Overview: 'Children of Men' envisages a world one generation from now that has fallen into anarchy on the heels of an infertility defect in the population. The world's youngest citizen has just died at 18, and humankind is facing the likelihood of its own extinction.

DVD Verdict: To hear the opening beats of Jan Hammer's percussive, propulsive Miami Vice theme is to be instantly transported back to 1984. But this groundbreaking series, with its cinematic sensibility, cool clothes, and killer soundtrack is no mere blast from the past. It still rocks. These five-disc sets would be worthless if they didn't! Music was an integral part of Miami Vice's hip vibe. The soundtrack propelled the stories and established the mood like no series before it.

'Miami Vice' made stars out of Don Johnson, Philip Michael Thomas, and Edward James Olmos, who won an Emmy as the intense, taciturn Lt. Castillo, but from the first season on it also offered time-capsule glimpses of actors on the cusp of stardom. Actors such as a pre-L.A. Law Jimmy Smits (in the pilot), a pre-Crime Story Dennis Farina, a pre-Moonlighting Bruce Willis, and a pre-anything Liam Neeson and John Leguizamo!

Set against the seamy and steamy (let alone colorful!) Miami underworld, here's some breakdown's of a few of my favorite episodes from both now newly-released seasons three and four:

Season 3: "When Irish Eyes Are Crying" - This was the season premier episode and features the great Liam Neeson as an IRA terrorist. It's also an important episode because Crockett gets his Ferrari blown up! Check out his facial expression = CLASSIC! "Walk Alone" - One of the best episodes of the series where Tubbs has to go undercover in a prison to get the guys that killed his girlfriend in a club. Larry Fishburne plays a guard and the music is great! "Shadow In The Dark" - Another one of my favorite episodes - very dark, moody, dreamlike and strange - where a cat burgler goes after people's pants and ear-rings ... and freaks Crockett and a detective out as they both try to develop the mindset of the cat burgler to catch him! There's a GREAT scene with Castillo and Crockett sitting in a coffee shop together! "El Viejo" - I really liked this episode featuring Willie Nelson and it also includes the Bon Jovi song, 'Dead Or Alive.' It come complete with fabulous character actor Steve Buscemi (pre-Reservoir Dogs fame); "The Savage" - Another great episode was this one about an assassin and his handler that have been brought in to take out a communist sympathizer. Crockett and Castillo find some help from an old Vietnam vet/friend who was trying to track down the assassin in Nam. Michael wright is great as the assassin who has a nasty habit of killing hookers along with his "legit" i.e., "sanctioned" targets! "An Afternoon Plane" - OK, this is yet another really good episode in which Calderon's son, John Leguizamo, comes back to get a little revenge by tricking Tubbs and his new lady to stay on an island that has no guns on it. Good music and good acting in an episode in which Tubbs takes on three stone killers. "Everybody's In Showbiz" - Finally, I kinda liked this episode about a guy Sonny puts in the clink, but who happens to be an artist (writes plays and acts in them). The guy steals a briefcase from a crack dealer - with said dealer's entire life inside that case - so needless to say, he's not amused!

Season 4: "Amen, Send Money" - "This is a pretty funny episode with dueling television evangelists! One of them accuses Tubbs of rape, but I honestly love the soundtrack of this one - not to mention it had some genuinely funny moments included too! "The Big Thaw" - Another goofy episode about a dead and frozen reggie star! Everyone is fighting over his body and Izzie is involved in the scam. Pretty funny stuff! "Missing Hours" - Now in truth, many fans HATED this episode, but I liked the dream-like quality of it as Trudy investigates a missing body from the morgue and has strange dreams. Later she 'encounters' with James Brown, who is the head of a UFO Investigation! "Like A Hurricane" - This episode is where Sonny falls in love with Sheena Easton after agreeing to protect her in a payola scam. Sheena is actually pretty good in this and makes it more believable. Some funny dialogue comes forth ... until they fall in love and get married!! "Rock And A Hard Place" - Two music guys try to expose Sonny as a drug dealer to ruin Caitlin's (Easton) music career. Check out the funny scene when they try to block Sonny in as he leaves a parking lot! "Baseballs Of Death" - OK, now we again return to the good, non-goofy, Vice format as they chase a Chilean police chief that kills a hooker and is trying to buy small land-mines! (the so-named "Baseballs of Death"!). There's a funny scene when the Chilean demands that "... this peasant [Crockett] pick up my gun," wherein Crockett replies: "It will be a cold day in July, pal!" Classic line! "Deliver Us From Evil" - "Once again we get back to the good Vice as Crockett tracks down the guy he got out of death row. More great soundtrack tunes and great plot are all here. Also, no more Sheena Easton! In a VERY controversial ending among the fans they are left to try and determine whether Sonny's shooting of the suspect is justified. Could the shooting have been where Sonny became 'Burnett' for good (before the explosion in the next episode)? "Mirror Image" - This is a really good episode in which Sonny barely escapes an explosion from a boat, which triggers amnesia and Crockett to believe that he is really 'Burnett.' He goes to work for a drug lord and is very effective. He's really good as 'Burnett' not to mention bloody ruthless! It's one of the few gems in this season and as such makes this one set the one worth buying. These are both Full Screen Presentations (1.33:1)and come with no Special Features.

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'Miami Vice - Season 3' DVD Purchase Link