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Hawaii Five-O: The Third Season (TV)
R1 - America - Paramount Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Rob Fields (21st January 2008). |
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The Film
 Where do I begin when it comes to "Hawaii Five-O" (1968-1980)? Okay, for starters, I've heard of the series but have never seen it. The only thing I remember about it was the opening theme music. I was only a little kid when I had first heard it, but it must have burned itself into my brain. Over the years, I would hear it play just out of the blue. One summer when I was working at Cedar Point, the music playing over the loudspeakers was all movie and TV show themes. And wouldn't you know it? One of those TV themes was "Hawaii Five-O". It sure was amazing how a little piece of music went a long way with me. I've never really heard people talk much about this series. I know people had to have watched it, because the show lasted twelve seasons. There was also a movie called "Hawaii Five-O: Cocoon" (1968). As I grew up and saw the commercials for "Hawaii Five-O", I came to the understanding that it was a crime-drama series. I've watched a few of these in the past, so I'm no stranger to them. I liked shows such as "CHiPs" (1977-1983) and "240-Robert" (1979-1981). I even caught a few episodes of "Adam-12" (1968-1975) when it was in syndication long after the series ended. I also got into a crime-drama, also based in Hawaii. That, of course, would be "Magnum, P.I." (1980-1988). "Hawaii Five-O: The Third Season" continues the story about the Five-O group. Who are they? They are a special police unit which only answers to the Governor of Hawaii. At the same time, they are all members of the Hawaii State Police. Their mission is to deal with whatever crimes happen to be placed on their plate. The Five-O's are a group of detectives led by Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord). Seconding him is Danny Williams (James MacArthur) or Danno. Kono Kalakaua the Hawaiian native (Zulu) and Chin Ho (Kam Fong) round out the rest of the group. This series has a recurring arch-nemesis in the form of a Red Chinese agent named Wo Fat (Khigh Dheigh). According to the IMDB, he has always evaded capture. At least up until the series finale. One of the things I liked about this show was even though Steve McGarrett is the lead; he isn't Five-O all by himself. The other members do their share, when needed, to help win the day and catch the bad guys. Also, the bad guys aren't brainless. Take Wo Fat for example. As I stated earlier, he's always evaded capture by Five-O throughout the series. As good as these guys are, they still can't get him : and it's four against one when you look at the odds. I'm not pining for the bad guys here, don't get me wrong. It just shows that even the Five-O's are up against a superior adversary. I also like McGarrett himself. He doesn't come off as a tough guy. His calmness and his authority more than make up for that aspect. The downsides? It's not hard to notice the lack of a female co-star. I feel a female lead or supporting role always makes things interesting, for both the other characters and the viewers watching. This will more than likely not influence the final grade, but I thought I would at least make this observation known. As I stated above, the Five-O's are a team, but it seems that Danno, Kono and Chin Ho can't get the job done on their own. Without McGarrett, who holds most of the gray matter, I don't think these guys could hold Five-O down for very long. These three seem to come off as inexperienced when compared to McGarrett. When it came to Thomas Magnum on "Magnum, P.I.", he worked on his own until he was in a bind. It would be then when he would approach Rick, T.C. and/or Higgins for help. And sometimes, they would even have their own storylines. My final word on this would be that if this series was one you were around to see during its initial run and you really liked it, then you may want to add it to your collection. However, if you're somebody who watches series like the numerous "C.S.I." programs, or if you watched a more intelligent series like "Magnum, P.I.", then you might want to pass on it as far as owning it goes. If you want to see what a crime-drama of the 1970's like this was, then it's worth at least renting. If anything, it at least has nostalgic value. This DVD collection includes all 24 Season Three episodes (runtimes include episodic promos): - "And Time To Die..." (51:45) While a critically wounded U.S. agent awaits surgery, McGarrett and his men race to recover the kidnapped daughter of the doctor set to perform the operation : and come face to face with evil Red Chinese agent Wo Fat. - "Trouble In Mind" (51:21) Poisoned heroin is smuggled into Hawaii, threatening the comeback of a drug-addicted singer and the career of one of McGarrett's team. - "The Second Shot" (51:46) McGarrett is caught in a deadly crossfire when assassination attempts are made on an exiled Greek doctor living in Hawaii and the journalist sent to interview him. - "Time and Memories" (51:45) Steve must confront his past when his former fiancée becomes the prime suspect in the case of her husband's murder. Martin Sheen, who also appeared in the series' second season episode, "Cry Lie," guest stars. - "The Guarnerius Caper" (51:47) A political powder keg is ignited after a priceless violin is stolen from a Russian musician on tour in Hawaii. Government officials want McGarrett to back off, but Steve is determined to make the thieves face the music. - "The Ransom" (50:44) Five-O's efforts to rescue a wealthy kidnapped boy take an unexpected turn when the boy is freed, but Kono is captured. Determined to get their quarter-million dollar ransom, the abductors put the price on Kono's head. - "Force of Waves" (50:47) After a boat explosion kills a wealthy businessman (and seriously injures McGarrett), Danno uncovers a string of similar incidents involving rich men who abandoned their wives. - "Reunion" (51:46) When a visiting Japanese executive is recognized as the sadistic former commander of a World Ward II prison camp, McGarrett and his squad take a closer look at the businessman's agenda in Hawaii. - "The Late John Louisiana" (51:43) McGarrett combs the islands for the witness to a two-year-old murder : a woman who has attracted the amorous attentions of the hit man hired to kill her. - "The Last Eden" (51:47) An ecologically minded nightclub singer is accused of bombing a sewage plant. Is he the perpetrator . . . of the fall guy? - "Over Fifty? Steal" (50:30) Acclaimed actor Hume Cronyn guest stars in this episode that