The 4400 - The Complete First Season
by David Straiton, Helen Shaver, Nick Gomez, Tim Hunter, Yves Simoneau
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Jacqueline McKenzie, Joel Gretsch, Laura Allen, Mahershala Ali, Patrick John FluegerDirector: David Straiton, Helen Shaver, Nick Gomez, Tim Hunter, Yves Simoneau
Brand: Paramount
Writer: Craig Sweeny
Writer: Ira Steven Behr
Writer: René Echevarria
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Spanish (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 256 minutes
Published: 2004-12-01
DVD Release Date: 2004-12-21
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Paramount
Movie Reviews of The 4400 - The Complete First Season
Movie Review: If you returned with the 4400, what would you see first?
Summary: 5 Stars
I began this series about a year ago, watched two episodes, then left it behind. I don't know why, but it just never made it back into my DVD player. Don't call me scared, because I wasn't, but I just wasn't instantly pulled into the show - now, a year later, I can't stop watching and waiting to see what will happen to those 4400 returnees. This series, from the USA network, is slow, but not in a bad way. It takes a while to pull you in, it makes you think, and consider all possibilities of this supposed "ripple" effect. What pulled me back into this series after such a long absence was the lingering thought in my mind of what these individual stories had to do with the bigger picture. The idea of the "apocalypse" seems to be a hot button item right now in pop culture (see the popularity of Cormac's "The Road" and NBC's "Heroes"), and upon watching the finale of this opening season of "The 4400", you are hinted towards the idea that these returnees are back for a reason - to big to be explored in the first season, but giving your imagination enough to grow upon for the upcoming seasons. This show has the potential to be HUGE, and as I begin the next season, I cannot wait to see where the unknown will take us.
This beginning season is you typical opening faucet of ideas. We slowly learn about our characters, their ideas, their problems, and as we progress through the first 2-hour premiere, we see that something big is going to enter their lives. From the personal, to the impersonal, to the hypothetical, the world as we know it will change with the return of these 4400 initial unknowns that have been missing from a range of 1-60 years. What makes this series stand out is that it is not just two FBI agents against the world, like "The X-Files", but instead we see the pieces come together for all different storylines. While we are focused on both Baldwin and Diana's stories respectfully, it is the stories of Shawn Farrell's powers, the pregnancy of Lily, and the thoughts of Maia that skillfully blend the drama to the science fiction. Don't be fooled, this is a science-fiction program, but it uses it mainly as the background to a bigger storyline - the idea of human's trying to cope with a surrounding that didn't really change much over the past 60 years.
This is a tough series to review, and I don't know why. I feel as if I talk too much about what I enjoyed about "The 4400", it may give too much away. It was sequential, meaning that if you do plan on viewing the story, watch it in order, it will expose you to so much more. The finale is breathtaking, giving you a final image that will last with you until you pick up the next season. The characters are believable, while still being on the USA network - meaning that the voice could be a bit stronger. The writing I believe will tighten up over time, while the smaller budget makes for obvious indoor/outdoor mistakes, but they are all forgiven because of the original idea. This isn't your typical "Lost" moments where questions pile up and continue to pile eventually negating themselves within the storyline, these are situations, bounded by solutions, giving us a chance to actually enjoy the premise and the solutions. Like I said when I started, this show is simple and slow, and typically I would be ranting and raving with anger, but the minds behind "The 4400" are genius. They have used these non-formulaic procedures and created gripping television. Here is an underexposed show that will obviously become a cult classic over time.
Overall, this is a short review because I am jumping headfirst into the next season, which (not to give anything away), I am salivating over. The new season opens new doors, explains further, and gives us hope. The secondary stories remain truthful and fun, giving us new faces to the supposed "ripple effect" that roots this program. Personally, I think this is a great program right up there with the best sci-fi programming out there, I am upset that it took me so long to get back into it, but it is definitely a series to enjoy, contemplate, and enjoy again.
If you returned with the 4400, what would you see first?
Grade: ***** out of *****
Summary of The 4400 - The Complete First Season
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