Miami Vice made tv COOL again back in the eighties. It was the hottest and newest thing back then. Yes, those detectives looked somewhat dandy and silly at times, with their designer clothes, but they did look COOL as well.
Miami Vice was special, but I dont wanna argue that it is special enough to be watched by young viewers, who have never seen it before. It is very enjoyable to look back on though for the 40 plus generation. It is not only nostalgia though, because Miami Vice aged rather well. I still get thrilled watching it. That is to say, I get thrilled by SOME episodes. There are many rather average ones among them as well.
What made Miami Vice special, was the use of popular music as a soundtrack. That hadnt been done before. MTV was just new back then and for the first time visuals started to matter for musicians and bands. Miami Vice's style looked like a contineous video clip, with stunning photography and lots of cool poses accompanied by popular eighties artist's music. Artists, the greatest among them, lined up to have their music played on the series.
Everything that later turned into excellence in director Michael Mann's feature movies, can already be found in the Miami Vice tv series: the feeling of isolation during the nights on the streets of American cities has so vividly been captured in many great Michael Mann movies later on. There is something about Michael Mann's style of direction that oozes a spirit of cool and desolation. That spirit made those series so irresistable and thrilling to watch, with the whole family. Yes, everybody watched it, from granny to young kids!
Many Imdb reviewers advice to watch the first seasons. I would recommend that as well, starting with the 90 minutes pilot episode, which is really good. Or one can also search for an episode which features one of your favorite actors like:
Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson, Laurence Fishburne, Wesley Snipes, Bill Paxton, Viggo Mortensen, Ben Stiller or Melanie Griffith. Many of these stars were unknown or upcoming back then and are now household names.
Personally I especially loved those episodes which featured my favorite music like U2 and Peter Gabriel for instance. It enhances the thrill when an already cool and thrilling story suddenly starts playing my favorite song from "The Unforgettable Fire" during a chase scene...
Great thrill to be able to watch it again!
Miami Vice was special, but I dont wanna argue that it is special enough to be watched by young viewers, who have never seen it before. It is very enjoyable to look back on though for the 40 plus generation. It is not only nostalgia though, because Miami Vice aged rather well. I still get thrilled watching it. That is to say, I get thrilled by SOME episodes. There are many rather average ones among them as well.
What made Miami Vice special, was the use of popular music as a soundtrack. That hadnt been done before. MTV was just new back then and for the first time visuals started to matter for musicians and bands. Miami Vice's style looked like a contineous video clip, with stunning photography and lots of cool poses accompanied by popular eighties artist's music. Artists, the greatest among them, lined up to have their music played on the series.
Everything that later turned into excellence in director Michael Mann's feature movies, can already be found in the Miami Vice tv series: the feeling of isolation during the nights on the streets of American cities has so vividly been captured in many great Michael Mann movies later on. There is something about Michael Mann's style of direction that oozes a spirit of cool and desolation. That spirit made those series so irresistable and thrilling to watch, with the whole family. Yes, everybody watched it, from granny to young kids!
Many Imdb reviewers advice to watch the first seasons. I would recommend that as well, starting with the 90 minutes pilot episode, which is really good. Or one can also search for an episode which features one of your favorite actors like:
Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson, Laurence Fishburne, Wesley Snipes, Bill Paxton, Viggo Mortensen, Ben Stiller or Melanie Griffith. Many of these stars were unknown or upcoming back then and are now household names.
Personally I especially loved those episodes which featured my favorite music like U2 and Peter Gabriel for instance. It enhances the thrill when an already cool and thrilling story suddenly starts playing my favorite song from "The Unforgettable Fire" during a chase scene...
Great thrill to be able to watch it again!