Nana, who is a virtual look-alike of Ming Ming. Meanwhile, disappears from Shanghai without a trace. The only clue he leaves behind is a cryptic phone message."

The summary looks pretty,but the movie is horrible.Susie Au's debut copied her Music Video's cosmo & fashion,and this is the solo spot in the movie.If she wants to continue her career as a movie director.Au should go back to school to learn how to tell a story.Otherwise,the weaken and awful screenplay such as "Mingming" will destroy her future. Zhou looks cool when she as Mingming.But her acting is limited in this movie,which is awful & boring.From 2003,Zhou's acting is narrow and powerless,for example,Baby in Love,Beauty Remain & A West Lake Moment.


That the tag-line is deliberately misleading is not a good reason to dislike a film. Neither is the seeming lack of a plot/story throughout the beginning two thirds of the film. Likewise for the anticipated martial arts action. Just because you expected roast beef and got vegetable lasagna instead doesn't mean the lasagna is bad. Admittedly, it is bad form to promote a side dish as the main course, but the main course wasn't bad. Also, the beginning side dish was quite tasty.

There were lots of slow parts to the film, but it isn't easy to link together all the parts of what is essentially a long music video minus the dancing. If you need a plot/story in a film to make sense, rest assured; it does in the end. However, that may not add to the enjoyment of the film. This is a film best enjoyed without a lot of expectation. There are special effects, attractive women, attractive men, nice music, even a plot/story - what more do you want?


As another reviewer noted, this is not really a martial arts film at all. It's a romance and a study of obsession. The plot details are subtle, but by the end of the movie, things become clear in a very satisfying way.

Visually, this movie has some very creative cinematography that is quite captivating, and very revealing of character. The acting is very good, especially the roles of Nana and Tu.

The "fight" scenes, and the whole handling of Ming Ming's fighting powers, is the weakest part of the movie. If you sit back, though, and view these scenes as being magical realism, you can enjoy the visuals and the characters and the plot.

I enjoyed the movie the first time through for the visuals and the characters. It then immediately watched it a second time, and really enjoyed the plot, which made a lot more sense the second time around.


Getting a veteran of movie videos and commercials to direct a feature film is invariably a risky proposition. The results can shine or literally suck, and the last thing any sophisticated audience needs these days is another jittery, two hour-long mishmashed affair that looks like a Taiwan pop music video from hell taken to an extreme.

With Susie Au, a first-time movie helmswoman with a resume full of pop productions, that scenario was all too likely to become reality. In fact, her directorial debut Ming Ming seems to have reached a compromise in this respect. Its first twenty minutes are so painfully nonsensical and over stylized you can't help but cringe in anger, yet after those initial phases of ridiculous OTT poppiness blow over, the project reveals itself as quite enjoyable.

Get past the obvious attempt to rekindle interest in Kill Bill's Hong Kong heritage through transparent "references", and beneath lurks a passably interesting escapade.

On the upside, Ming Ming delivers characters that surprise with their ability to grow and evolve over the course of a relatively short, and frequently very vacuous, release. Heading the cast is Zhou Xun, who fittingly enough plays two separate and identical looking protagonists. Ms. Zhou has displayed a mixed bag of performances in the past, shining in Where Have All the Flowers Gone and Beijing Bicycle, but irritating with exaggerated acting in films like Suzhou River.

In Ming Ming, she's both. As the titular character, Zhou does a vaguely Trinity-meets-The Bride, disaffected assassin that puts a whole new spin on beads and rosaries. Instead of guns, she launches marbles at her adversaries, cutting a swath of destruction through the henchmen of arch mobster Brother Cat (Jeff Chang). This happens after Ming Ming purloins a sum of money from the gangland boss, funds to be used in financing a new life for her with sulking hunk Ah D. The latter, a fist-fighting mob enforcer, is conveyed by Daniel Wu in a thoroughly disappointing part. We've gotten used to seeing quality and sincerity from Daniel, and in Ming Ming he just doesn't have those virtues on display.

Back to the story. Oddball luck brings together wide-eyed triad lackey Ah Tu (Tony Yang) and Ming Ming twin Nana as the money gets misplaced, changing hands and ending up with these two apparently totally unrelated individuals.

On the run, Nana and Ah Tu take over the movie and show it does have merit. Both Zhou Xun and Tony Yang proceed to deliver very respectable performances, showcased by way of dialog and mood-setting scenes on the way to and around Shanghai.

Yang impresses as innocent, loyal and loving Ah Tu, certainly adding to the young actor's portfolio. Zhou Xun truly dazzles those in attendance as the genuine Nana, a character doing the actress far greater justice than the cardboard cutout silhouette that is Ming Ming. And who knew Ms. Zhou is so fluent in Cantonese? Yes, language plays an important part in Ming Ming, and for that we salute the production team. Cantonese, Putonghua and Shanghainese all find room herein, that last one to a large degree from the sensuous mouth of long gone but never forgotten lovely Kristy Yang, a Shanghai native herself. Yes, she has returned! Although a small cameo, it's still awesome to have her around again.

Ming Ming further contains some highly enjoyable music, and is generally well-produced. Those frenzied opening sequences we could have easily dispensed with, but in the end an Armageddon-like debacle is averted just in time for a bona fide twist ending that, for a change, puts the various plot pieces together with grace rather than rushed clumsiness.

This isn't the new benchmark for indie cinema, but it gets the job done and should be viewed by all appreciators and supporters of film-making in Asia and movies in general. It's also proof positive that first impressions can be deceiving, so please, don't despair, stick with it and you will be rewarded.

Rating: * * * 1/2


Ming Ming is a very stylized movie, but that's not to say it has more style than substance. Unattainable love and infatuation play central themes in Ming Ming's world, one which contains fantasy martial arts elements, set in today's contemporary era. The titular character played by Zhou Xun cuts a willowy figure, dressed in black with her long dark tresses. One night she casts her eye on D (Daniel Wu), a street fighter whom she falls in love and spends a night with.

D, on the other hand, is an elusive lover. With secrets of the past which he seeks to unlock, he's never committed, giving out a promise to whoever can fetch him 5 million dollars, and with whom he'll travel to Harbin with. This sets in motion an entire chain of events, starting with Ming Ming stealing the money and a secret box from Brother Cat (the singer Jeff Chang, who has long been away from the public eye).

On the other hand, Ming Ming's friend Ah Tu (Tony Yang) is also infatuated with her, and chances upon Nana (Zhou Xun in her second role), with whom he brings along in their escape from Brother Cat's thugs, and whom too is also in love with D. Confused? Don't be, as Nana is distinctively different from Ming Ming, from hair and outfit (loud and garish) to mannerisms, not forgetting the languages used.

In fact, the movie can be renamed Nana, as this character had more screen time than Ming Ming, as we explore the unrequited love by so many characters in the movie. Love and its different incantations are put up on display, even parental ones, as the plot slowly unravels to its surprise ending. There are some zen like dialogue and moments in the movie, such as being able to be with a person even for a moment, is better than not being able to at all. And this is especially true for Ah Tu, even though he's with someone who resembles, and not with the actual person. I thought Nana and Ah Tu had the strongest storyline and the best character development, naturally so because of the screen time devoted to them.

Accompanying the superb story are both the music and action. The soundtrack is an eclectic mix and fusion of various influences, from electronica to jazz, and the theme used for chases is particularly catchy. Given that it adopted a fantasy martial arts style, most of the fights, especially Ming Ming's, were given distinct looks. Ming Ming's especially, is one adopted from flicking explosive projectiles at her enemies, while D's style is quick, brutal, and very short ranged. Plot elements from such fantasy movies, like mini quests, and the seeking of treasure, are staples too in the movie.

The filming style used is also a mixed bag, with repetitions, quick cuts and flashbacks the norm. It might require a little time to get used to, typically those used in fights. By the time you get through one or two action sequences, you'll be clamouring for more. Savour those moments, as they actually come few and far between. There are many "poser" moments as well, which gives the movie a certain "sexy" look as characters preen and pose when they deliver their dialogues.

