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Witchblade: The Complete Series
- DVD
- VIVA 7 Disc 25mm Case
- Multi Disc
Thе well lονеd indie comic іѕ brought tο life іn thіѕ action-packed 2001-02 TNT series thаt follows Nеw York City detective Sara “Pez” Pezzini, whο іѕ chosen tο bе hеr age group’s keeper οf thе Witchblade, аn ancient аnd sentient gauntlet wіth thе power tο fight thе forces οf evil. Yancy Butler, David Chokachi, Wіll Yun Lee, Anthony Cistaro, John Hensley star. In addition tο thе mаdе-fοr-TV movie “Witchblade,” аll 23 episodes frοm thе series’s rυn–including “Parallax,” “Band,” “Agape,” “Nailed,
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Witchblade the Series on DVD… At Last!!,
Not only was it one of the most complex series in the description of cable television, Witchblade was easily one of the most underrated. Witchblade debuted in a full-length television pilot on TNT and then after its initial success became a full-fledged series in 2001. In many ways the show was ahead of its time. It managed to be both science-fiction (when the genre was distress from hackneyed sequels and poorly made remakes), fantasy (before the genre was validated by The Lord of the Rings and Pan’s Labyrinth) and added a healthy dose of cop drama. The intricate plotlines featured such esoteric subject matter as psychic visions, cloning, abnormal psychology, time travel, reincarnation, demonic possession, mythological motifs, multiple conspiracies, occult philosophical ideologies, and also benefited from gifted pop-culture in-jokes.
The series was brought to life by strong acting from a diverse, if not at times dysfunctional cast. Witchblade also featured a greatly varying soundtrack (this DVD does not include all of the artists I’ve named here; see my comment for further explanation) that included everyone from The Crystal Method to Peter Gabriel, from Rob Zombie to Enya, from Three Dog Night to U2. The series burst off the small screen with fantastic visual flare, the special effects were nearly on a par with the first Matrix film, and the camerawork was likewise impressive.
Here have been some fans of the comics who have complained about the many differences between the show and the comics. But as I was at the time unfamiliar with the comics, I loved the show from a fresh, purely objective perspective. I also reckon that most fans of the source material understood that this was not an adaptation in the strictest sense but more of a loosely inspired series that dealt with some of the same themes.
And now fans of this cult classic can take pleasure in their favorite comic book-inspired heroine on DVD… at last.
The font include:
Sara Pezzini- A New York homicide cop and the “Blade-wielder”
Danny Woo- Sara’s partner and close friend.
Jake McCartey- Sara’s rookie partner in training.
Gabriel Bowman- A young occult/novelty shop owner and close friend of Sara’s.
Kenneth Irons- A billionaire who may be more than he seems.
Ian Nottingham- A mysterious bodyguard/assassin in Iron’s use.
Black Dragons- A group of assassins who underwent experimental training.
White Bulls- A secretive company of dishonest vigilante cops.
Here is the entire item of episodes, including the pilot film (which is also included):
Season One
0. Witchblade: The Movie
New York homicide detective Sara Pezzini encounters a mystical stick that can only be wielded by women. She is also introduced to the enigmatic billionaire, Kenneth Irons and his stoic bodyguard/assassin, Ian Nottingham.
1. Parallax
Sara uncovers a plot involving a group of elite assassins, called The Black Dragons, who plot to kill billionaire Irons.
2. Conundrum
After a supermodel is found dead, Sara must learn the self of the killer, which leads her to a former “Blade-wielder”.
3. Diplopia
A serial killer is stalking members of the art community and patrons of a gay bar but the fundamental suspect seems to have a perfect explanation.
4. Sacrifice
An Irish rocker comes to town and a killer takes inspiration from his lyrics, all the even as Sara may be falling in like with the dreamy singer.
5. Band
A man who may have killed a priest claims that he’s possessed but the clues point to corruption within the church itself.
6. Maelstrom
Sara’s lover, the Irish rocker Conchobar, is kidnapped by dishonest counter-terrorists and Sara sinks into violent anxiety.
7. Periculum
The Witchblade tests Sara, at her most vulnerable, even as pulling her deeper into its mysterious past.
8. Thanatopsis
Ian Nottingham goes renegade and targets Sara’s rookie partner, Jake, who he believes to have betrayed her.
9. Apprehension
A dishonest vigilante force within the NYPD, called The White Bulls, has its sights on Sara even as she must protect a witness to their violence.
10. Union
A psychotic rapist/killer is on the loose and only Sara can stop him but she’s busy evading The White Bulls.
11. Transcendence
Nottingham dies to save Sara but then is resurrected in an even more deadly and unpredictable…
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|Brilliant Escapist Fantasy Rooted in Contemporary Reality,
I saw the series when it initially aired on TNT, and I found it fresh, exciting and captivating. The combination of pure escapist fantasy and cop drama worked well in this incarnation. Yes, it was weird, but weird doesn’t mean that it wasn’t entertaining. By juxtaposition of an ages-ancient metaphysical description against Sara Pezzini’s attempts to cope with that in the framework of her contemporary physical world, it made a whole new universe for the writers to dabble in. I believe that public who loved “Sliders” “Farscape” and “Quantum Leap” would have loved this show, as well.
All excellent drama contains conflict, and in this case the conflict was manifest in Sara’s hard work to reconcile the mundane and the metaphysical. At first a hard-bitten cynic, we see Sara slowly and begrudgingly grow spiritually and emotionally as she starts to accept and embrace her destiny as the current bearer of the Witchblade.
I was introduced first to the TV series, and then I want back to check out the comic: yet I found the series more accessible. At points during the series you were left wondering along with Sara if she was hallucinating or having visions of events that really happened–which helped build tension in the storyline.
The vital thing is that within the context of that tale, it made sense, and helped go the plot forwards effectively. It makes no sense to attempt to bring comic-book font to the huge screen, if all you’re going to do is regurgitate the comic-book legend exactly as it appeared in print. An effective re-imagining really takes ancient font and makes them fresh and relevant again, as in the re-imagining of the Superboy legend in the Smallville TV series. I’ve read the Superman and Superboy comics growing up, which were mostly kind of corny. Smallville has full the development of young Kal-el and made him contemporary and fascinating again.
If a film or TV adaptation of a tale originally told in visual novel or comic book format stays right to the spirit and intent of the character, and changes are made to improve the dramatic flow in that direction, then those changes must be embraced as a welcome enhancement, and not dismissed offhandedly from the dogmatic perspective of it straying from the comic, or being too uncommon.
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