Product Description

Criminal Minds revolves around an elite team of FBI profilers who analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds anticipating their next moves before they strike again. Special Agent Jason Gideon (Mandy Patinkin) is the FBI's top behavioral analyst and he joins the Behavioral Analysis Unit lead by Special Agent Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) a family man who is able to gain people's trust and unlock their secrets. Also on the team are Elle Greenaway (Lola Glaudini) an agent with a background in sexual offenses; Special Agent Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore) an expert on obsessional crimes; Special Agent Dr. Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) a classically misunderstood genius whose social IQ is as low as his intellectual IQ is high; and Jennifer "JJ" Jareau (AJ Cook) a confident young agent who acts as the unit liaison for the team. Each member brings his or her own area of expertise to the table as they pinpoint predators' motivations and identify their emotional triggers in the attempt to stop them.System Requirements:Run Time: 960 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 097368716049 Manufacturer No: 871604

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #993 in DVD
• Brand: PARAMOUNT PICTURES
• Released on: 2006-11-28
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 6
• Dimensions: .70 pounds
• Running time: 955 minutes

Amazon.com
Viewers who feel they may have been C.S.I.'d, S.V.U.'d, or NCIS'd to death, should really keep an open mind concerning Criminal Minds, because this compelling procedural crime series brings fascinating new facets to this crowded genre. The always galvanizing Mandy Patinkin (Chicago Hope) makes a welcome return to the small screen as Jason Gideon, head of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, and sage mentor to his elite team of profilers, including compassionate Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson, of Dharma & Greg), Lola Gladini as sex-crimes expert Elle Greenway (since departed from the series), live-wire hunk Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore), and genius-geek Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), who actually looks creepier than many of the perpetrators that the team races against time to apprehend. Before they can do that, they must establish psychological profiles of the criminals and think as they do. Given they have handles such as the "Seattle Strangler" and the "Keystone Killer," this can be psychologically taxing (in one episode, Spencer confides to Derek that the job is giving him nightmares). While cliffhangers frame this inaugural season, each episode (except the season finale) wraps up its cases in the allotted hour.

In addition to serial killers, the series unleashes a gallery of twisted and depraved specimens. "Trust me," Derek comments early on, "we cover the whole spectrum of psychos." This includes arsonists, rapists, child abductors, and even a cannibalistic killer. Anchoring the proceedings is Patinkin, who exudes authoritative gravitas, and who is always good for scenery feasting. He really comes to life when killers have Gideon at gunpoint and he taunts them into losing their already unsteady grip. Most episodes feature the voiceover of a team member reciting a pertinent quote from such varied sources as W.H. Auden ("Evil is always human") to actor Peter Ustinov, a literary conceit that could stand to be retired. Stylistic flourishes in the editing and camerawork are likewise more of a distraction when the cases themselves are so gripping, given that the victims are primarily women and children. "There's nothing I would rather do than put the bastards away," Greenway states at one point. And there's nothing we'd rather do than watch them do it, which has made Criminal Minds, initially Lost opposite that ratings juggernaut, one of television's solid hits. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews

Greatest Show for the strong!
This is a fantastic series, if you have a strong stomach for the crazy killers they have to hunt down! Just love it, totally addicted. Mandy is phenomenal.

Almost Perfect
I am so grateful for this series. The serious approach to serial killers is something that no other show is doing right now. They may deal with them occasionally but not every single episode. The characters are all intelligent, likeable and memorable and the method of profiling never ceases to amaze me. Mandy Pitinkin's fatherly manner and quiet, unrushed voice has a silent authority that far surpasses the hyper theatrical antics of most authority figures in police procedural. The family man/cold profiler Hotch is a major break from his role as Greg of ABC's Dharma and Greg. He is almost unrecognizable. Derek Morgan develops an interesting big brother like relationship with Dr. Spencer Reid and Elle Greenaway that is wonderful to watch. The dynamics between everyone is great to watch. The absence of unneeded family/personal drama from everyone is quite refreshing. The focus of each episode is soley aimed at collecting clues, profiling the suspect and finding him. While this may sound formulaic, there are even variations in each episode to keep it all interesting. The only exception is, sadly the season finale, the Fisher King (and its continuation at the beginning of the Second Season). The whole deal with an Unsub that knows everything about everyone, moves with ease and without detection despite being horribly burned and being slowed down by it, the whole lame Quest deal with blood written on the wall and clues given to each member of the team was very poorly done. And these fiercely intelligent characters are dumbed down to making obvious errors that even we non-profilers could have picked up. They tried to make up for it by having a main character gunned down but it didn't change the hideous way those two episodes clashed with the rest of the soundly done season. I hope that the rest of Season Two doesn't continue in that way. Aside from the Season Finale (which at least, to its credit, sheds a lot of light on each character in their private lives in the first 15 minutes)
is quite a relief from shows that inject needless personal drama to cover up already flaccid plots.

Criminal Minds - The First Season
A friend recommended this series. We were hooked. Excellent actors. Likeable characters. We ordered seasons 2 and 3, and will be looking forward to series 4. Certainly would recommend this crime drama.