I guess I'm fortunate to have caught this movie here, in its original language track, as compared to having to watch the dubbed Mandarin version back in Singapore if it gets played. Key languages used - Mandarin, Cantonese and Shanghainese, provide a certain flavour and utilized to distinguish characters. inevitably the effect will be lost in any dubbed version. Zhou Xun, and Tony Yang too, at times sounded a bit off in their Cantonese diction, but that doesn't mar their performances, in particular Zhou Xun's excellent delivery of dual roles.

For giving a contemporary fantasy martial arts movie a different and refreshing look, Ming Ming will get my vote.


This is a video classic. No matter which video store I go into, I can usually find it. The action is non-stop and the stunts are pretty good. Not much in the acting or dramatic department but who cares when the action is this hot. Jeff Wincott (from the Miami Vice knockoff "Night Heat")plays an FBI agent trying to track down a Russian drug kingpin while trying to deal with his ailing ex-cop father and crooked LA cop brother. Wincott's made a name for himself doing these straight-to-video martial arts flicks like Cynthia Rothrock and Don "the Dragon" Wilson. This is his best. Some of the others are "The Last Man Standing" (not the Bruce Willis film) and "Open Fire".


Out of the spate of Van Damme wannabes that emerged in the late 80s/early 90s, you have to go a long way to find one who outshines the great Jeff Wincott. Sure, he may not have the sweeping flexibility of a Loren Avedon or Gary Daniels, but for pure aggression that makes you truly believe he'd kick your ass as soon as look at you, Jeffs your man! Plus, there's no question he's the best actor amongst them all too - instead of a martial-artist who has turned to acting, he is an actor who just also happens to be a martial-artist. This adds a realism and depth to his films that many others lack. Anyway, enough of the tribute - on to the actual film!

Made by much the same crew as the excellent Mission of Justice (also starring Wincott) and also sharing that films great fight-choreographer Jeff Pruitt, Martial Outlaw tells the story of two brothers, both cops. Kevin White (wincott) works for the Drug Enforcement Agency in San Fransisco, while his brother Jack (Gary Hudson) is a tough street-cop in L.A. Kevin is as straight as they come while Jack has become as dirty as the villains he's supposed to be putting away. However, a big drugs bust is going down and its happening in L.A. so naturally, the two brothers very different worlds are about to collide. Of course, thats only the start of the story, but to say more would ruin the many twists and surprises this film has to offer!

There are 2 things that make a good martial arts film - good fight scenes and a good storyline. Thanks to the excellent choreography and Jeff Wincotts 'brutal' style, the fights in this film really deliver. Most notable is an amazing scene where the two brothers take on a bar-full of Russian villains. Its a great, lengthy fight where Wincott and Hudson break limbs, send men flying through walls and, of course, Wincott demonstrates his trademark stick-fighting prowess!

On the storyline front, the film also delivers. Wincott has a knack for choosing roles where his characters have an added dimension to them - in No Exit, Street Law and here, he seems to like playing characters who are 'torn' in some way. And here he plays a man torn between his loyalty to his brother and his growing realisation that his brother is corrupt. Gary Hudson, while not too impressive in the fight scenes (at least where kicking was involved) also impressed me in his role as a man whose greed has led him down a dark path but who, deep in his heart, is still a good person. There's actually a lot of pathos in some of the scenes between the two brothers, and both actors are totally convincing as two guys who don't like each other and are complete opposites in every way but who, in the end, are still brothers.

All in all, a great film. Well choreographed, exciting fight scenes, a good storyline and deep characters played by good actors (not just Wincott and Hudson, but the co-stars too - most notably Richard Jaeckel as their father) In my opinion, this is Jeff Wincotts second best film after the amazingly good Mission of Justice.


One of Jeff Wincott's better films. Lot's of karate and a** kicking in this movie. It's been awhile since I've seen it but Jeff Wincott and Gary Hudson are brothers. Jeff's the good cop and Gary is the not-so-good cop. They end up butting head's later on but I won't go there. Jeff is ripped and Gary's not-so-ripped. Gary's taking drug money and using it to better his quality of life.(At least I think that's how it goes). They both get fatherly advice from their Dad played by character actor everyman Richard Jaeckel. Incidentally this was his last movie, he died of cancer in 1997. Seeing how withdrawn and sick he looked here suggests he wasn't doing too well at the time of filming. God rest his soul.


now here is a movie martial arts fans will definitely enjoy.i wish all of jeff wincott's movies were as action packed as this one is.i don't think you will be surprised to find out that the plot is nothing you haven't seen before in other b movies.but who cares about the plot in a martial arts movie.all us fans want to see is nonstop martial arts fighting and that is what you get in this movie.jeff wincott is awesome in this movie showing off some good high kicks to peoples skulls.this movie and martial law 2 are the best movies that jeff wincott has starred in that i have seen.this movie isn't as action packed as martial outlaw 2 but any martial arts movie fans will still really like this movie


There's hardly a smile to be found in this dark, brooding, oppressively heavy drama which tells of an American DEA agent (Keitel) who comes to London to assist in the capture of a drug trafficker as the UK bends under the strain of a virulent drug trade. The camera spends most of the time examining the bleak, grim, and sad expressions of police, innocents, and others caught up in the drug war leaving the plot muddled and somewhat buried in its attempt to show that where drugs are involved there are no winners. A powerfully compelling drama for those who can appreciate the reality of the lose-lose nature of crime.


You HAVE to remember that he made this at a young age and little examples of first class directing shine through. The Cinematrography is also of a high standard. The subject matter is of the dark world of London and what it holds for young Britains. For some enjoyment and a way of living is achieved through working for an American crime lord who has taken to living in London. Our hero has to decide whether to follow in the footsteps of his own father's past and accept a secure life of working for the American or to change tune and try something different. Those who have seen it and enjoyed it should check out his earlier film "Play Dead". It's probably "Young Americans" with more money and more experience


STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Night *** Friday Morning ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning

With everyone talking about how youth crime and violence has skyrocketed almost to the same level as the States in Britain, this action thriller from over fifteen years ago now looks like a grim prediction from back then, with Harvey Keitel's hardened detective flying over to help stem the drugs/murder problem whilst pursuing a villain he was originally after in the States who he now believes has started to prowl around Europe.

The film manages a consistently gritty, raw atmosphere, fitting in tone with the story it's telling. Keitel is perfectly cast in the lead role, whilst as the villain in an early role Viggo Mortensen shows potential. Unfortunately, a melodramatic, hammy tendency in parts of the script, as well as an unconvincing turn from Keith Allen as a shady club owner, stop it achieving it's full potential. Still, it's a decent enough effort, forgettable but effective while it lasts. ***


Films, no matter low-budget, high-budget, no-budget need to have one essential element to ensure that the time dedicated to the characters, emotions, and themes is not futile. That, singular strong moment, has to be story. Whether it is a horror film, a sci-fi film, or even a Bergman avant-garde film, there needs to be at least a small strain of story carrying the viewer from point A to point B, if that is missing  the entire structure of the film will collapse. Characters you can ignore, emotion can be faked, and the themes can be murky, but without that central story  your film will ultimately be found in the dollar bin at the nearest retail chop shop. Despite Harvey Keitel, Viggo Mortensen, Thandie Newton, and a slew of British accents  that is why "The Young Americans" failed. Absolutely it was a dark crime noir, a family retribution, and a love story, but the story in "The Young Americans" was so weak, that getting to the different point, the different scenes, felt rushed, unfamiliar, and murky. This jumbled, muddled mess of a film boasts cheapness from every angle, but due to the missing story  "The Young Americans" fails to be anything more than a random Harvey Keitel stumble at the store, or a cheap recommendation because you rented "Reservoir Dogs".

