Inspector Montalbano Complete 1-9 Box Set [DVD]

We have been Montalbano fans since the first time they were shown on BBC4. The programmes themselves would rate 6* on the Amazon scale. There is nothing else like it, but make sure you check all the DVDs before Amazon closes the Return window. There are a lot of DVDs in the complete set, and I'm not sure Acorn understands the basics of quality. Each DVD has two programmes and on one both programmes stuttered, came to a stop and then continued. This is an expensive item so make sure you check every disk. I'm annoyed that no one from Amazon will read this or consider replacing the defective disk.

When you get bored with CGI and Fantasy TV and have had enough with programmes that are depleted of real drama, good acting and decent script writing then embrace yourself with Cavalleri’s Inspector Montalbano !!These two episodes (4 hours of brilliance) are right at the top ! These Italians know how to put on a production.Cavalleri is such a great crime writer and Zingaretti at his acting best.Cannot wait for Series 10.Tremendous !

Excellent Drama- The Other End of The Line was complex, a story of 2 halves like 2 or 3 of Camilleri's books, part social critique part murder mystery. The Diary of 43 was an sophisticated weave of 2 short stories blended into a very convincing story, sad and mature. 2 Excellent episodes, The Other End of the Line was similar in tone to The Blade of Light or the Snack Thief in the fact Camilleri wanted to put over his view of a modern political issue and built a case narrative into that, whereas Diary of 43 feels very like The Terracotta Dog, strongly based on things from the past taking years and modern event to trigger. Both very well done.

The spoken language on the movies is English but everything else is in Dutch which makes identifying the episodes confusing at best.

The show is just so relaxing to watch. It is pure escapism. Yes it's subtitled. So don't bother watching if your attention span is almost non-existent. Dubbing takes away the passion in the performances. Because it's not the same actor or actress doing the role. They are in a studio in front of a microphone. Not actually there performing. I watched a French zombie movie The Horde in both dubbed and subtitled forms. This is how I found out that subtitled is superior in terms of believing the performances of the entertainers doing their bit. They felt like they were actually in a zombie epidemic in the subtitled version. In the dubbed version the performances were a bit wooden.The scenery is nice. Even when it's in the city. There are lots of suburban and countryside locations used throughout the show. So this is good. Most shows based entirely in the city tend to grow boring for me. I like a change of scenery here and there. It makes for better viewing. There is the occasional humourous moment in each episode (or movie if you will). Not enough to label it a comedy. Which is a good thing. Montalbano is good the way it is. A pleasant entertaining crime series with occasional light-hearted comedic tones. Catarella is one character who seems to be the main focus of these moments. One on-going joke involves how he enters Montalbano's office. Even Fazio Montalbano's second in command even got in on this joke in one episode/movie. There are other lines where you get a chuckle (no episode escapes this). Like when Monty (as I'll call him) told off one of the officers under his command. Complaining about how he's dangerous with a gun. As it's always going off at some point when he's handling it. I think the same officer got a ribbing over his style of driving as well. Like he thinks he's in a cross country rally most times.This show serves up a nice doze of escapism no matter the time it is. I'd recommend watching it late at night or early in the morning if you can't sleep or after you get up. The atmosphere in the show comes alive more that way. During the day is okay though. There are some lovely ladies throughout the show's run. I am just glad they don't get too involved in the whole detective thing. Montalbano's posse is a guy based team. It is all the better for it. There is no identity politics or any of that woke guff in this show. Unlike what the BBC and America is firing out. Just good solid entertainment. This is all I ask for. Anyone can be the goodie or the baddie if the story required it. Skin tone, race, religion, sex, job position, etc. None of that determins who is going to be who.I look forward to the newest Montalbano escapades soon. They are coming but it probably won't be until late 2020 or even 2021 here in the UK. The time can't arrive quick enough. So let this show carry us through the depressing Winter months we're currently in at the moment. Thank you to everyone involved in the making of this show and those who bring the DVD sets to us. You're keeping this Scot happy with your actions.

Yet again, a miserly two episodes for a so-called collection. And - if I was in the least interested in the subject matter of the first episode, I could just watch the news. What garbage. How disappointing. I expected better. Furthermore, I buy these dvds to listen to the Italian language.

Did not realise there were dutch subtitles so dVD returned

In Dutch subtitles. Awful fiddling case