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| Available at Amazon.com |
If you’re a fan of true crime stories and crime films like I am, there’s one show on television that grabbed your attention and kept it: The History Channel’s Gangland.
Focusing on America’s gang infestation from coast to coast, including some extensive looks at Chicago’s problems with gangs, it’s an absolutely fascinating look at the gang subculture. Highlighting the modern gangs, as well as their counterparts from years ago, each episode is a focused narrative on certain aspects that gradually develops into a historical perspective. From the white gangs like the Hell’s Angels and the Mongols, the black gangs like the Gangster Disciples and the Hispanic gangs like MS-13, the Latin Kings and the fractious California gang world, it’s fascinating at all times because of its subject.
Getting police officers who’ve worked with the particular groups as well as former and current members of each gang, each piece reconstructs various incidents and key moments in the gang history with a zeal for accuracy that is something to behold. The key behind the series is that it strives to be accurate, as opposed to accepting folklore, and goes through official transcripts and first hand accounts to find the truth. Incidents aren’t just taken at face value; they go beyond statements and explore the truth. It’s eye-opening and fascinating, as all History Channel projects seem to be,
What’s also fascinating is how they relate each episode to one another. By focusing on what’s an accepted cultural knowledge platform in the Italian mob and relating it to the gangs presented in order to establish the relevance of today’s gangs and their foundations. Each episode does have some bits that are taken from others, but the series doesn’t treat the viewer as if they were true crime aficionados or complete idiots.
In an era where great films are coming from crime, and many from true crime stuffs, Gangland is a nice companion piece for fans of the genre.
Presented in a Dolby 2.0 with a full screen presentation, the series has good but not great presentation. A&E / The History Channel isn’t known for their technical expertise in their DVD productions but the presentation is sufficient for those without tremendous a/v equipment. For those with it, the limited production values on the transfer will come through.
There’s some Bonus Footage included from various episodes, but nothing extraordinary is in it.
Gangland is another one of the History Channel’s tremendous programs, bringing a fascinating perspective on an often overlooked portion of American criminal life.
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A&E Home Video presents Gangland . Running time: 611 minutes. Not Rated. Released on DVD: September 23, 2008. Available at Amazon.com.
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