With the sound of raves in the background, the viewer is pulled right into the youth of Britain circa mid-90s. Dance parties, gangs, and late nights plague the screen as groups of genuine unknowns get killed in the night. This should have been an indication of what the remainder of the film would be like, but I trudged onward  and definitely not upward. After the brutal killings, we are swooped into the world of Harvey Keitel, or anti-antagonist (seemingly blending together every cop cliché/genre) John Harris. Brought in to help with a murder, we soon learn that there is a secondary motive in play  something that has to do with a very young, an extremely overacted, Viggo Mortensen. As we jump from one frame to another, one initial drawback are the dark, character building scenes  literally, there is the concept of symbolic lighting to set the tone  but director Danny Cannon used so much darkness some scenes are blank on the screen. Missing more than a fourth of the film, we are forced to follow an unknown path between Keitel, Mortensen, love-interest Thandie Newton, and relative newbie Craig Kelly. It is his story that transfers the power from Keitel, but is equally as unappetizing. After the death of a family member, Kelly's Christian decides to turn against the crew that did it, becoming a powerful tool for Keitel, but the whos, whats, wheres, whens, and whys are never answered  still giving us nothing but quick scenes, literally teleporting us from point A to point B, without reason or consequence.

As mentioned, the story is the ultimate failure of the film. There were actions made by our characters that did not seem to fit within the realm that Danny Cannon had created, but he continued to push through. Nothing was answered, situations were randomly created, and why was Viggo Mortensen's character so underdeveloped, yet so vital to the story? Who knows. That question became the downtrodden central theme to this film, and a reason why "The Young Americans" will never see success. With our story a clustered mess, how did the rest fair beneath the control of Cannon? Not surprisingly, the British were believable and grounded. The minor characters, perhaps outside of Craig Kelly, felt like real police and the setting (due to extensive British TV watching) felt like Britain 1993, but the influx of the American presence just ruined the rest. Keitel could have been Steven Seagul or JCVD, he was not cunning, nothing brilliant, just an American cop-dislocated and fighting against the shadow of a drug dealer. The entire subplot with his ex-wife was nothing short of embarrassing. Used to build his character, it just felt more like a cheap trick instead of honest emotion. The same can be said with Viggo Mortensen, who with choppy editing by Danny Cannon, never quite developed past the notion of "creepy guy". With a voice that sounded like a Lynch character, an unknown occupation, and a purpose to be in Britain (let's not forget his peculiarity towards young men), Mortensen felt more like a placemat than a villain. On the other side of this film, Newton read her lines well, and Craig Kelly attempted to work around Cannon and David Hilton's catastrophe of a script. It was obvious the actors were found, the script was heavily edited, and the final product was a rushed pile of poorly constructed LEGOs. One flick of your finger, it will all go crumbling down.

Overall, in case it hasn't been noticed, this was an abomination of a film. From the darkly lit scenes (you have to watch to believe how dark this film was), to the atrocious acting, to the story that went nowhere but somehow ended up at the final credits, "The Young Americans" was a direct to video release for a reason. Shot in 38 days, this film felt rushed and incomplete. Mortensen's character is the one I struggle with the most, as the ending leads us to believe that this was supposed to be a different film than the one we began or watched. There were too many wild-cards (see Jack Doyle) that muddled the main story. It is a murky mess that is easily forgotten and should be avoided. Danny Cannon may have given us "CSI" and "Judge Dredd", but this is an incompetent film that will appeal to nobody and fails miserably.

Grade: * out of *****


The first time I saw this I caught the last 15 minutes and that (combined with a great song by Bjork/David Arnold) convinced me I had to see it again. Mostly new faces or "isn't that..err whatsisname?" faces and all combine to make a great movie. The soundtrack is one of the best I have ever heard and although Harvey Keitel is an "adviser", he still gets the chance to show that he is one of Hollywood's tough characters. Viggo Mortensen is thoroughly evil and good at it. Keith Allen is (with more hair) just as nasty - as are the teeth of his sidekick Byrne - and continues to be a character you just cannot like. All in all, another great of British cinema.


The whole plot for this movie is flawed. Drugs are being imported in to the UK via America which is clearly ridiculous. One of the pivotal scenes in the film shows total ignorance of the subject matter .In explanation the "hero" buys drugs from a "friend" it's a set up the friend doesn't want any money . the "hero" repeats "take the money" forcing the cash in to his hand. Anyone with any knowledge of the UK police and/or drug culture will know it is irrelevant if money changes hands all they need to know is that drugs were supplied. The director is obviously enthralled with the U.S.A . Which is why he's there making C.S.I. I hate this film .


I just saw this film last night at the Denver Film Festival and didn't think it was very good. From what I have read about the original play, that sounds like it would have been the better version to see. The dialog in this film did not sound real to me. The characters were not developed. I didn't understand why the mother was so unhappy. I couldn't believe, or have sympathy for, the daughter's choices. I didn't buy the relationship between the black boy and the white boy at all. The part of the story about black woman's family was more believable but still not explored enough. Also, I think most Chicagoans will have trouble with the veracity of some of the scenes. I lived all my life in Chicago until two years ago and, I'm sorry, white teenagers do not hang out in the projects. Nor do their white fathers go there at night and hang around on roof tops smoking cigarettes.


Depressing and meaningless pap. It is like one of those French movies where you are supposed to just know that life is meaningless, hopeless and futile without having to say why. I mean, we all just know that it is all hopeless, right?

The whole concept of an architect of some buildings being responsible for how the people there act later was also very weak.

All of the characters are unlikeable except the daughter, who is also a very depressing character as well. As we join them, all is lost emotionally for everyone, and we are never really told why. The characters just do not come across as being real, no one is that totally depressed and without some joy or some positivity in life whatsoever.

Stupid movie, Crash was ten times better than this useless movie.


This is a great series to watch. I have been hooked on this show since the beginning because I love watching mysteries and crime like CSI and CSI Miami. Harmon's so sexy in this role and McCallum is always a joy to watch as Ducky especially when he's on the role over various anthropology lectures which to my amusement everyone on that shows roll up their eyeballs.


*SPOILERS NCIS* The NCIS (Navy Criminal Investigative Service) is a service that investigates on any kind of crime, from barroom brawls to international terrorism, that involves men and women from the Navy or Marine Corps.

The team is formed by: Leroy Jethro Gibbs (the second B stays for Bastard) (Mark Harmon), the moody, intuitive head investigator; he likes his coffee very strong, his women with red hair, and his investigations thorough. It is rare to get a compliment for him; when you get one, don't ask why. He is very loyal, and actually cares for his team, but has problems with women (evidence of this being three failed weddings).

Anthony DiNozzo (Michael Weatherly), Gibbs' 2IC; a smartmouth, player to the soul and proud of it, who masks his quick mind and powerful intuition with a happy-go-lucky (and sometimes obnoxious) attitude. Sometimes he can behave in quite the juvenile way, and when he is, a good headslap by Gibbs will help him put things straight (this two have also what could possibly be the strongest homosexual subtext - more of an almost-text - in TV History). He enjoys to torment someone, usually the newest element of the team. Dearly departed Special Agent Kate Todd (more later) and Special Agent Tim McGee (more later) have suffered the brunt of that in various occasions. Comes from money, but doesn't get an allowance because if he did, he wouldn't work, and it seems there is bad blood between him and his family. He has a deep love of movies and TV Shows (one of his favorites is 'Ozzy And Harriet'), and referred to movie-acquired knowledge various times.

Kate Todd (Sasha Alexander), killed in the Season 2 Finale, who came from Secret Service, and made a point of bringing it up whenever the occasion presented itself, and came off as quite the uptight girl; all in all, the weakest character in the show, though her witty 'Hepburn-Tracy' rapid-fire dialogues with DiNozzo were great, and she had with him the strongest hetero almost-text this side of Gil Grissom and Catherine Willows.

Abby Sciuto (Pauley Perrette) a perky Goth (not as oxymorous as it sounds) who has an imprecise number of tattoos on her body and is the greatest at her job. She loves to hear techno or hard rock music (like Android Lust) played at a very loud volume while working. She is the only person in the team Gibbs actually shows affection for, and she is currently dating Special Agent Tim McGee (more later).

