The Dresden Files - The Complete First Season

The Dresden Files - The Complete First Season

The Dresden Files - The Complete First Season
List Price: $19.98
Our Price: $10.72
You Save: $9.26 (46%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $6.93 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details


(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

DVD details

Actor: Paul Blackthorne, Valerie Cruz
Brand: Lions Gate
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 530 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-08-07
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Lions Gate

DVD Reviews of The Dresden Files - The Complete First Season

DVD Review: Not The Dresden Files From The Books (And Take From That What You Will)
Summary: 4 Stars

Visual Media versions of print stories often vary from the original source material, causing outrage in those who wanted to see the story made for film. This show polarizes people more than just about any other. It would be fair to say that in its day The Dresden files created as much shock and horror from Jim Butcher's readership as poor old Peter Jackson generated with his LotR trilogy.

Let me start by saying that I've read most of the Dresden Files books, and regard them as an okay waste of a few hours but very uneven in feel. Butcher's admitted approach to writing them (according to a talk he gave in NY shortly after the publication of White Night) means that they a Dresden story can never be more than a spectator sport anyway; the reader has no chance of anticipating events and becoming thereby part of the story. You pays your money etc.

The TV Dresden is what would be called today a "re-imagining", not quite a Star Trek "reboot" but a remix using the basic ideas from which the books are built. In this approach lies much of the chagrin. "Harry doesn't look right". "Murphy doesn't look right, and they changed her name". "What on earth is Bob doing with a face?" "The Chateau Dresden isn't right". etc etc etc

Well, let's get that out of the way. All the complaints are spot on. The physical descriptions of just about everything from Dresden to Bianca to the Blue Beetle (now a olive green jeep) are different to those in the books. Big Furry Deal.

Okay, anyone who doesn't want show spoilers should move on.

The TV Dresden is an excellent envisioning of the Wizard private eye, with a great screen presence and just the right amount of slobbish attitude for the role. Much has been made of the improvised nature of the Wizard Staff (or Hockey Stick) and blasting rod (now a drumstick) but I think these actually work well to reinforce the image of the down-at-heel, one step away from the bailiff wizard with barely two bucks to rub together. The Jeep was picked for the ease of camera work (can't see the actors in a VW Beetle) but the rationale for the Beetle in the books actually works better for the Jeep (lack of mechanical complexity) in my opinion. Murphy isn't blonde, but *is* in-your-face feisty (though I have to agree changing her name was dumb and the suggestion she has a nine year old daughter - whom we never see - is unnecessary). Some characters from the books appear wearing new and unexpected faces. Some are in very different roles than in the books - Bianca is a vampire of the Red Court, but that's about all that survives the transition to the screen. If this is going to ruin the experience for you, better save your dollars for more books.

The Special Effects are good for their day (people forget how quickly the state of the art in CGI advanced when they critique this show sometimes) but sometimes have a slightly bargain basement feel, especially when the producers attempt to "wow" the viewer. As I say, the pace of progress should inform the viewer, but it should also inform the maker of cgi-intensive shows and dictate a suitable approach to using SFX.

What really makes or breaks a show is, of course, the plot and character interaction we get to see, and like any show in its first season, these tend to vary. Occasionally there is a whiff of "the special effects will blind everyone to the lack of quality plot here", but on the whole the plots are tight, the stories compelling and the chemistry between the actors is convincing, especially that between Harry and Bob the Skull.

Remaking the character Bob into a cursed sorcerer whose spirit is bound to the skull for eternity for a wizardly crime was inspired, and getting the actor Terrence Mann to play Bob was genius. The irony of Paul Blackthorne (Harry) being an Englishman using an American accent and Terrence Mann being an American using an English accent is a free gift (both seem well executed to my ears). Scenes between Bob and Harry are generally high spots in each show, though sometimes the actors have to work with dialog that makes them work for their money.

Finally, I thought combining Dresden's workplace with his voluminous living quarters was a good move. It gave the actors space to use when setting the scene for each episode.

I enjoyed the show, and this three disc set represents it in a nice package. there are a couple of deleted scenes, a couple of commentaries and a "making of" featurette and that's it for the special features. I wished for more, but didn't buy the discs for the blooper reels and cutting room floor sweepings.

I'm sorry this show didn't get a large enough following to garner a second season. The first season was only twelve episodes too (do you remember when a season was 24 shows or more?) so it burned bright but burned quickly. I doubt being more faithful to the books would have made it more popular, but who knows? Personally, I rather like the original touches the show added to the Dresden Files, *including* the hockey stick and a Bob you can see.
More The Dresden Files - The Complete First Season reviews:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Description of The Dresden Files - The Complete First Season

DRESDEN FILES SEASON 1 - DVD Movie
Bestsellers in DVD
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] ImageThe Story of Jeremiah [VHS]
Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS] ImageWresting With God [VHS]
by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops: $19.99
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS] ImageStudy Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]
Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops: $44.00
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS] ImageTempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]
HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops: $9.98
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/Party Video [VHS] ImageTempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]
HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Strike the Original Match [VHS] ImageStrike the Original Match [VHS]
New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops: $14.95
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] ImageMedjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]
JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008 ImageMayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008
by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops: $1,463.24
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single User ImagePediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single User
by Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops: $1,463.24
Cost Accounting [VHS] ImageCost Accounting [VHS]
by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Changes: A Novel of the Dresden Files ImageChanges: A Novel of the Dresden Files
by Jim Butcher
Roc; Published: 2011-03-01; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.97
Price in other shops: $9.99
Small Favor (The Dresden Files, Book 10) ImageSmall Favor (The Dresden Files, Book 10)
by Jim Butcher
Roc; Published: 2009-03-03; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.67
Price in other shops: $9.99
Turn Coat (The Dresden Files, Book 11) ImageTurn Coat (The Dresden Files, Book 11)
by Jim Butcher
Roc; Published: 2010-03-02; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.50
Price in other shops: $9.99
Primeval Season 1 ImagePrimeval Season 1
Release date: 2012-01-30; Amazon Instant Video; TV Series Season Video on Demand
Best price: $9.99
The Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle ImageThe Dresden Files: Welcome to the Jungle
by Jim Butcher
Del Rey/Dabel Brothers; Published: 2008-10-14; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.58
Price in other shops: $22.95
Moonlight: The Complete Series ImageMoonlight: The Complete Series
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2011-05-31; DVD
Best price: $13.43
Price in other shops: $39.98
The Invisible Man: Season One ImageThe Invisible Man: Season One
NBC Universal; Release date: 2008-03-25; DVD
Best price: $4.97
Price in other shops: $59.98
Birds of Prey: The Complete Series ImageBirds of Prey: The Complete Series
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-07-15; DVD
Best price: $10.11
Price in other shops: $39.98
Side Jobs: Stories from the Dresden Files ImageSide Jobs: Stories from the Dresden Files
by Jim Butcher
Roc Trade; Published: 2011-12-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.08
Price in other shops: $16.00
Witchblade: The Complete Series ImageWitchblade: The Complete Series
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-07-29; DVD
Best price: $13.99
Price in other shops: $69.98
Compare prices and read customer reviews for more than one million DVD titles.
Oscar 2005 Winners