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- Review count3
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- First reviewJuly 7, 2012
- Last reviewSeptember 17, 2014
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- First review commentSeptember 20, 2014
- Last review commentSeptember 20, 2014
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AlaskaviewerDale's Reviews
![Hawaii Five-0: The Fourth Season [6 Discs]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/986c94c5-0d5c-482d-a8db-86eb632661f8.jpg)
This release contains every episode from the fourth season of the reboot of CBS's cop show Hawaii Five-O starring Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan as detectives solving crimes in the Pacific paradise.
Customer Rating
5
Season Four includes Unique Shows and DVD extras
on September 17, 2014
Posted by: AlaskaviewerDale
from Alaska
When it comes to the DVD or Blu-Ray season sets, what many are curious about are the exclusive extras that are included so that is the focus of this review. I really enjoyed the deleted scenes featured and appreciated that they are packaged to follow each episode rather than being bunched together at the end. The expanded Pearl Harbor show feature is itself worth the price of admission.
Of special interest to me were the added scenes from the just completed Season Four Halloween themed episode since I was an extra on that show. I even found myself included again in the deleted scenes feature. More significant though was seeing how the added scenes expanded on the story line. So if you enjoyed the shows when they aired you have a special treat in store when you rewatch them with the added deleted scenes.
If you have read this far and are curious as to my role I was one of the costumed party guests who stepped out of the Party Bus when Steve and Danno pulled up to the parking area in Danno's new black Camaro. My character's silver Mercedes was parked next to the black BMW, the vehicle that caught the attention of the detective duo as being the victim's car.
I then appear at the costumed Halloween Party as background when Steve and Danno head toward the party's host, as well as while they are interrogating him, and then again as they depart. The above referenced deleted scene expands upon their entrance to the mansion where the Halloween party is being held and includes interior shots of the mansion that were cut from the broadcast show. It was fun seeing many of my fellow "background actors" dressed in their Halloween costumes, individuals whom I had become acquainted with during the shooting of the show. I was even reminded of the trays of weird Halloween treats that were being passed around for us to eat as we were being filmed when a plate of black bat wings prominently showed up in the deleted scene. My favorite though were the cream cheese filled fig eyeballs.
Watching the Season Four DVD or Blu-Ray will bring back many fond memories for all. Apart from the Halloween themed episode titled "Broken," the Pearl Harbor and the Bombed Building episodes are unique to Season Four. For the latter two, elaborate sets were created and there is a feature in the Season Four DVD and Blu-ray sets related to the Pearl Harbor episode that is not to be missed. The bombed building was constructed right on the parking lot of the Hawaii Film Studios in the shadow of Dimond Head where the original series was filmed (along with Magnum P.I. and LOST among others.) This was the episode where Steve and Danno are trapped in the rubble for almost the entire show.
Adding a personal note, when I had a chance to rewatch the above referenced Party Bus Scene I was reminded of how well the entire Hawaii Five-0 ohana, from costuming - to crew - to the main actors themselves treated those of us with minor roles. We had at least four takes as the Party Bus circled around, stopped, and then we stepped out. When we left the Party Bus after it looked like our scene was a wrap, Steve and Danno, both of whom had been standing out in the rain, climbed aboard. Then the director decided he wanted one more take so were ushered back on the Party Bus. As we climbed back on, Alex who plays Steve McGarrett, was in my seat. He and Danno stood up immediately and told us they were getting off. I told them they were welcome to stay and then added, "It's nice to meet you guys." Alex immediately responded, "Nice to meet you too."
My Best Buy number: 0325375180
What's great about it: Excellent deleted scenes added which enhance story line
What's not so great: nothing
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
![Big Miracle [Blu-ray] [UltraViolet] [Includes Digital Copy] [2012]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5430/5430587_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Excellent Extras on DVD and Blu-ray
on July 9, 2012
Posted by: AlaskaviewerDale
from Alaska
The Blu-ray version has the added bonus of a 20 minute extra feature relating to a "Big Miracle in Alaska" which offers a revealing look at how the movie was made here in Alaska. It is one of the best "making of a movie" features you will find anywhere and is a must see for anyone interested in the behind-the-scenes mechanics of modern movie production.
Heretofore I've caught my share of small land locked salmon and trout in my neighborhood lake that was used for the setting of the opening Whale Hunt scene transformed into the Beaufort Sea. I was amazed to see in the movie though that we now have (or had) a whale in our lake through the magic of CGI (computer graphic imaging.) lol
As to the movie itself, I couldn't believe all the scenes that ended up getting cut including some that were in the trailer. At least our neighborhood Jewel Lake and the whaling boat with its crew on the lake were prominently shown in the opening scenes of the movie. (Drew's performance on the lake/arctic sea as part of the back story though didn't make it.)