Tim McGee (Sean Murray), who joined the team in the second season after making various guest-appearances throughout the first season. Tim is a computer whiz, but is at a loss when it comes to social life; has gotten a tattoo on his butt to impress Sciuto - and it worked. Has been mercilessly teased by DiNozzo when he first joined the team, getting the absolutely-not-flattering nickname 'Probie' ('Pivello' ('Greenhorn') in the Italian Version). He has proved his valor, though, time and time again.

And last but not least, Donald 'Ducky' Mallard (David McCallum), the ME, who has two curious habits; one, to talk to the corpses he is going to autopsy, and the other, to go off on tales that are very loosely related to the case in question. He likes the music Abby plays, but not distorted by speakers, lives with his mother, who, wearing only Chanel N°5 when she goes to bed, hosts very awkward slumber parties and has various dogs, he is the one who has worked the longest with Gibbs and looked like 'Ilya Kuryakin' when he was younger.

This is the team (I'm not talking about Ziva and Madame Director because I have yet to see Season 3), and my suggestion is to watch them in action, every Tuesday, 8/7 central, on CBS.

You won't be disappointed.

NCIS: 9/10.


Being a big Dark Angel fan (at least a Season One Dark Angel fan), my main reason for watching NCIS originally was Michael Weatherly. Seeing how he could play someone so different from Logan Cale was fascinating for me. That fact that Mark Harmon (whom I've always enjoyed watching)and David McCallum (fan of the Shaphire and Steel program)were also in the program was a bonus. My sister in law is a Mark Harmon fan, so she got something out of the program and everybody (my father included) loves Abby. This is a program that everyone in the family can get something out of. The occasional Dark Angel reference thrown in adds to my fun. (i.e William Gregory Lee who played Zack in Dark Angel was a guest star and was the actor who played Logan's Uncle Jonas)


I've been watching NCIS since it started and have been a regular viewer since the debut. The first reason I tuned in was simple - Mark Harmon. Second reason was, well, Michael Weatherly. David McCallum was just a really nice bonus. That being said ... I know that NCIS as it is shown on the screen is ludicrous, so is CSI and all its off shoots, but if you show what really happens in any investigation you'll chase off the audience with boredom.

Mark Harmon has brought a sense of realism to the Leroy Jethro Gibbs character to the point that my former active duty Marine husband swears up and down that Harmon MUST have been a Gunny in real life. Either this one or a previous one, he's just too good playing a senior NCO Reservist Marine and a cop. Gibbs is also a top-notch "Training Officer" who clearly trains all of his people to be able to step up and take control and command of a team in a moment's notice.

Michael Weatherly has matured as an actor - I first noticed him in Dark Angel - and he has wisely chosen to let his character on the show, Anthony "Tony" DiNozzo, to mature at a natural rate. Slowly. He's gone from an annoying frat-like not-quite-mature man to a deep thinker and a MUCH better investigator who can handle deep cover assignments if needed. Maybe not as well Gibbs could handle it, but that sort of skill takes time and multiple assignments to be fully qualified (and by then, the Feds tend to ship you off to their Academies so you can teach what you've learned).

Cote de Pablo (Mossad Officer Ziva David) replaced Sasha Alexander (Caitlin "Kate" Todd) and I'm probably in the minority when I say "THANK YOU" to the casting department for that. I found Todd to be a rather flat, and annoying, character. Oh she had a few lines here and there that were light hearted and worth a giggle - usually at DiNozzo's expense - but for the most part she was played a little too 'boy next door, or trying to be' by Alexander. Cote, at least, has played Ziva as a very capable, and very female, Intelligence Officer. I think this is why most folks don't like Ziva, they expect a Law Enforcement officer type character but she's an Intelligence Agent. Think CIA and kick it up several notches - you don't mess with Mossad unless you have a death wish. Cote clearly realizes this and plays "Officer David" with that in mind.

David McCallum, Doctor Donald "Ducky" Mallard, is always a joy to see on the screen and I love the 'quirks' David has given Ducky. I suspect there is a history behind Ducky's 'adventure stories' that could easily fill several books - and be considered too implausible to be anything but fiction. Ducky brings a human element to the position of Medical Examiner, a warmth that civilians don't think M.E.'s have but usually do. The ones I know also have wicked, if dry, senses of humor and McCallum has joyfully taken the humor route with Ducky and I, for one, appreciate it.

Another quirky character is, of course, Pauley Perrett's Abby Scuitto, Goth Forensic Scientist. Her portrayal of Abby is spot on as Pauley is the only person I've heard of playing a Criminal Scientist who actually has the sheepskin in the discipline. Nothing like a touch of realism to bring a character to life! Of course, people complain that Scuitto shouldn't be permitted to work in a federal job with the obvious life style she has - to you I say, HorseFeathers. If Abby were less capable at her job, she wouldn't be there as long as she has been. Nor would any of her supervisors put up with her oddities.

Now to speak of the other "Geek" on the team - Timothy McGee. Techno-geek. Keyboard Wizard. Sean Murray needs to do only one thing to make me totally happy with his character and his protrayl of McGee-cut his hair! I realize that the McGee character has a life outside of NCIS - as a published novelist no less - and probably keep his hair on the long side to emphasize his Authorial Air but... I hate the way it's flopped in his face this past season.

The writing on this show, like others, is usually tight but like other shows there are episodes where the writing was clearly 'off' when the idea was dreamt up or the script approved. The fact that the cast can take a lousy script and still get a watchable show out of it, is nothing short of amazing. Is NCIS accurate? No. Is NCIS a good way to learn about the Marine Corps or the Navy? Uh, no. Better talk to a recruiter if you're thinking of joining the military. Is NCIS good fun? YEAP!


This is an amazing TV series focusing on the investigation team of NCIS who investigate a number of things including brutal murders, terrorist threats, kidnaps and other things happening inside the navy while developing a close friendship. It stars Mark Harmon as the head of the team special Agent Leroy Jethero Gibbs.He comes across well as the head of the team.The rest of the team consist of David McCallum as Dr Donald "Ducky" Mallard Gibbs best friend and the teams medical examiner who is both wise and a little eccentric,Michael Weatherly as Agent Tony Dinozzo Gibbs second in command who has a fantastic sense of humour and who cannot help teasing Kate,Sasha Alexander as Agent Kate Todd formally a secret service agent assigned to the presidential protection detail she may be new but she soon learns the ropes and what tragically happens to her in the episode Twilight leaves the team heartbroken,Sean Murray as Agent Timothy MGee Tony's apprentice who is only been an NCIS agent for a couple of years but soon becomes a valued member of the team,Cote DePablo as Mossad officer Ziva who replaces Kate she's a very strong character who has some very funny lines,Pauley Perrette as forensic officer Abby Sciuto a goth with a great sense of humour who is a vital team member and Lauren Holly as Director Jenny Shepard a former girlfriend of Gibbs. My favourite character is Dr Donald Ducky Mallard he has the best lines in the series. This is very good with interesting stories, characters and great action scenes well worth watching on TV or renting or buying.


There is simply nothing about NCIS that is not to like. I'll get the superficial stuff out of the way first - every camera angle on Michael Weatherly is gorgeous, and he plays it so well as Anthony DiNozzo. Ziva, his partner, is most adorable with every cultural nuance she utters as she tries to grasp American idioms. It's charming and realistic. Her ability to speak Israeli for some plot lines truly adds to her beauty and character-balancing the serious with the humorous sides of the show. Bringing David McCallum into our lives again brings the emotion of nostalgia. How we loved his British accent in THE MAN FOR U.N.C.L.E. His charming ramblings, his sensitivity to forensics, and his educational lessons are perfect. Characters McGee and Abby play perfectly off each other. and Mark Harmon is the guiding treasure. Tie up in a bow, and they have all played their characters so convincingly that we are invited to be part of their team every week. That's true TV. The bonus: no foul language, machine guns blaring, and no sex (but plenty of engaging innuendos). Please tune in. This show is such a delight.


