OT: CSI vs. FW

Coursedesign wrote on 10/29/2005, 11:26 PM
Looked at CSI-NY (on CBS) and Foyle's War (on PBS) tonight.

CSI is one of the most popular police dramas on TV today, if not #1 even.

Just comparing a few of the most important ingredients:

_____________CSI__FW
Script__________8___10 (interesting twists vs. perfection)
Camerawork____5___10 (unimaginative vs. great storytelling)
Lighting________4___10 (CSI thinks gritty has to mean mushy)
Directing_______6___10 (cardboardy dialog vs. exchange of emotions)
Acting_________ 7____9 (a few minor lapses in a few FW episodes)
Casting________8___10 (no luck here, only hard work)
Editing_________6___10 (ADD vs. engagement)
Theme music____-___10 (10 for Series II, 8 for Series III)

Sigh.

Foyle's War can be seen on PBS, and it's also available on DVD from Amazon.

What a masterpiece!

Foyle's War Production Notes are an interesting read, but not comprehensible before seeing at least one episode.

CSI was better in the beginning I think, with more story and more human characters. I guess they ran out of creative juices... At least they have inspired many kids to pursue science (per a recent article).

Comments

farss wrote on 10/30/2005, 3:32 AM
Sorry but from down here I cannot for the life of me see anything in CSI that rates any merit. Now 'House', that's one of the few must watch shows out of the USA for me, probably even better than Becker.
Bob.
JJKizak wrote on 10/30/2005, 5:31 AM
Miami CSI to me is a complete looser. Two of the worst actors I have ever seen, the lead guy who always has his head at an angle and the one broad that speaks so low you can't hear her.
One of the best lines in "House" was when a just cured lady sees House and another doctor standing in an elevator and says "there he is now" and House says "Oh we aren't doing anything just listening to elevator music". Well I didn't get the words just right.

JJK
Grazie wrote on 10/30/2005, 6:21 AM


Good the States has taken to another one of our limey exports - Mr Hugh Laurie "Dr House". Ex-Etoninan and Oxford student, Hugh Laurie made breakthroughs with Stephen Fry and his parts in Blackadder made Laurie a "house" name for quality and humour. Oh yes, Fry played opposite Hugh's "Bertie" in the Wooster and Jeeves series - magic!

Grazie

Former user wrote on 10/30/2005, 7:53 AM
The original CSI is the top rated show, but CSI-NY, which you mention is very sub par.

I enjoy the original CSI, but have not seen Foyles War.

So are you comparing the NY or original?

Dave T2
Coursedesign wrote on 10/30/2005, 8:01 AM
CSI-NY.

The original CSI was vastly better, I guess this what happens when the juice runs out.

A few months ago the L.A. Times Travel section had an interview with a lady who went to Europe on vacation and was very disappointed with the TV offerings, because they were all "imitations of American TV shows."

The examples she mentioned were American Idol, Survivor and two other shows I have forgotten, that all had one thing in common. Which was not that they were imitations of American TV shows..... :O)