LAW & ORDER

Whilst ITV’s new hit drama series Law & Order:  UK starring Bradley Walsh, Jamie Bamber, Harriet Walter and Freema Agyeman continues to go from strength since its premiere on ITV, the original US version is still going strong,  providing hours of top notch entertainment for its many millions of fans.    

FACT - Law & Order is the longest running crime series on TV and the second longest-running drama series in the history of American broadcast television.  It is also a winner of the prestigious Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series.  Set in New York City, the series follows the professional lives of detectives and prosecutors who represent the public interest in the criminal justice system. 

FACT  - Law & Order is the most successful brand in the history of primetime television and has featured notable guest stars over the years including Julia Roberts, Samuel L. Jackson, Chevy Chase, Tom Berenger, Claire Danes and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The original franchise was such a huge hit that the show’s creator Dick Wolf produced two fantastic spin off shows – Law & Order Special Victims Unit and Law & Order Criminal Intent.

LAW & ORDER

SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT SEASON 8 DVD 13^TH APRIL 09

“In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories.”

Special Victims Unit chronicles the life and crimes of the Special Victims Unit of the New York Police Department, the elite squad of detectives who investigate sexually based crimes. The drama follows Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni), a seasoned veteran of the unit who has seen it all, and his partner, Detective Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), who’s difficult past – a product of rape – is the reason she joined the unit.

Captain Donald Cragen, (Dann Florek), oversees the unit with his tough but supportive approach to the team's complex cases, guiding the squad through the challenges they face every day. Detective John Munch, (Richard Belzer), a transfer from Baltimore's homicide unit, brings his acerbic wit, conspiracy theories and street-honed investigative skills to the team. And his partner, Detective Odafin "Fin" Tutuola (Ice-T), adds his unique sense of humor and investigative experience, making him a formidable match for Munch.

Assistant District Attorney Casey Novak (Diane Neal) brings closure to the intense investigations with her legal expertise. Forensic psychiatrist, George Huang (B.D. Wong), whose insight into the minds of the accused often provides significant clues that lead to the resolution of a case, and Medical Examiner Melinda Warner (Tamara Tunie), lends her skills to uncover forensic evidence.

Highlight episodes from the Season 8 include Choreographed – After Danielle Masoner dies in Central Park, Stabler follows the leads to a homeless man who turns out to be a better witness than he thought. During the course of the investigation, Benson and Stabler learn that Danielle's husband was sleeping with a friend of theirs, leading the squad to suspect first him, but their suspicion soon turns to the husband of the other woman, Burned – Stabler and Benson find themselves on opposite sides when Valerie Sennet accuses her estranged husband, of breaking into her home and raping her. Because Miles has no history of violence and Valerie refuses to allow detectives to use her daughter Tessa as a witness, he is soon released but not everyone is convinced of his innocence, Dependent - Benson and Stabler attempt to question a confused young woman about an attack on her parents that left her brother traumatised and Stabler puts his career on the line when he goes too far.

LAW & ORDER

CRIMINAL INTENT SEASON 3

SEASON 3 DVD 13^TH APRIL 09

“In New York City's war on crime, the worst criminal offenders are pursued by the detectives of the Major Case Squad. These are their stories.”

Criminal Intent follows a distinct division of the New York City Police Department: the "Major Case Squad". The Major Case Squad investigates high-profile murder cases, such as those involving VIPs, local government officials and celebrities. The episodes alternate between two teams of detectives: Team A episodes chronicle the cases of Detective Robert Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) and Detective Alexandra Eames (Kathryn Erbe), while team B episodes follow the exploits of Detective Mike Logan (Chris Noth) and Detective Megan Wheeler.

The series also focuses on the actions and motives of the criminals, rather than focusing exclusively on the police and prosecution, and the information they have. Criminal Intent episodes do not usually contain trials and unlike other Law & Order series, most Criminal Intent episodes end in confessions rather than plea bargains or verdicts.

 

Highlight episodes from Season 3 include A Murderer Among Us – The detectives try to link the suicide of an Argentine immigrant to her husband who has a history of violence. While the subsequent investigation is not successful, they discover his hatred might be linked to a string of unsolved murders, Sound Bodies – Goren and Bishop pursue a teenage Svengali who convinces three impressionable young girls to commit multiple homicides in the cause of a twisted philosophy, The Saint – A man commits fraud, forgery, and murder to discredit the organization that took advantage of his mentally ill mother, impoverished his family, and ruined his childhood.

Both of these fantastic collections are perfect for fans of the Law & Order franchise and newcomers alike. Each episode is a standalone story so you can pick it up at any point and not feel like you’re losing the plot.

Kill some time and pick up your copy of Law & Order Criminal Intent Season 3 and Law & Order Special Victims Unit Season 8, out on DVD on 13^th April 2009.

Visit www.universal-playback.com for more information

We have two copies of each series to be won in this month's FREE Competition

HERE

Law & Order Special Victims Unit Season 8 EC

Release Date:                       13^th April 2009

Credit:                        Universal Playback

Discs:                          5

Running Time:           14 hrs 53 mins approx.

Cert:                           15 (UK only)

RRP:                             £44.99

Cat No:                                  8259553                                                         

Barcode:                   50505-8259553-6

Copyright:                 Film © 2006/2007 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.  Packaging Design © 2009 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

 

Law & Order Criminal Intent Season 3 EC

 

 

Release Date:                       13^th April 2009

Credit:                        Universal Playback

Discs:                          5

Running Time:           14 hrs 41 mins approx.

Cert:                           15 (UK Only)

RRP:                             £44.99

Cat No:                                  8259957                                                         

Barcode:                   50505-8259957-2

Copyright:                 Film © 2003/2004 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Packaging Design © 2009 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Universal Pictures UK is a division of Universal Pictures International, which is part of NBC Universal - one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal.