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MI-5, Volume 4x$45.49
  (22 reviews)
Best Price: $79.98 $45.49
As the fourth season of MI-5 begins the stories are more relevant than ever before. The series has always been fast-paced and hard-hitting but now the battleground of national security provides an even more dramatic backdrop to the challenges facing the team from MI-5. The group were left reeling after the shocking death of Danny at the hands of hostage-takers as the last season concluded. Now Adam, Harry, Ruth, Fiona and rising star Zafar set out to become even stronger in their battle to safeguard the nation. DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Documentaries:Two-part documentary about the making of Series 4 of MI-5, including interviews with cast members, episode clips and extensive behind-the-scenes footage from both the set and location
Interviews:Exclusive interview with MI-5 director Julian Simpson Peter Firth (Harry) Interview
Other:Spy drama is at an all time high on TV with the success of Alias and 24.
British intelligence unit MI-5 has survived terrorists, assassins, political intrigue, and American interference, but can it withstand the loss of some of its main characters? In fact it can! Rupert Penry-Jones, as wily agent Adam Carter (intoduced last season), comfortably takes the lead while some fresh faces (like Anna Chancellor, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) fill out the solid continuing supporting cast. The show's strengths are uninterrupted: Zippy exposition that crams a season's worth of plot into a single episode; cunningly intertwined plot threads and compelling twists; clever use of gadgetry and surveillance devices; and sterling guest stars, including Martine McCutcheon ( Love Actually), Rupert Graves ( Different for Girls), and Douglas Hodge ( The Way We Live Now). All ten episodes of the fourth series of MI-5 (known as Spooks in the U.K.) mix high-tension plots with thorny political debate--is torture justifiable to save lives? Can dirty tricks be used for democratic ends? Naturally, since our heroes are the agency, the show comes down on their side...but enough shades of gray exist to give the show some intelligent bite. When it turns out an innocent man has been imprisoned for two years, has his imprisonment turned him into the terrorist he didn't used to be? Combine this with crisp dialogue, tense performances, and moments of inspired direction (like the gripping gunfight lit almost exclusively by muzzle flashes) and you've got a top-notch spy series. The extras are few but include interviews with actors, directors, and producers. --Bret Fetzer
MPN: WARDE2777D - UPC: 794051277725
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Customer Reviews
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You're being watched!
By A32MCKEYLJJCSV on 2006-12-30
The fourth series of MI-5 (Spooks) packs a slightly lesser punch than the previous three, but fascinating and entertaining nonetheless.
For my money, this series leaves stuff like 24 at the starting gate - it retains a good grip of the real world and does not treat other countries as either idiotic or as a fiefdom. The fact that the series is working through its' second team of actors is edge of the seat stuff and validates plotlines nicely.
The issues of state sponsored torture, big brother, personal privacy and civil rights are raised throughout, but never challenged to any great extent.
Well produced, slick and gives Mr Bond a run for his money.
MI-5
By A2K28JHMIY3XKZ on 2007-04-01
It's too bad that A&E dumped the series to a one day extravaganza. One of the best shows of its genre, it deserves to be owned. Unforntunately it does appear next season will be picked up by A&E, so, fans stay alert for the DVD release.
MI-5, Vol.4
By A3N6T3EL0J6ATJ on 2007-01-06
This series captures the best of the thriller, English spy game with plots that reflect current global events. It is a roller coaster thrill ride with every new episode, and unlike American TV drama, they aren't afraid to put key characters in mortal danger. Highly recommended.
The best spy series out there
By A32931POFZ1AOR on 2007-02-21
After three seasons of a series one always wonders if a formula becomes old.... not so with SPOOKS. The fourth series is definitely worthy of the other three, with some excellent new cast members and tension-filled episodes, that introduce terrorist plots to destabilize the country by different British and foreign cells (and not just Muslim fundamentalists). Moreover, throughout the season MI-5 gets increasing competition from other government agencies and is pressured to slowly infringe on the privacy of citizens. It makes the leading characters and the viewer wonder: when does the good guy become a bad guy, or is everything allowed in the war on terror?
losing the touch
By A3KRFVK7EAD81M on 2007-01-26
the first three seasons of mi-5 are great entertainment. well written, well acted, unpredictable, and believable. now, the writing is definitely from the b-team, the acting by some of the ensemble is poor, the end of the story is definitely predictable to anyone awake and thinking, and some of the plot devices are not believable at all. the episode about the smuggler truck from istanbul was especially risible. maybe they will kill off some of the lame actor's characters, and the producers will put a well earned boot up the writers' arses. too good an idea to let die easily.
- Best Show NOT on US Television.
By A2484SUDGQDJVB on 2007-03-19
Why, Why, Why does a US cable station not pick up this wonderful show. A&E showed the first 3 seasons but even them, it was when A&E decided and did not really care if anyone watched.
This show, espec. seasons 1 & 2 are miles ahead of anything else on US television today.
My recommendation, buy all 4 box sets, get tons of popcorn and spend your entire weekend watching a 10 out of 10 show.
- MI5
By A3VN9ZGCFSIWAD on 2007-02-10
This is one of the best tv series i've ever seen. if you like thrillers you'll love this show.
- MI-5 Volume 4
By A2MBWZ5YY83K62 on 2007-06-22
While I found it hard to lose most of the original main characters from the first 3 years, season 4 still delivers a great series that is head and shoulders above 24 and anything else on U.S. television. Also, as of the date of this review I have discovered (much to my delight) that BBC America has picked up MI-5 and is showing it from the beginning. The bad news is, they seem to be putting in even more commercials than A&E did. However, that just makes viewing the DVD version that much more enjoyable.
- Great series!
By A1CJ3HKLEB9DVW on 2007-02-23
I eagerly awaited this to come out on DVD. Its a great series. I just need volume 5 now
- The best television series by far
By A1PUHDGQTH0GBV on 2007-03-17
This series has it all - fantastic scripts, moral dilemmas, nail-biting and unpredictable episodes. This is television at its best!
- As good or better as previous seasons
By A1EAFFJQ2NDHGC on 2007-10-22
The energy of this series starts out strong and doesn't flag through the series ten episdoes. It's hard to compare to the first seasons, since hardly any of the cast is left. Is killing off or retiring characters due to burn-out becoming a crutch to create drama in the program? So far, it doesn't seem to have hurt.
I think they've picked up the pace of action in season four. In many of the climaxes they are fighting a ticking clock down to the final seconds. Episodes from earlier seasons seem to develop at a bit more leisurely pace, which is more realistic, but less riveting.
Whereas 24 has gone downhill over 6 seasons, MI-5 has improved. This may be the best espionage series on TV. If you liked previous seasons, there is no reason you shouldn't like season four.
- Helluva finish!
By A3PT6DZYH44CA5 on 2008-01-04
Season 4 did not disappoint...
Like a lot of other fans, we first caught MI-5 on A&E and BBC America, but couldn't watch it consistently. DVD Boxsets are a God-send. My wife and I blazed through the first 3 seasons between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and just finished Series 4 a couple days ago. Thank goodness Series 5 will be out next week, because I don't think we could wait too long to see how the cliff-hanger gets resolved.
I'm a huge fan of the way the show tackles all the thorny issues that go hand-in-hand with fighting enemies, who have declared to the world that your destruction is their reason for being.
The themes that run through Series 4, are all too real -- Abuse of power, misuse of intelligence agencies for political purposes, controlling/manipulating the media, disillusioned officers, etc., etc., etc..
The episodes are written in a fast-paced manner, and the emotional impact of each crisis on the officers' humanity, as well as on the victims and conspirators is always obvious. This isn't a show where violence is gratuitously presented; it's always the honest, realistic result of the circumstances leading up to it.
There are moments where we are reminded that spooks are a breed-apart, and dispite the temptation to romanticize them, there's a great deal of pain (physcial and psychological) that goes with the territory. Spooks lie for a living, but they also have to be singularly brilliant to get the best of fanatics, psychopathic-killers, and homicidal-idealists, hell-bent on raining terror down on society.
MI-5 is a great show, and Series 4 did not disappoint.
- Another great season for MI-5
By A1E0OD9CPL4UN0 on 2007-01-18
This season was up the high standard set by the previous three in my opinion. The great things about this show are the British perspective and also the fact that no character seems sacred. On the other hand, the fact that no character is sacred is also a bit of a short comming. I would like to see a little bit more character continuity, but overall still a great show. Only the Brits would have an episode dreaming up a conspiracy within the British intelligence services to knock off Princess Di!
- mi-5
By A14KGNIIZJU7AR on 2007-01-31
MI-5 IS THE BEST COP SHOW EVER. ANYBODY WHO LIKES CRIME SHOWS WILL REALLY LIKE MI-5.
- u have to earn 5 stars
By A2MK2M41WX8TTS on 2007-02-22
and there's no question that this service earned every star from order to delivery...
- MI-5 is a Great Buy!
By A1MFUHSQH1SH3Q on 2007-03-09
This series was everything I expected and more. When A&E cancelled it I was very disappointed. Now I'm glad because the DVDs have special features that I'm sure I would not have seen on TV. Plus it's commercial- free! Can't wait for the new season!
- New characters, same high quality
By ATSVAHKYHEMT0 on 2007-10-19
The writers of MI-5 have kept up their high quality into the fourth season. Characters come and go, but the series never misses a step and keeps this viewer interested, entertained and looking forward to more. The variety of credible threats to the UK never ceases to amaze me.
This is the ONLY Television series I have ever purchased, and I share it with a couple of friends who are also hooked on MI-5!
- Still going strong
By A3DD2AGGTR0PFM on 2007-10-25
Wife and I fell in love with this show, and the fourth season is just as enjoyable as the previous three.
- Another great MI-5
By A39Q8NF095AJZM on 2007-12-06
This is a great series: Well-written, great presentations, strong acting and very intelligent. Many controversial issues involved in the world of counterintelligence or the so-called "War on Terror" are addressed thoughtfully and with more balance than in shows heavy in propaganda (e.g. "24").
- Great season
By A1RCOVTW4EX5NW on 2008-01-07
As always, MI-5 does not offer cheap thrills or gauranteed success of "good" over "evil". Almost all episodes remain complex and often morally ambiguous, with everybody paying the price.
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