pits Steve in a game of wits against a crafty career thief who leaves Monopoly money at the scenes of his crimes. - "Beautiful Screamer" (51:47) After Danno's girlfriend (Anne Archer) is murdered, he vows to bring down the depraved killer: a strangler who writes the poetry of Bryon in lipstick on his victims' legs. - "The Payoff" (51:42) Steve rushes to capture a criminal and his girlfriend before they're caught by their pursuers : two men from whom they stole a large ransom in cash. - "The Double Wall" (51:46) A man falsely convicted of murder takes a prison doctor hostage. In order to save the doctor, the Five-O unit must prove the convict is innocent. - "Paniolo" (51:48) After a Maui cowboy accidentally kills a shifty real estate agent, McGarrett organizes his posse and sets out on the cowboy's trail. - "Ten Thousand Diamonds and A Heart" (51:46) When Steve learns that an electronics whiz has been busted out of prison to mastermind a diamond heist, he devises an elaborate security system to protect Honolulu's most precious gems. - "To Kill Or Be Killed" (51:48) A Vietnam War hero dies under suspicious circumstances upon his return home. When Army Intelligence obstructs Five-O's investigation, Danno poses as a potential draft dodger to uncover the truth. - "F.O.B. Honolulu : Part 1" (50:44) Hawaii becomes a hotbed of criminal activity when international agents : including Wo Fat : descend upon the island seeking printing plates for counterfeiting U.S. currency. - "F.O.B. Honolulu : Part 2" (50:14) McGarrett and his men fight through a web of treason, murder and deceit as they seek to find the plates before Hawaii is flooded with fake cash. - "The Gunrunner" (51:43) The wife of an arms dealer appears to have been kidnapped by revolutionaries who want the munitions diverted from their original destination. But Five-O suspects that the real kidnapper might be closer to home. - "Dear Enemy" (51:46) Vera Miles guest stars in this story of a wife who manufactures evidence to convince Steve to reopen an old case : a homicide for which her husband was convicted. Steve discovers her hoax, but could the husband actually be innocent? - "The Bomber and Mrs. Moroney" (51:49) McGarrett and his team literally face a ticking time bomb when a man who blames Danno for the death of his brother invades Five-O headquarters and wires himself with explosives. - "The Grandstand Play : Part 1" (50:42) In the first part of this emotionally charged episode, a former big-league baseball player who received death threats on the mainland starts a new life in Hawaii with his developmentally challenged son. - "The Grandstand Play : Part 2" (50:42) When the ex-baseball player's child witnesses a murder at the ballpark, the boy is too scared to tell his father or the police. Will Steve be able to get the boy to talk...or will he strike out?
Video
All 24 episodes are presented in their original full screen format of 1.33:1. There is fine print on the back of the cardboard case and the three cases that states: "Some episodes may be edited from their original network versions." Having never seen the series, I would not know which episodes (if any) were edited. Although there are no chapter selection menus, there are chapter stops for each episode. You can pretty much tell where they are, because you see the ocean wave and the "Hawaii Five-O" logo right before where the commercial breaks would be. The video itself looks better now than back when the show first aired. Why? Because shows from the 1970's NEVER looked this good. Paramount really went the extra mile in re-mastering each episode. All the colors really stand out. You can really tell when the characters are sweating, especially Nancy Wilson in the second episode. You can also see how red everybody's lips are, probably the make-up. I saw very, VERY little film grain. While Paramount couldn't QUITE get rid of it all, that's all right with me. The picture looks as good as it's going to. At least until when or if it is released again for whatever High Definition format prevails in the format wars.
Audio
Each episode is accompanied by a Dolby Digital 2.0 mono soundtrack in your choice of original English or dubbed Spanish. The episodic promo spots are in English audio only. There are optional English, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles available for all of the episodes and the episodic promos (this title is coded for both Region 1 and Region 4). I do not see any fine print concerning the original music, so it must all be here for each and every episode. The music is sometimes louder than the actual dialogue, but at least it doesn't overshadow it. The background sounds are also evident. In one episode I even thought I heard a dog barking in the background in the second episode.
Extras
Paramount has included only a selection of bonus trailers and promo spots, below is a closer look at these supplements broken down per disc. DISC ONE: This disc features bonus trailers before the start of the Main Menu for: - "Mission: Impossible : The Second Season" which runs for 36 seconds. - "MacGyver: The Complete Final Season" which runs for 1 minute. - "CBS Dramas" which runs for 1 minute 45 seconds. - "The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Volume 1" which runs for 1 minute 41 seconds. Notes: These trailers are forced before the Main Menu. You can skip each preview by using the Chapter Skip on your remote. These trailers are also selectable from the Main Menu. There are also episodic promo spots for each of the four episodes on this disc. The total running time is 4 minutes, 10 seconds if utilizing the option to play these only. You can also select to play each episode with its episodic promo or without. DISCS Two-Six: These discs contain episodic promo spots for each of the episodes (except where noted below). You can select to play each episode with its episodic promo or without. Below are the total running times for playing all of the promos only: Disc Two's spots run a total of 3 minutes 8 seconds, the episode "The Ransom" does not have a promo. Disc Three's spots run a total of 3 minutes 7 seconds, the episode "Over Fifty? Steal" does hot have a promo. Disc Four's spots run a total of 4 minutes 9 seconds. Disc Five's spots run a total of 2 minutes 5 seconds, the episodes "F.O.B. Honolulu: Parts 1 & 2" do not have promos. Finally Disc Six's spots run a total of 2 minutes 6 seconds, the episodes "The Grandstand Play: Parts 1 & 2" do not have promos.
Packaging
"Hawaii Five-O: The Third Season" is a 6-DVD set with 2 discs each placed in a clear plastic slim-case, all placed into a single cardboard case.
Overall
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