It looks like they chopped other parts of her back story since in the promo shots they had her wearing yellow rain gear and holding a bucket which suggested they had planned to include the episode in Tom Rose's book describing the actual Greenpeace girl's efforts to save a Beluga Whale here near Anchorage by dousing it with water when it got stuck on the mudflats. (In that real life event she was almost drowned and her boyfriend ended up saving her life. True to her character as depicted in the movie, she had insisted to her boyfriend that her dog be saved first.)
One cool thing that I was hoping might make it into the movie, and which apparently did, were some of the really neat sunsets that we had during the filming on the ice field set. When I watched those sunsets from my office window I was curious if the cameraman filming below me might try to include some. You can see one such spectacular sunset caught by the cinematographer just as the story fades from the whaling captains' meeting to the ice field set with its animatronic whale surfacing from the ice hole below.
By way of review, I thought the character playing Malik, Nathan's grandfather, put on a masterful performance worthy of a supporting actor Academy nomination. To me the funniest scene in the movie was where Malik shut up the rambling Ted Danson's character by instructing the gathered Inupiats to start cheering. Although he is a well known Alaska Native performer here, this was his first movie role. The acting overall was quite good although some additional character development would have been welcome - obviously hard to do with the large cast and varied story lines that would have required adding more time than the editors were evidently allocated.
Another piece of movie making trivia, dozens of period (1988) cars were used to circle the block during the Anchorage Greenpeace Office scene toward the end of the movie. Only a single red Pontiac survived the cutting room table as it alone was visible through the window as Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski reunited inside the office. As a point of interest, the movie makers went to great lengths to make this a true period piece from costuming to cars as noted above.
Not to be missed in the DVD and Blu-ray are the extra features which are most interesting in depicting how the movie was made here in Alaska and the true-to-life happenings that were incorporated into the film. (Note, as referenced above, the Blu-ray version has an extra Extra that goes into even more detail on the making of the movie.)
What's great about it: True to life
What's not so great: Limited backstory
I would recommend this to a friend!
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+2points
2of 2voted this as helpful.
![Big Miracle [DVD] [2012]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/5430/5430602_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Excellent Extras on DVD and Blu-ray
on July 7, 2012
Posted by: AlaskaviewerDale
from Alaska
Heretofore I've caught my share of small land locked salmon and trout in my neighborhood lake that was used for the setting of the opening Whale Hunt scene transformed into the Beaufort Sea. I was amazed to see in the movie though that we now have (or had) a whale in our lake through the magic of CGI (computer graphic imaging.) lol
As to the movie itself, I couldn't believe all the scenes that ended up getting cut including some that were in the trailer. At least our neighborhood Jewel Lake and the whaling boat with its crew on the lake were prominently shown in the opening scenes of the movie. (Drew's performance on the lake/arctic sea as part of the back story though didn't make it.)
It looks like they chopped other parts of her back story since in the promo shots they had her wearing yellow rain gear and holding a bucket which suggested they had planned to include the episode in Tom Rose's book describing the actual Greenpeace girl's efforts to save a Beluga Whale here near Anchorage by dousing it with water when it got stuck on the mudflats. (In that real life event she was almost drowned and her boyfriend ended up saving her life. True to her character as depicted in the movie, she had insisted to her boyfriend that her dog be saved first.)
One cool thing that I was hoping might make it into the movie, and which apparently did, were some of the really neat sunsets that we had during the filming on the ice field set. When I watched those sunsets from my office window I was curious if the cameraman filming below me might try to include some. You can see one such spectacular sunset caught by the cinematographer just as the story fades from the whaling captains' meeting to the ice field set with its animatronic whale surfacing from the ice hole below.
By way of review, I thought the character playing Malik, Nathan's grandfather, put on a masterful performance worthy of a supporting actor Academy nomination. To me the funniest scene in the movie was where Malik shut up the rambling Ted Danson's character by instructing the gathered Inupiats to start cheering. Although he is a well known Alaska Native performer here, this was his first movie role. The acting overall was quite good although some additional character development would have been welcome - obviously hard to do with the large cast and varied story lines that would have required adding more time than the editors were evidently allocated.
