CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Season One – Blu-ray Review

By Jeff Swindoll May 14, 2009, 11:39 GMT

Follow The Evidence... Again And Again. It\'s all here. All the cases. All the evidence. All the solutions. All 23 episodes of the Golden Globe nominated first season of "CSI." Now available in this special edition DVD set, containing special features and behind-the-scenes extras. Disc 1: Episode 100 "Pilot"; Episode 101 "Cool Change"; Episode 103 "Crate And Burial"; Episode 104 "Pledging Mr. Johnson" Disc 2: Episode 105 "Friends And Lovers"; ...more

Who are you?  The acclaimed television show makes its high definition debut and corrects come problems that occurred when it was released to DVD.  Namely that this presented season one in its proper aspect ratio for the first time.  Now we can all sing that Who song together.  

If you don’t know, CSI stands for Crime Scene Investigation and the series covers a unit of forensic investigators in the city that never sleeps, Las Vegas.  The team is led by entomologist Dr. “Gil” Grissom (William Petersen).  The rest of the team consists of Catherine Willows (Marg Helgenberger), Nick Stokes (George Eads), Warrick Brown (Gary Dourdan), and newcomer Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox).  The law is represented by detective Jim Brass (Paul Guilfoyle). 

Back at the ranch you’ve also got chief medical examiner Dr. Albert Rollins (Robert David Hall) who cuts up the bodies that the investigation brings in, assisted by assistant coroner David Phillips (David Berman).  The cases range from the interesting to the bizarre and there’s always some mystery rearing its head for our erstwhile team of investigators. 

The show was shot in high definition and in a controversial move, season one was presented in fullscreen on DVD.  This was corrected with subsequent seasons on DVD, but fans have wanted the show in its original aspect ratio and now Blu-ray provides it this way (sorry DVD viewers I guess). 

CSI certainly was a ratings hit and it even spawned a real life counterpart, the CSI effect.  This has led to court cases presented more physical evidence at trials because of the show’s investigative techniques and highlighting the importance of such evidence.  Each show is certainly interesting and offers a mystery to try and figure out before our team does. 

The team is an exciting one and offers up some interesting characters.  The main one is Gil Grissom.  I know that he was the reason that my wife watches the show.  Now that Grissom has “retired” from the show it appears to have lost some of that luster.  I’m more of a casual viewer, but the gross effects, mystery, and interesting characters always pulled me in, not to mention the catchy Who theme song. 

CSI proved so popular that several variations (CSI: Miami and CSI: New York).  Watching the first season again reminds me why I do like the show when I catch it and how much I miss Grissom.  Let’s not talk too much about the 200th episode Mascara – Oi!  

CSI is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (1.78:1).  Special features are presented in high definition unless noted.  They include the unaired, 47 minute pilot, with optional commentary by director Danny Cannon.  The 28 minute “Rediscovering the Evidence” are cast and crew interviews looking back at the season that started it all.  The 19 minute “People Lie but the Evidence Never Does” (standard definition) is another making of that appeared on the DVD set. 

Next are 10 minutes of deleted scenes, a 4 minute gag reel, and 15 minutes of commercials and episode promos (both in standard definition).  The set is also BD-Live enhanced and features some online content (providing your player is able to access the Internet).  

Throw your DVD sets away, if you’ve got a Blu-ray player, because the episodes have finally been give the high definition gloss that they should’ve been given.  The new set also adds some nice special features to the mix as well, but I would’ve wanted more commentaries.  All evidence points to it’s a must have for the CSI fan. 

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Season One [Blu-ray] is now available at Amazon. Visit the DVD database for more information.