Today, the TV is fulled with stuff, you can find almost everything. And if crime is what you 're looking for, CSI Miami or CSI NY are the average answers. Why? Very easy: American government, then American people, then American nation wants to see themselves like Superman all the time. That's why we see Gary Sinsie breaking a terrorist, David Carusso putting his sunglasses and shaking the hand of his Mexican friend, who in the next episode, he may kill, after doing what they call "justice" OK, ladies and germs: for those that think that crime and justice are so easy words, I'm sorry to tell you: You're wrong. Crime is not that easy. And, as I said before, the TV is fulled. So, we also have the "true crime" shows like Criminal Minds, Law And Order CI and SVU, Withouth a Trace and many more. In Law And Order CI, they usually focus on the victims, with very strong and dense cases, but someone wonders: "What about the investigator itself? Does it have to be danger danger all the time or can you have some fun?" If that is your question, NCIS is one of your main answers. NCIS comes from Donald P. Bellisario, the creator of the well-known series JAG. He was also a writer of several Magnum P.1 episodes. NCIS is, more than just forensics, it's a character show. It's the story of the in and out relationships of the investigators and scientists of an agency that does anything criminal tied up to the marines, thing that Bellisario liked to do also in JAG. Therefore, we can find humor, drama, love, tragedy, and some bits of US action, besides of one of the most unusual characters you can find on such genre: an 50's former marine is the leader, a goth forensics and an 86 years old Scotish M.E that talks to his corpses. If we do a season analysis on the show, we can conclude that, it has been rising to good. The first season was a bit of CSI style, everyone was just cool. But it already had the trademark humor and a good ending. Season 2 could have initially been the same case, but the end was totally surprising. Season 3 was a very ruff one, were mistakes and chance are all the time, 4 was just human, and 5... Well, 5 has not shown up yet down here at Mexico, but I have heard that is good. NCIS is, in summary: Human 10/10 GREAT CAST GREAT CHARACTERS GREAT HUMOR GREAT...


I got into NCIS only during the past summer but I was so engrossed with the show that I watched it start to finish. It had a rocky start, sure, with the show trying to find its footing and its niche, but it figured out what it wanted to be fast and I find it to be FAR superior to its parent show, JAG. The plots, the characters, the cases, the everything, in this show, makes it great.

NCIS is the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, an actual organization, which investigates the homicides and crimes committed by or against members of the US Navy - i.e. naval civilian officers, navy officers and enlisted, and marine officers and enlisted. They're also very obscure, and hence are seen as the underdog of law enforcement(in the show, anyway) but, of course, as our heroes, they are brilliant. The main character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, is a former gunnery sergeant Marine sniper with a murky and depressing past (like Bellisario likes to make his characters) and appears to have a consistent team of four characters: Abby Sciuto, the forensics expert, Anthony DiNozzo, the senior field agent, and Timothy McGee, the computer forensics expert and field agent who joined the show as a permanent member in season 2.

Earlier in the show, Kate Todd, played by Sasha Alexander, was also a member of the team and a former member of the Secret Service tasked with protecting the life of the president. Her character ended up being killed in one of the most brilliant story arcs I've seen on TV, and being replaced by Ziva David, a very unique character in terms of law enforcement drama, as she is a Mossad officer - i.e. her training is not investigation, but rather assassination and intelligence gathering.

The show has two very strong aspects to it which really make it stand out from the other generic shows of its kind like CSI. Firstly, the characters are, while somewhat stereotypical in their mold, fully developed and incredibly dynamic. Tony is perhaps the best example of this - when the show started he was a goofy, slightly moronic field agent, and he developed into the professional, trained officer who keeps his sense of humor in check or uses it to his advantage. Relationships between the characters changed dramatically, with Ziva and Tony starting out as small friends and quickly graduating to huge amounts of romantic tension - which of course ends up playing a massive role in the 6th season and ultimately brings the events to their culmination. The second aspect of the show that really makes it unique to me is both the creativity of the individual cases and the amazing nature of the story arcs. The La Grenouille story arc was absolutely brilliant and I could not have foreseen it, and the introduction of Ari and Michael were equally fascinating. In addition to that, the show is not afraid to make some bold choices (for those who have seen the season 2 finale, they know what I'm talking about). Characters can go and come and even with the main ones, there's no certainty. It's the mark of a good television show.

The dark horse of the show, Dr. Mallard, played by famous Scottish actor David McCallum, is probably the most intriguing of these characters. As a body forensics expert he has a strange past that he loves to share but personally, as a medical student, I found the accuracy of his character's work to be fascinating. The autopsy scenes, while grisly, fascinate me because they're quite accurate in their depiction and their protocol.

This show is worth seeing and is a family show; I think it can be watched by more than one generation at a time and is thoroughly enjoyable. 9/10


NCIS is a skillful balance of humor and serious drama. None of the major characters is static, i.e. there is depth. Every week, we discover more about the characters, who they are, where they are coming from, why they do what they do. But the show does not sacrifice the plot for the sake of the characters. Stories are well thought-out and believable. The cast is superb, with Mark Harman leading the ensemble. What a complex character, that Leroy Jethro Gibbs! At first, I did not like Tony; I thought he was an ego-centric, male chauvinist pig, but there's more in there than the id-controlled Mr. DiNozzo, I'm discovering. Then there's Abby--I just adore Abby! The mix of scientist, alternative lifestyle, street smarts and just a touch of naiveté. Tim McGee started out like a puppy, willing to please. Well, that puppy's growing up, folks, and watch out! The two new characters, Ziva & Jenn are intriguing as well. I love the sexual tension between the director and Gibbs. And Ziva is more than a match for Tony. The vulnerability we saw in Hiatus was great, too. And Ducky: I save him for last for many reasons. A David McCallum fan for more years than I care to numerate, I can easily say that this is probably his best role (Colditz was his second best--check it out if you can).

All in all, I look forward to the 4th season to show the same excellence of craft as the last three have accomplished.


I had just started to watch CSI and was flicking through the the Sky channels and found Navy NCIS on the FX channel. It only took one episode to get me hooked on to it, I like the characters seen to interact and gel with each other. First there's Gibbs the boss played by Mark Harmon, Gibbs is a great character he is serious when it comes to the job but he also has a humour side to him that works well with other characters.

Di Nozzo is funny and again works well with his humour especially with Gibbs.

Caitlin started as the new girl and it has been interesting to her build with her fellow NCIS agents through out the series, It's a shame that actress Sacha Alexander wanted to leave and the producers decided to kill her off, maybe would of been better for her to transfer and leave the door open for future guest appearances.

Abby is the scientist, maybe a female goth version of Gil Grissom and actress Pauley Perrette portrays brilliantly.

David McCallum plays Donald Ducky Mallard the coroner who is often found going off on a tangent and what were the creators drinking the night they come up with that name.

Agent Timothy Mcgee is the latest addition to the show, he started as computer whizz and now has been promoted to a field agent and his scenes with Abby are great.

Long live the NCIS team and I look forward to future series.

Also worth mentioning that Alan Dale stars as Tom Morrow the head of NCIS, most of the soap watching community will remember him in Australian soap opera Neighbours.

Well the above was written after watching the first 2 series of NCIS, so now I thought I would comment on what I think of the show in series 3 and 4.

Got to say it has got even better, not just the stories but the development on the characters. First there is the introduction of Ziva David the Mossad agent who is now working with NCIS. Her character has fitted in well with the rest of the team and her interaction with Tony is good and at times very funny.

Next there is the new director of NCIS who is Jenny Shepherd who is played by Laren Holly, her and Gibbs have a past and it is interesting to see them be reunited and of course Gibbs getting use to her being the boss. Gibbs left then came back (as we knew he would), Agent Lee also joined the team very briefly and does make occasional appearances due to her romance (if you wanna call it that) with Jimmy Palmer.

Also the story of Tony falling in love, Jenny Shepherds obsession of capturing an arms dealer and Magee's bestselling book have kept the series fresh and interesting, and have shown that it is not just one show one story.

