Blu-ray Review: Cinemax Shows ‘Banshee,’ ‘Strike Back’ Get Season Sets

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CHICAGO – The creative impetus behind Cinemax shows “Banshee” & “Strike Back,” which just saw their first and second seasons released on Blu-ray, respectively, is clear — dirtier, nastier, more violent versions of shows you already know and love. “Banshee” has echoes of “Sons of Anarchy” in its power struggle in a small town saga while “Strike Back” is not unlike “The Unit” or “24” with no restrictions on violence on nudity. “Banshee” is the superior show by some margin but fans of both programs will be happy with their home releases.

Being original programs of a network owned by the current kings of TV on Blu-ray (HBO owns Cinemax) means that the season sets for these two shows are both excellently designed, filled with special features and including gorgeous transfers. As far as the shows go, “Banshee” is the superior of the two, headlined by two strong performances (Antony Starr & Ulrich Thomsen) and with an often-clever sense of humor and some wicked fist fights (the gorgeous female cast doesn’t hurt the overall effort). It’s not a great show but it’s a fun one. “Strike Back” takes itself more seriously and suffers from the over-writing but it has some viscerally powerful moments. I like that Cinemax is getting its feet wet, trying things that might not be deemed “serious enough” for HBO. Sometimes we’re in the mood for serious programming like “Treme” or “In Treatment.” Sometimes we just want a bit of B-movie sex and violence. Cinemax doesn’t judge and the Blu-ray releases of “Banshee” and “Strike Back” fit the escapist bill.

Banshee: The Complete First Season was released on Blu-ray and DVD on July 30, 2013
Photo credit: Cinemax/HBO

“Banshee: The Complete First Season”

Synopsis:
From the creator of True Blood, this exciting new Cinemax action drama charts the twists and turns that follow Lucas Hood (Antony Starr), an ex-convict who improbably becomes sheriff of a rural, Amish-area town while searching for a woman he last saw 15 years ago, when he gave himself up to police to let her escape after a jewel heist. Living in Banshee under an assumed name, Carrie Hopewell (Ivana Milicevic) is now married to the local DA, has two children (one of whom may be Lucas’), and is trying desperately to keep a low profile - until Lucas arrives to shake up her world and rekindle old passions. Complicating matters is the fact that Banshee is riddled by corruption, with an Amish overlord, Kai Proctor (Ulrich Thomsen), brutally building a local empire of drugs, gambling and graft. With the help of a boxer-turned-barkeeper named Sugar Bates (Frankie Faison), Lucas is able to stay on even footing with Kai and his thugs, and even manages to bring a measure of tough justice to Banshee. But eventually, Lucas’ appetite for pulling heists pulls him and Carrie into a dangerous cauldron of duplicity, exacerbated when Mr. Rabbit (Ben Cross), the NY mobster they once ripped off, closes in with vengeance on his mind.

Special Features:
o NYC Bus Crash: A Look Inside The Effects Process Of One Of The Series’ Most Explosive Scenes
o Town Of Secrets: Banshee’s Creators Give You The Insider’s Guide To The Town’s Darkest And Most Twisted Secrets
o Banshee Origins: Find Out The Story Before The Story With Over a Dozen Prequel Videos Featuring The Cast Of Banshee
o Zooming In: Episodes 7&8: Go On The Set With The Cast To See How Key, Adrenaline Filmed Scenes Were Created
o Audio Commentaries
o Season 2 Teaser Trailer
o Deleted Scenes
o Episodes 1&2 Of Strike Back
o Inside The Title Sequence
o Comic Book
o Reveal The Code
o Digital Copy

Strike Back: Season Two was released on Blu-ray and DVD on August 6, 2013
Photo credit: Cinemax/HBO

“Strike Back: Season Two”

Synopsis:
Strike Back - the high-octane, globe-spanning Cinemax Original Series returns for a second season. An unlikely alliance between two crack special agents - one an American renegade, the other an elite British spy - fuels a new season of breakneck action and heart-pounding suspense. This season Michael Stonebridge (Philip Winchester), Damien Scott (Sullivan Stapleton), and new boss Rachel Dalton (Rhona Mitra) scour Africa in pursuit of a fresh convey of criminals, each vying for possession of valuable nuclear triggers that could launch Armageddon if they fall in the wrong hands.

Special Features:
o Audio Commentary With Cast & Crew Including: Philip Winchester, Sulivan Stapleton, Julian Holmes, Lyne Renee, Michael J. Bassett, Shane Taylor
o Season One Pilot Of Banshee
o Digital Copy

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com [email protected]