Tony Blair is said to have liked this series and wished he could have had a prime minister's office run like the 'west wing'. Enough said.
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I have not felt the need to review an amazon item before, but I'm choosing the West Wing to break my duck.
The West Wing is the best thing on television by some distance. It can be extremely funny, but it handles pathos better than any show I have seen. The acting is consistently superb and the fast-paced intelligent script writing is what makes the show so unique.
I would agree with those who say that this season is not as good as the early Sorkin ones, but it is still far better than most of the programs on T.V. It is therefore definitely worth buying, especially for only £17.
The casting in this season continues to be excellent. Santos (Jimmy Smits) and Vinnick (Alan Alda), the main candidates for the democratic and republican nominations, are excellent throughout. The writers and actors manage to make you care about these new story-lines, an impressive feat in season 6 of any series.
The beginning of the season seems to be struggling with these multiple story-lines, however, slipping into a fairly dire structure whereby the President takes up alternate episodes and the nomination candidates fill ... Read More:
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The very best season of the series takes off in rocket pace after the season 1 cliffhanger of the shooting at Roslyn. It continues with some of the best acting I have ever seen on any screen. Janel Moloney's performance, the look on Donna's face when she learns Josh has been shot is nothing short of breathtaking. And likewise, Brad Whitford's portrayal of Josh' post traumatic stress disorder in "Noël" (quite possibly the best episode of the entire series) is equally captivating. We also get some good flashbacks, showing us how the gang got together in the first place.
While recovering from those events, political life ensues, and brings the now well-known Emily Procter into her first major TV role as a republican attorney given a job at the democratic White House. ... Read More:
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There is a very good reason why many of the scenes in the redux did not make it into the original film. That is because all of the additional material in this version is irrelevant and simply draws out the story unnecessarily. The original is definitely a five star movie so buy that version not this.
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Other reviewers have stated that the intensity of this show was sustained. With this, I would agree. What is missing is the heart.
Sorkin's brilliance was not in the plots of the shows, it was in the characters and their relationships. People spoke in a way that you knew what they were thinking without ever having to say it. He had a way of making extraordinary people and situations seemed relate-able to the common man. At it's most serious moment, someone who would do or say something painfully funny, because it was human and real. And, like life, tragic things would sometimes happy in the middle of a joyful celebration, or something touching would happen in the midst of something overwhelmingly depressing. This is what went away with Sorkin. The heart.
The plots are still good, ... Read More:
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Season 4 of The West Wing is incredibly good. The writing is as sharp as ever and the characters are as likeable as ever. This season saw the departure of Rob Lowe but this did not harm the show in any way. There are some great cameos in this one notably from Matthew Perry and Christian Slater. The last few episodes are as good as anything you'll see in any TV show. Brilliantly written and perfectly acted, season 4 is a must see.
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Sorry, but there's no excuse for the R2 copies of seasons two and three not being anamorphic transfers. Season two is cropped at the sides; season three requires you to zoom in. Get the R1 boxes instead. They're dual-sided discs, which isn't so great, but they have more extras and the boxes are slightly smaller. It's one of the best shows ever broadcast, so see it as it was meant to be seen!
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Read the other reviews if you want more detail. I just wanted to add my five stars. I was mesmerised from start to finish, and moved to tears a few times. Not just a beautiful biography, this film is a fantastic history lesson. Oh and of course Gandhi's ethics are spot on. There's a helpful intermission included after an hour and a half on this version, too, and some nifty special features. For seven pounds, this would be an insanely good buy for you to make, whether you've seen the film or not. Go for it!
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