Keep up the good work.

Time for another update as season 5 comes to a close in the UK although we are getting to see the first episode of season 6 a few days after it airs in the US.

Another great season from beginning to end, which seen the end of the Frog and also the end Tony's romance with Jeann. Some good stories throughout the series and what a great ending, Jenny Shepheard killed off not sure if she wanted to go or the producers decided to get rid of the character, the ending also see's the disbanding of the team Ziva goes home, Mcgee goes to the cyber crime unit, Tony goes on board a ship and Gibbs gets a new team.

Part of the new team is agent Lee who we have see before, I have read on some websites that fans wont be watching if Gibbs has a new team, the team will be back together,the producers are just making it more unmissable they know that it would kill the show if Tony, Ziva and Mcgee were written out.

Looking forward to season 6


Be fun! That's what this show gets right. Do we remember what fun TV was like? Remember the sheer (albeit cheesy) entertainment value of the 80s prime time shows? Airwolf, Knight Rider, A-Team, Magnum etc which sacrificed strict adherence to the laws (judicial and physical!) to entertain TV viewers?

Week after week the officers of NCIS deal with murders, kidnappings and other threats to the lives of Naval officers across the globe (well at least the U.S.) but rather than adhere to the dark, overly serious tone of the law&orders or CSI's this program offsets the (often heinous) crime of the week with the banter between the central characters. Now I'm not suggesting that crime is a laughing matter but a lot of shows on TV have substituted entertainment for large doses of shock value reality. Detailed autopsies and simulations of how an icepick can crack open a skull are okay, but not at the expense of following the whole investigation. While the CSI's follow a Holmes like approach with regards to evidence, NCIS distinguishes the forest from the trees as it were, by switching to and from the autopsy/evidence/forensics back to the larger case. I guess I'm a viewer who doesn't find the notion of meticulous attention to detail on an entertainment show that rewarding.

Truth be told, I was not expecting such a clichéd assortment of characters to click as well as they did. We have the silent but strong type leader (Gibbs), his boss and former lover (Shepard), his older friend and mentor (Ducky), the hotshot womanizer (DiNozzo), the rookie agent/computer genius (McGee), the spunky female agent (Kate/Ziva) and the happiest, Goth forensic examiner (Abby) - okay, well she's an original. What impressed me is how the writers breathe fresh life into what could have been just another ensemble.

While the stories of the week are interesting enough, they've all been covered ad nauseum in many different shows: homicide; hostage-taking; blackmail; assassination-threats etc Credit must be given to the writers for the humor that's been injected into this show - whether it's DiNozzo cracking on McGee or Gibbs admonishing his Junior agents - the wonderful chemistry the cast seem to share comes through every time 2 or more of them are on screen. Pauley Perrette is a delight to watch While the dialogue may not always crackle there is enough zip and some genuinely funny one-liners that somehow develop these characters beyond the 2D cardboard cutouts they could have become.

I continue to look forward to this show every week and Season 4 seems to have lost none of the momentum of the past 2 seasons. One complaint I often hear about this show, is that it seems unrealistic how fast the cases get solved. I'll grant you that McGee and Abby seem to have superhuman abilities to process data and crack codes, but I submit to you that the 3 act structure that a typical episode of this show presents, requires a certain amount of time compression to fit into the 42 minutes and change of every broadcast hour. Seeing how 24 continues to entertain us despite the absence of traffic i.e. realism, I'll continue to give this show leeway as long as it remains interesting.


I watched a few episodes of this programme and increasingly found that by the end of the episode I wished I'd never bothered.

When I first watched it I felt that the characters had promise, which is why I watched a few more episodes. Also there isn't too much on Australian TV on a Tuesday night! I soon realised that nothing was going to improve. The programme just has nothing innovative about it. I think the characters are wasted with very pointless clichéd story lines that wind up far too quickly and conveniently at the end. I don't think the writers are even trying. How did this programme have 4 series?!

Don't bother watching it!


there isn't much to say about ncis except that it is a perfect piece of crap, one of the worst shows i've ever seen in my whole life.. starting from the horrible soundtrack that gets on my nerves every time they play it.. i think the composer should get the prize of the best "torture masterpiece" on TV.. the characters are really dull, starting from the arrogant, antipathetic Mr knowitall Jethro Gibbs, to the dull sheepish McGee, the stupid, antipathetic DiNozzo, the freak Abby by the way there's always some freakish nerds in such shows who behind her weird looks hides exceptional genius and wit.. so classic! and so boring! the plot is far too simple almost childish, no suspense no real action, and full of clichés.. the principle character doesn't really do a damn thing, with a sick sense of humor, he just goes insulting people here and there showing what the show creators think is an exceptional power of character - the guy fears no one and behaves as if he were president of the United States (he perfectly fits in a context where Dubya is twice elected for president)and then all of a sudden, he miraculously finds the solution to the case!!! no effort, no logical proceeding, just like that! I have serious doubts about the taste of those who highly rated this show!!!


Okay I'm really starting to get sick of these people who say that this show is a CSI spin off CSI is a bad unbelievable show that is totally fiction they can do forensics in 10 seconds when it takes more then 10 hours, its pure Science fiction CSI is but NCIS is closer to reality its always enjoyable, funny and I'm sure more people would watch it if they could not view it as CSI spin off/Rip off because its not watch one episode and you will see its more about the Federal Agents. the Forensics are only used to identify chemicals and finger prints CSI is not the only place to use CSI and if they didn't have the Foresics in the show it would be fake, and we should just let out all the criminals as we cant convict them because CSI is the only place to use forensics. CSI doesn't mean NCIS unless you are Dyslectic, then maybe it does to you.


NCIS had been on TV a while when I got into the series. I used to see it while flicking through the channels, I quickly flicked over to another channel, just because I didn't think I'd like it but one night when there wasn't much of the TV, I had no choice but to watch it and as soon as the episode finished, I was so blown away by it and I have been engrossed it in ever since.

Being in the UK, I had never heard of NCIS so I didn't know what it stood for and as I watched the show I found my knowledge of the organisation growing the longer I watched it.

This show works on so many great levels. Number one is the actors, I just love the way they interact with each other, they are like a family and act like one too. Mark Harmon plays Leroy Jethro Gibbs (what a stroke of genius, giving him that name), he is a former gunnery sergeant who is the boss of a group of investigators. He is the father, who can be strict and unbending but he clearly cares for his team and goes to bat for them when they are in trouble. Lauren Holly plays the director of NCIS (Jenny Shepard) who has a past with Gibbs and they act like a married couple at times, arguing about cases. I do like the relationship between Gibbs and Tony, I always laugh when Tony says the wrong thing and gets a slap across the back of the head, that has me in fits of hysterics as the situation is never sent up in the same way. Michael Weatherly (Anthony DiNozzo), he used to be a former homicide detective before he joined NCIS. He is like a small boy who has never grown up, he is into his movies, he loves the women and likes to make fun of McGee, much to McGee's annoyance. McGee (Sean Murray) is the probie who is a MIT graduate and a whizz with computers. He is like the little brother who wants to be so much like Tony and yet at times not so such. Pauley Perrette (Abby Sciuto) is the goth forensics specialist who is the fun and exciting sister that mothers warn their sons about. Cote de Pablo (Ziva David) is a former Moussad agent, she is the big sister who everyone is wary of. She is just as wary of forming attachments as she has lost a lot of people in her life and she can defend herself which seems to bond her with Gibbs. She if finding it hard to adjust to a different environment that she is not used to. Finally, there is the brilliant David McCallum who plays Donald 'Ducky' Mallard, he is the medical examiner. He is a kind grandfather who the others go to for advice. One of the best things about Ducky is he likes to stray from a subject into his many entertaining stories. I sometimes wish Gibbs would let him tell us the end of the stories as they sound truly fascinating.

I like that NCIS investigates a wide range of crimes involving the Navy and Marines such as murder, espionage, terrorism. It is interesting to see the different procedures, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service has compared to the police.

