CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: The Complete 2nd Season (DVD)

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Believe it or not, special effects play an important role in enhancing the visual delivery of "CSI" even though it is not a sci-fi series. Its gruesome signature close-ups of body parts and organs being destroyed in a multitude of different ways give the audience a very graphic clue of how a victim died. One of the extra features included in this DVD set details how these effects are created.

The entire twenty-three episodes of Season Two are spread out over the six discs as follows:

Disc 1: "Burked", "Chaos Theory", "Overload", "Bully For You"
Disc 2: "Scuba Doobie-Doo", "Alter Boys", "Caged", "Slaves of Las Vegas"
Disc 3: "And Then There Were None", "Ellie", "Organ Grinder", "You´ve Got Male"
Disc 4: "Identity Crisis", "The Finger", "Burden of Proof", "Primum Non Nocere"
Disc 5: "Felonius Monk", "Chasing The Bus", "Stalker", "Cats in the Cradle"
Disc 6: "Anatomy of a Lye", "Cross-Jurisdictions", "The Hunger Artist"

While the first season of "CSI" is able to grab our attention with its intriguing stories that are delivered in a unique style that immerses the audience in its world of scientific crime fighting, season two lifts the series up to new heights with little effort. If you thought the first season was good, wait till you experience this second season. In its sophomore season, "CSI" deservedly grabbed the ratings crown and has never looked back since. "CSI" is certainly the best that television has to offer today.

Video:
Comparing the first season´s episodes in full screen with this season´s anamorphic widescreen video is like comparing oil and water. You can clearly see what a great difference anamorphic widescreen video does to one´s viewing pleasure. Presented in an aspect ratio measuring 1.85:1, the colors are solid but can sometimes look unnatural due to the choice of lighting. My only complaint about the video quality is that certain dark colors bleed into the adjacent colors, giving a washed out look that sometimes stand out like a sore thumb. Like the previous season´s DVD release, no subtitles are included, although close captioning is available.

Audio:
Fortunately, good video presentation begets great audio quality. With a very dynamic Dolby Digital 5.1 audio mix, the suspenseful and mysterious nature of the episodes is brought to life in a rapture of surround sound ecstasy. Great separations in all the speakers greatly enhance the storytelling experience of "CSI" like never before. Other audio options include a Spanish language track in Dolby Surround 2.0.

Extras:
Kicking off the DVD extras section on Disc 6 is an excellent look at how three different aspects of filmmaking combine to produce the look and sound of "CSI". Titled "Makeup, Music and Special Effects", this feature first follows John Goodwin as he explains the how makeup is used to make injuries to corpses look gory and unpleasant. Next up is music composer John M. Keane, who juxtaposes a scene with and without the accompanying music. A stark contrast emerges from this auditory experience, further conveying the importance of music in filmmaking. If you have ever wondered how they film those close-ups of a bone shattering or a spleen rupturing, wonder no more. With the help of Stargate Films, the producers reveal their secrets.

In "CSI Shooting Locations", location manager Paul Wilson brings us to the various outside locations used on the series. Even though the series is based in Las Vegas, it is revealed in this feature that "CSI" is shot mainly outside of Sin City. Only the sweeping flyovers that you see at the start of every episode are on-location shots.

After looking at the outside sets, we then move inside with "CSI Tour". In this feature, production designer Richard Berg takes the audience through the various lab locations used on the show.

Next we have "Tools of the Trade", in which technical advisor Elizabeth Devine explains the major scientific tools used on the show. Divided into the DNA, ballistics and trace fingerprint labs, you highlight and click your way through the various machines used in each lab.

Lastly, in "The Making of a Hit", creator Anthony Zuiker, executive producers Jerry Bruckheimer, Carol Mendelsohn and Ann Donohue and director Danny Cannon give their insights into why the show is a hit. Nothing really interesting here.

Apart from the five major features highlighted above, the producers have seen fit to also include three audio commentaries. The first one, on the first episode "Burked", features commentary by Anthony Zuiker, Carol Mendelsohn and Danny Cannon. In episode 6 "Alter Boys", audio commentary is provided by Ann Donohue and Danny Cannon. Finally, on episode 10 titled "Ellie", Anthony Zuiker and actor Gary Dourdan provide the commentary. These commentaries start off rather slowly but I was able to gleam interesting tidbits about those episodes.

--Miscellaneous--
The packaging for this DVD set is similar to the previous season´s release. A plastic slipcase encases a custom DVD package that houses all the six discs on blue-colored trays that can be flipped over like the pages of a book. Two thin and transparent plastic pages that feature a large fingerprint on one and the cover art on the other serve to further protect the discs on the trays. A yellow slip-off ring fashioned like a police "Do Not Cross" tape tops off the attractive packaging.

Two inserts included in the package consist of a $5.00 off coupon for the "CSI" PC game and a sheet revealing the upcoming CBS Fall TV schedule.

Film Value:
I am utterly blown away by the overall value of this DVD set. Kudos to Paramount, who has gotten every aspect of this DVD set right this time. With smart stories that twist and turn at every chance it gets, viewers are taken on a wild ride through the wonders of forensic science every week. The second season improves upon the previous season not only in terms of the stories but also the interaction between the main characters that have become tighter and more natural. Adding anamorphic widescreen video and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio to the DVD edition only serves to make an already good thing that much better. A definite recommendation for all "CSI" fans and any would-be fans looking to join the show´s growing legion of admirers.