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This is another beautiful example how A&E Networks knows exactly how to make a proper period movie. A top notch script, excellent sets and brilliant cast members make this one of the most polished television movies made in recent years. Star Ioan Gruffudd shines in the lead role, showing true lead star quality. I'm certain that he is on his way to bigger projects in his career. Coupled with established actor David Warner and well-known face Paul McGann (nice to see him doing more television after his abruptly cut-short turn in "Doctor Who"), the cast flow through the excellent script with everything they've got, not just acting the parts but expressing the feeling of the story.

Let's hope that this movie (and it's sequel "Retribution") are not the last we see of the Lydia and her crew. A&E could show other television networks exactly how to make a truly entertaining TV movie, something that seems lost to everyone else.

Originally, this TV movie was only a curiosity to me. I purchased the video and found myself captivated to the brilliant plot written for TV by the then unknown Steven Bochco.

Even though the story does not stand to too much examining, as you know from the start who the murderer is and, because it IS an episode of "Columbo", you also know who will win in the end, it still is a very enjoyable movie with a stunning cast.

Early in his career, you can still tell who is directing just by the sheer artistry of the camera angles and placement of actors and props. Steven Spielberg's fingerprints are all over this movie, using techniques that he still uses today in his most recent movies.

I recommend that you watch it, just out of curiosity.

This video version of the episodes "The Somme-September 1916" and "Germany-September 1916" from the series THE YOUNG INDIANA JONES CHRONICLES was long overdue for release. Having found myself lucky to have copies of the originals on video and being a student of World War One warfare and tactics, I found this story to be first-rate in showing the true feeling and horrors of fighting in the trenches during the Great War. Having Indiana Jones in the episodes is only a sub-plot - the true story showing exactly what happened in the trenches to great and horrific detail. Three particular points - a man chokes to death during a gas attack, the jumping "charging" of the trenches as they lose and gain ground, and the Germans advancing through the gas with flamethrowers - parallels scenes from such great World War One films as THE BLUE MAX or ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT for realism.

I recommend this video to everyone who I know is studying World War One history, be it as a passing hobby, reenacting, or on the college level. It deserves to be in your library.