Movie Reviews for Columbo - The Complete Second Season

Columbo - The Complete Second Season

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Movie Reviews of Columbo - The Complete Second Season

Movie Review: Review of Columbo
Summary: 5 Stars

I used to watch Columbo on t.v. years ago and was so dissapointed when it wasn't on the air anymore. When I saw that dvd's were available I was thrilled. I could not wait to buy them. They are just what I remembered. I love Peter Falk. He is great as Columbo. I love the questions he asks without asking. You have got to get these dvd's. You will love every minute of every episode. I have the first 3 seasons so far and these dvd's are great. I recommend to anyone who loves Columbo and to those who have no idea who he is. WATCH AND LEARN!

Movie Review: Two Sided DVD Hades
Summary: 1 Stars

I love Columbo. I have seasons 1, 2, 3 and 4. Season three is the only set on double sided DVDs as far as I can tell. It freezes and locks up on all my DVD players in the house. This needs to be made into a 4 disk set. Universal should redo this season and give everyone a swap out. This should be like a recall with no questions asked. If I had to do it over I would not buy the third season.

With all that said, the episodes are just great.

Movie Review: Columbo solves more murders by the "rich and famous"
Summary: 4 Stars

The one thing that I always liked about the series is that the murderous culprits were always "uber-successful" and had much to lose by NOT committing the crime. Of course, the statement is not my endorsement of murder as a means to an end; it was just cool to see those people that we think "have it all" resort to doing away with their fellow man (or woman).

This third season DVD compilation shares the same double-sided disc format of the previous second season's collection. Unfortunately, it includes an installment of Kate Mulgrew's lamentable "Mrs. Columbo." Though the show came after these "Columbo" episodes, it looks more dated, with the filming techniques, as well as the awful scoring and writing.

Fortunately, for the actress, she would achieve greater success as "Captain Janeway" on "Star Trek: Voyager."

The "Columbo" episodes, on the other hand, are some of the best of the show's entire run. Vera Miles, an actress that I have long admired, gets to glamorously chew scenery with the likes of Vincent Price and young Martin Sheen in the wickedly delicious "Lovely but Lethal". Film veteran Donald Pleasance hams it up marvelously as a snooty winemaker that "liquidates" his younger half-brother (Gary Conway of "Land of the Giants") in the cleverly titled "Any Old Port in a Storm". This episode also features Vito Scotti, a friend of star Peter Falk that has appeared in many "Columbo's" over the years, including "Swan Song", also among this compilation.

In "Candidate for Crime" former child star Jackie Cooper plays a politician saddled with a less-than-desirable campaign manager that decides to put a permanent end to their political relationship. Robert Culp, one of television's best actors, returns for a THIRD time as a perpetrator in "Double Exposure," also featuring Robert Middleton and Louise Latham.

Oscar winner Jose Ferrer stars in possibly the "weakest" of the episodes, "Mind Over Mayhem," though it features a sly tribute to Steven Spielberg, the director of the first episode of the show. Also, the guest star roster includes screen veteran Lew Ayres (the theatrical "Dr. Kildare" series) and a young Jessica Walter ("Arrested Development").

But the most ingenious use of guest stars and writing belong to "Publish or Perish," the previously mentioned "Swan Song," and "A Friend in Deed". Jack Cassidy, another fine actor that appeared in several episodes, is in the first, again playing someone in the publishing field, as he had in the Spielberg-directed "Murder by the Book." "Swan Song" stars the underrated ACTOR Johnny Cash as a COUNTRY gospel singer. Film star and television directing legend Ida Lupino plays his shrewish wife. Finally, Broadway veteran Richard Kiley gets the most inspired role of all, playing Columbo's police commissioner boss that murders his wife.

And composer Billy Goldenberg would provide most of the brilliant scores for the third season.

This is a stellar season, marred by Universal's decision to include "Mrs. Columbo" and failure to offer any other extras that DVD buyers have come to expect.

Movie Review: A great season for Columbo fans
Summary: 4 Stars

The series was really hitting its stride, here. Great villains like Jose Ferrer and Jack Cassidy, who are delightfully condescending, Johnny Cash in one of my favorites, and Donald Pleasance at his snobbiest. The episode with Robert Culp is another all time favorite, and shows clearly how well Columbo can set a trap. From the vantage point of the foresic fan, the level of police work is startling; Columbo is always dragging evidence out of his coat pockets wrapped in a newspaper. Low marks for procedure.

But that was never the main draw, anyway; the delight in is in the cat and mouse games. Peter Falk is nearly perfect as the humble detective with the keen eye for discrepancies and his extensive knowledge of human nature. The villains plan the perfect crime, and rarely see what has tripped them up until too late.

The DVD package is where it loses a star. The chapter settings are very skimpy, and the menus are basic. Our mid-level DVD player sometimes stutters, and once, so far, froze outright. But they have been transferred with some care, not too dark unless it was meant to be, and the soundtrack is well leveled. All the glory that was '70's era decorating comes through in deep greens and vivid oranges. Talk about a crime!

In sum, a nice, if basic, package for Columbo fans.