"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" Grave Danger: Volume 1 (2005)

Director:

Quentin Tarantino

Writers:

Anthony E. Zuiker (creator)
Quentin Tarantino (story)

TV Series:

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000)

Original Air Date:

19 May 2005 (Season 5, Episode 24)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

The CSI Nick Stokes is kidnapped while investigating a crime scene and buried alive in a glass casket by his kidnapper...

Plot Keywords:

Million Dollars | Buried Alive | Dynamite Explosion | Coin | Explosive

Cast

William Petersen	...	Gil Grissom
Marg Helgenberger	...	Catherine Willows
Gary Dourdan	...	Warrick Brown
George Eads	...	Nick Stokes
Jorja Fox	...	Sara Sidle
Eric Szmanda	...	Greg Sanders
Robert David Hall	...	Dr. Al Robbins
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Captain Jim Brass
Scott Wilson	...	Sam Braun
Tony Curtis	...	Tony
Frank Gorshin	...	Frank
Andrew Prine	...	Rodger Stokes
John Saxon	...	Walter Gordon
Lois Chiles	...	Jillian Stokes
Michael Bacall	...	Delivery Man

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Singapore:PG

Company:

CBS Paramount Network Television

Trivia:

The episode is dedicated to Frank Gorshin, who died shortly before the episode originally aired.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The ants that are attacking Nick Stokes are identified as fire ants. In one clip, these ants bite Nick and a CSI style close up follows venom from one ant's bite into Nick's heart. Fire ants actually release their venom through a sting from the abdomen; their bite is only to get a grip.

Quotes:

Catherine Willows: One of my guys is in trouble: He's been kidnapped. I need a million dollars in cash. Large bills. And I need it now.
Sam Braun: Let me guess: The department won't pay the ransom.
Catherine Willows: No.
Sam Braun: Why should I?
Catherine Willows: Considering the problems that you've had with the law, you could use some good publicity.
Sam Braun: Do I look like a man that needs publicity? If you're coming to me like a cop with a tin cup in your hand, the answer is no.
Catherine Willows: I'm not here as a cop.
Sam Braun: Then ask me like you were my daughter.

Movie Connections:

References "The Dukes of Hazzard" (1979)

Soundtrack:

Lucky Too

Could be a stand alone feature...

It's absolutely fascinating to me, how Tarantino surprises me with his directing over and over again. Best example lately is the C.S.I. two-part-episode "Grave Danger". Though Tarantino sticks to the typical C.S.I. directing procedure, he does not fail to leave his very own mark to this episode. From the first minute watching this, you can realize, that this is not "just" another usual episode (I don't say this in an insulting way), but that he really made something special out of it. The choice of soundtrack, the storyline and picture capturing are very typical for his style of film-making. If it would have been necessary to develop the characters (which isn't because it's a continuous series), these 90 minutes could have absolutely worked as a stand alone feature for me.

There are of course many references to his earlier films (especially Kill Bill part 2), what additionally makes it fun to watch for any Tarantino fan. Since I watch a lot of movies in my private time, it's not that easy to push me to the edge of the seat, but yes, I can really admit it was very thrilling.

Dealing with the topic of being buried alive is definitely not a new one, but that doesn't make it less scary or exciting.

If you just like CSI, you should watch it. If you just like Tarantino, you should watch it. And if you love both, like I do, see this episode under any circumstances!