Another piece of movie making trivia, dozens of period (1988) cars were used to circle the block during the Anchorage Greenpeace Office scene toward the end of the movie. Only a single red Pontiac survived the cutting room table as it alone was visible through the window as Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski reunited inside the office. As a point of interest, the movie makers went to great lengths to make this a true period piece from costuming to cars as noted above.
Not to be missed in the DVD and Blu-ray are the extra features which are most interesting in depicting how the movie was made here in Alaska and the true-to-life happenings that were incorporated into the film.
What's great about it: True to life
What's not so great: Limited backstory
I would recommend this to a friend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
AlaskaviewerDale's Review Comments
This release contains every episode from the fourth season of the reboot of CBS's cop show Hawaii Five-O starring Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan as detectives solving crimes in the Pacific paradise.
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5Season Four includes Unique Shows and DVD extras
By AlaskaviewerDale
from Alaska
When it comes to the DVD or Blu-Ray season sets, what many are curious about are the exclusive extras that are included so that is the focus of this review. I really enjoyed the deleted scenes featured and appreciated that they are packaged to follow each episode rather than being bunched together at the end. The expanded Pearl Harbor show feature is itself worth the price of admission.
Of special interest to me were the added scenes from the just completed Season Four Halloween themed episode since I was an extra on that show. I even found myself included again in the deleted scenes feature. More significant though was seeing how the added scenes expanded on the story line. So if you enjoyed the shows when they aired you have a special treat in store when you rewatch them with the added deleted scenes.
If you have read this far and are curious as to my role I was one of the costumed party guests who stepped out of the Party Bus when Steve and Danno pulled up to the parking area in Danno's new black Camaro. My character's silver Mercedes was parked next to the black BMW, the vehicle that caught the attention of the detective duo as being the victim's car.
I then appear at the costumed Halloween Party as background when Steve and Danno head toward the party's host, as well as while they are interrogating him, and then again as they depart. The above referenced deleted scene expands upon their entrance to the mansion where the Halloween party is being held and includes interior shots of the mansion that were cut from the broadcast show. It was fun seeing many of my fellow "background actors" dressed in their Halloween costumes, individuals whom I had become acquainted with during the shooting of the show. I was even reminded of the trays of weird Halloween treats that were being passed around for us to eat as we were being filmed when a plate of black bat wings prominently showed up in the deleted scene. My favorite though were the cream cheese filled fig eyeballs.
Watching the Season Four DVD or Blu-Ray will bring back many fond memories for all. Apart from the Halloween themed episode titled "Broken," the Pearl Harbor and the Bombed Building episodes are unique to Season Four. For the latter two, elaborate sets were created and there is a feature in the Season Four DVD and Blu-ray sets related to the Pearl Harbor episode that is not to be missed. The bombed building was constructed right on the parking lot of the Hawaii Film Studios in the shadow of Dimond Head where the original series was filmed (along with Magnum P.I. and LOST among others.) This was the episode where Steve and Danno are trapped in the rubble for almost the entire show.
Adding a personal note, when I had a chance to rewatch the above referenced Party Bus Scene I was reminded of how well the entire Hawaii Five-0 ohana, from costuming - to crew - to the main actors themselves treated those of us with minor roles. We had at least four takes as the Party Bus circled around, stopped, and then we stepped out. When we left the Party Bus after it looked like our scene was a wrap, Steve and Danno, both of whom had been standing out in the rain, climbed aboard. Then the director decided he wanted one more take so were ushered back on the Party Bus. As we climbed back on, Alex who plays Steve McGarrett, was in my seat. He and Danno stood up immediately and told us they were getting off. I told them they were welcome to stay and then added, "It's nice to meet you guys." Alex immediately responded, "Nice to meet you too."
AlaskaviewerDale
Alaska
Added commentary regarding the "Gag Reel" feature
September 20, 2014
Finally had a chance to take a look at the Gag Reel feature on the DVD for last season's Hawaii Five-0. Was surprised to see my shared Party Bus scene featured as the opening gag. You see the Party Bus driver using some deleted words in his one line.
When that scene was shot I was standing there in the rain at 4:00 AM in the morning. Along side me was Alex o'loughlin (character Steve McGarrett) and the Steadicam operator hand holding the camera as Alex kept prompting the driver to ham it up by adding expletives. That was the final scene to be shot, as all of the rest of the shooting had wrapped by that point, and those few of us still on set were sharing in Alex's comedic relief. I knew those takes would never make it onto the show but little did I expect to see one of them surface in a Gag Reel.
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