This series is not just one type of genre, it has many layers to it. There is comedy, drama, action, tension, twists and turns in one programme. The writing just manages to show it all in a good way and the writers are able to switch between the genres to carry the plot along. They clearly have good advisers because the episodes are sensibly concluded and there is never any thought that this wouldn't happen in real life.

It is created by Donald P. Bellisario who brought the world Jag, Quantum Leap, Airwolf, Magnum P.I who seems interested in Military themes as this features in his shows in some form or another.

I do hope there are more seasons of this programme to come because now I am really hooked and it has become another of my favourite shows on TV.


A spin-off of Donald P. Bellisario's military show 'JAG', 'NCIS' is a favourite of mine at the moment. The show revolves around the Naval Criminal Intelligence Service, an organisation which investigates crimes involving the Navy and Marines, and is very much like a police drama in comparison to 'JAG'.

Not only are most of the story lines interesting and compelling but the characters are engaging. American law enforcement shows have always been superior to British shows in depicting the close camaraderie of a team who work side-by-side in a tough job and 'NCIS' is a great example of this. From the no-nonsense boss Gibbs to the devil-may-care DiNozzo to the goth Abby, you truly feel this is a group of people who care for each other and would do anything to protect their team mates. Credit is definitely due to the cast for being so faultless in their performances.

There are times when the show is a bit too light-hearted and quirky for my liking but this is easily forgotten when watching some of the more darker episodes. It will be interesting to see how 'NCIS' continues to develop, especially with the recent introduction of a new main character, although I sincerely hope it avoids the pitfalls of 'JAG' by focusing on being about the NCIS rather than delving too much in the love lives of the characters.

It is a shame that this show is so under-rated in the UK, where it's been shoved on some obscure Sky channel, because it does have the potential to be great and I think there are many out there who would enjoy it.


I love this show, since the first episode. I was a big fan of Michael Wheatherly before and so I wanted to see him again. But I felt in love with the whole show. Especially Abby is a great role. It's funnier than CSI and more exciting than JAG. I want to watch more of these series. I wished to be like Abby without the caffeine shock I wished to be like Tony without the greasy hair I wished to be like Gibbs without the bad mood I wished to be like Kate without being dead I wished to be like Ziva without mixing up words I wished to be like Tim without getting hurt of Gibbs. I am saluting for the producers and I give the order to make more of that!


I love this TV series !

The plot is great and the characters are fantastic !

The rivalry between Tony DiNozzo and Kate Todd is just hilarious ! Gibbs is absolutely awesome in serious - but sarcastic - boss and the poor McGee is so funny too ! I also like Ducky and Abby, who are so strange and funny !

To sum up, it's a great show, which combine thriller and hilarious moments. Wonderful result ! I hope it will go on like this !

A few bad things however: this show makes a bit too much the apology of the US Navy and it's a shame that Kate died at the end of Season 2... There isn't the same magic with Ziva David, who is a Mossad agent, which shows this series' position in the Israelo-Palestinian conflict... It's debatable... But these are the only things which aren't perfect !


Probably the only show I enjoy watching on Wednesday nights, and one of my favourite drama/crime shows of all time. Although sometimes the endings are a little confusing, I love the chemistry between the characters and the dry humour in the show. Abby is probably one of the best characters, but I love Ducky (who talks to the victims), Tony (silly and naive but funny) and Gibbs as well. I will miss the playful interactions between Tony and Caitlin though. They were the best parts of seasons one and two.

NCIS offers an insight into forensics (like CSI and its spin-offs), incorporates America's military dilemmas within it (Islamic Militants, the war in Iraq etc) but is full of sparking fun and comic edges. I highly recommend it to all


seriously out of all the t.v. that i watch, which seems to be a lot, ncis has to be my favorite. All the great actors including Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly (hottie!), Sasha Alexander as the main characters. I think what makes ncis rise above the rest of the crime shows, is the in-depth personalities that each main character has. Every episode is something completely different and offers a great hour of enjoyment. Humour though, i think is the key to ncis's success. For a crime show to be funny, but still uphold it's great plots is something the directors should be applauded for. Mark Harmon is an asset to the show offering a familiar (not to forget hot!) face, as does Michael Weatherly who plays the womanizing, yet cutie Tony DiNozzo, while his partner Caitin Todd played by Sasha Alexander offers good competition and a down to earth personality. Not to forget the goth forensic scientist Abby and Autopsy's Ducky who top off the wonderful cast. Ten out of Ten, watch it on channel ten, 9.30pm Wednesday night!

please, if your a massive fan of ncis, visit my website www.ilovencis.com it has everything you want to know about the show and actors!


I gave this show a perfect 10. The reason for that is simple, there aren't many shows that after five, six, seven or more seasons remain as good as the were at the start of their showing, but NCIS is only getting better. The writing is exceptional, the casting for the roles was perfect, every character is unique and the actors perform exceptionally. Every episode brings something new to the table and makes viewers to nervously wait for the next one. Also, I believe that agent Fornell should get more air time, his character fits perfectly with Gibbs which was nicely shown in the last episode.

This show is a great mix of humor and action with some serious notes, hopefully it will remain on air for very long time.


I just started watching NCIS & it's starting to grow on me. A lot of it has to do with the Ziva David character & plot line. The "Good Cop Bad Cop" episode was great & has earned NCIS another fan (me).

I've become very slowly interested in this show because it is sometimes difficult for me to follow the plots. Dialogue can provide clues but the lines are sometimes mumbled so I have to watch my recordings of the show a couple of times to piece together what people are saying & what clues are presented. Otherwise, when I catch on to what is happening I realize I've enjoyed figuring out the threads & in the end the stories are pretty good.

Again, I like the Ziva David character a lot. I've spent many years watching shows that really lacked a strong female character and I'm tired of getting frustrated when they are supposed to be strong but end up missing every target they shoot at & the male lead comes in and "rescues" them at the end.

Not so here & I want whoever is responsible to know I appreciate it - keep up the good work & thank you for continuing to include Ziva in the show - I just hope you keep her character responsible & true - she has the potential to be a pretty good female role model (like Benson in Law & Order SVU).

BTW, IMO a romance with DiNozzo would not be a good idea right now. Teasers are okay but I think the only time that could/should potentially happen is if they decided to finish off the series....which I hope doesn't happen for quite a while.


This show is by no means "great" or sweeping in its view. It isn't groundbreaking or original. But, where there are cons, there are pros.

Pros: Solid writing, twisty plots, good suspense, solid character builds, and it has a knack for being funny and entertaining. I have never seen an episode that wasn't decent. That say's something about quality.

Cons: Sometimes the plots can be derivative or questionable, never really gets edgy, characters, though well drawn, never get out of place. Can at times be a bit mundane.

But, overall, I am sorry I put this show off for four years. It is usually entertaining.

Recommended.


Where can I find this on TV again? We noticed they took channel 7 off in our line up of programs. We can't seem to find where they sent all our favorite programs to. I love the way they set up the plot and all the crime scene information. Smacking Tony on the head is kinda getting boring , but, it seems to be more of an affectionate smack now. My husband and I love this show. Abbey is our favorite. This girl seems to know everything about everything. She is so pretty too! We love the plots. Ducky rocks! McGee is sweet, and he is such a gentleman. Gibbs is so know it all and cool. Zeba is so wonderfully strong. Director is gorgeous. And, Tony, Macho Male to the T!


This is the best series I ever saw, Except then when agent Caitlin Todd died :(. I think this was the first series I followed good (mean that I watched everything) And in the last episodes in season 2 it was really dramatic. The actor Mark Harmon ( Agent Gibbs ) is ex marine Who haves a great instinct The actors Micheal Weatherly ( Agent DiNozzo ), Sasha Alexander ( Agent Todd ) and Sean Murray ( Agent McGee ) Are funny Todd and DiNozzo always blackmails each other or DiNozzo looks always in to the privacy of Todd and DiNozzo always fools around with McGee. It is really a funny TV series you really need to watch it.Its dramatic and funny so buy the seasons :P


I absolutely love this show. It is the only T.V. show that I will never miss because I love it so much. I love all the characters and I love all of the humor used in the show. Abby is my favorite character, she's not your ordinary person you would expect to work for NCIS and I love that. Gibbs is a great character too, he seems very cold on the outside but you can tell that deep inside he really cares about everyone on his team very deeply. The first time I watched this show I was flipping through the channels and it looked interesting so I watched it and I have been hooked on it ever since and have never missed an episode. I would recommend this anyone who enjoys any kind of crime shows.


I think this an excellent program, the power of this show is not the visuals (CSI looks 'smoother, cooler') but the characters really work great together. All very different people, but with a magical chemistry between them. I personally very much like the character of Abby, and the interaction between DiNozzo and Todd (I know she isn't in the series anymore. but we here in the Netherlands haven't got to that point yet). All in all it is one of my favorite shows, and it sure as hell beats CSI, if you ask me, but then again "its a matter of taste".

The fact that it focuses only on the 'naval criminal investigations' maybe limiting the possibilities of where the producers can go with the show, without going 'over the top'. Then again, if you were to let the show be about any sort of murders, on any place they might also be tempted to go over the top. Lots of things to think about, and enough things to there may be wrong or weird about this show, but the chemistry works. And it is that working chemistry that I think makes a good show.


I was a die-hard JAG fan. When it ended, I was saddened and unsure which show would take JAG's place in my heart. NCIS (originally titled Navy NCIS) appeared as a spin off of one of the shows in JAG's final season. I love NCIS because it is a very "figure it out" show with out all the blood and gore of CSI. Plus, I love almost anything present day military, so NCIS is right up my alley. The biggest thing that won me over with NCIS was, like JAG, the show isn't driven by the things that happen to the characters but more about how they handle the issues and relate to each other to solve the problems. If you liked JAG, NCIS may become your new favorite show, too.


Being a fan of "JAG" and its topical stories, I knew that this show couldn't be that bad, but due to my work schedule wasn't able to watch it when the first season debuted. I finally got around to catching this show in early 04 and have been watching it ever since. I thought that "CSI" and its many versions was great--but "NCIS" is The Best! The chemistry between all characters is sooo real. "CSI" doesn't have that feel to me. Wonder what the next season will hold now that Kate is gone. Are we to see a more obsessed Gibbs, like he was before they found out who Ari was?! I hope so! And I hope they finally track down and kill that bastard Ari


O man I love this show I first watched it at the beginning of SERIES 2, it was Saturday and I wasn't going out anywhere, so I was flicking through the channels and i caught a glimpse of PAULEY PERRETTE'S character ABBY and i was like OMG she's so gorgeous and i watched it for the entire episode and became a devote fan, I have all the DVD's. its such a great show my friends constantly think its something like CSI rip off. and convinced that it is, and its silly because its such a great entertaining show. every character is likable from GIBBS, DUCKY, MCGEE, KATLIN(RIP), ZIVA and my two favourites ABBY & Denozo. thats one of the better things about this show, every character is likable and basically you got to watch the show yourself.


Great surprise from Peter Jackson on the Fellowship of the Ring Extended DVD. Jack Black hands over the One Ring at the Council of Elrond. Problem? He got drunk with some mates the night before and got is...put somewhere personal.

Spliced together with the scene from the film, this is a great little treat for people who hate -- or love -- The Lord of the Rings.


This is a short that's far more hilarious than most feature-length comedies. It's a fairly strait-forward concept: It takes place in the Council of Elrond and spoofs The Lord of the Rings. It's brilliantly executed (along with actual footage from the film). It might have gone a little bit far at the end, but that didn't much matter. Jack Black gives us a memorable side-splitting performance as a hapless addition to the council who doesn't seem to be taking his duties with the ring with all due seriousness.

This is a must-see for all fans of Jack Black and The Lord of the Rings. But I'm sure that most everybody else will still find this funny enough (and short enough) for at least one viewing.


I did not watch the 2002 MTV Movie Awards, but when I downloaded this 3-minute spoof from Kazaa, I found myself strangely entertained at this little piece. Yes, I agree, at times it can seem a little tasteless and lame but the quality of the editing and the snippets cut from the original movie was so clever and smartly put together that I couldn't help but laugh. The performances by Jack Black and Sarah Michelle Gellar were also funny in contrast to the seriousness of the other actors. I recommend this to all LOTR fans, as well as anybody else. This is a must watch!! However, if you don't like offensive material, then think twice.


Its simple. Its perfect. Its hilarious in an appropriately twisted sort of way, which is entirely the way it should be. Jack Black is a genius. The timing is perfect in the rearrangement of the archived footage, which while not too difficult to ad-lib in theory, is difficult to do well... and it is done perfectly here. Anyone who doesn't find this funny should pull the redwood out of their arse and invest in a sense of humour. If you can't find this funny, there's something seriously wrong. Besides that there's not much else to be saying, as lets remember that its only a rather short piece of the movie it so well satires, rearranged and twisted for the best kind of laugh. It does what its supposed to do, no more, no less.


I've read some pretty bad reviews of this little parody, mostly from people who thought it was simply bad taste. But Lord of the Piercing is not the title that you give to something that you expect to be entered into the Short Film Hall of Fame. Sure, it was mostly childish humor, but if there is a place for bad humor, this is it. Before you condemn this little comedy for being tasteless, keep in mind that they make full length feature films out of this same kind of humor and then charge 8 or 9 dollars to see it at the theaters.

Lord of the Piercing is a good-natured parody of The Fellowship of the Ring that has it's place as an intro skit at the Academy Awards ceremony and as a little extra tidbit on the DVD. It is nothing more than that and it knows that, and that commands some respect in itself. Besides that, it was hilarious! Jack Black continues to grow as one of the funniest men working in the movies today (which is good, considering having performed several unenviable roles, such as that in Cable Guy and, even more, The Jackal).

No one has seen him in Run Ronnie Run yet, because at the time I'm writing this review, that movie has yet to be released because of it's extremely vulgar content (much of which involves a song performance by Jack Black), but I seriously hope they get moving on that. I saw it at an advance screening almost two years ago and just about fell out of my chair laughing.

Jack Black proves himself more and more with every performance that he delivers, and even the wooden and virtually talentless Sarah Michelle Gellar had some good moments in the Lord of the Piercing. They made excellent use of original footage from the film to enhance the quality of their parody, making the story that they installed that much more impressive. Bravo.


This was the funniest parody MTV has ever done! I fell off the couch laughing! It makes me chuckle, just thinking about it. I'm a HUGE fan of Lord of the Rings and that scene is my favorite in the movie. You don't have to be a teenage boy to appreciate it, I'm female and I still laughed my head off! Jack Black was perfect as the Elf and seeing Aragorn kneeling in front of him was so funny. Sarah's pronunciations of some of the words was a little annoying, but it can be overlooked. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out on the DVD. I'm so glad Peter Jackson put it in as an easter egg, shows he has a sense of humor. It was much better than the parody of Return of the King. Ben Stiller -- not funny!!!! Enjoy!


Wow, I had no idea that was there until I read it on this message board... So, yeah, thanks; it was really funny! I think they could have done without Sarah Michelle Gellar, or at least they could have cast someone else in her place,... maybe a female comedian instead. But Jack Black was hilarious, as usual. They couldn't have found anyone to do his part as well as he did! It's really funny to see how they fit it all into the actual scene from the movie and make it look so real. I just wish I'd seen it on the movie awards... Not sure how I missed that, exactly. Anyways, it's kind of hard to find at first but its worth the extra remote clicking.


It's smutty and rude but very funny :) The best way to see if this is for you - do you like American Pie, Road Trip, Dumb & Dummer as a bit of no brained fun? If so you will like this - although it would also help to have seen the original LOTR film. If you think its for you don't watch it in a place where you can't laugh out loud. You might pop!