Rebus Reviews

Absolutely Superb

Sheer class. Every scene is part of the final solution. Rent It

Better than I remember!

I saw this series on TV when it was originally shown and I was immediately put off because I thought John Hannah was too young for the part and not as I pictured Rebus from reading all of the Ian Rankin books.

My favourite for the role (along with a lot of Rankin fans) was Ken Stott, a magnificent actor and physically perfect for the role.

However, having seen the recent reincarnation of Rebus starring Ken Stott and watching these original DVD's I am having my doubts. Although Ken Stott may fit the bill (excuse the pun) more than John Hannah the production of the new series seems to be lacking something.

The original was just right, very noirish and the monologue device used by John Hannah as Rebus worked particularly well.

Now if Ken Stott had been in the original it probably would have desrved 5 stars, however, I enjoyed these DVD's immensely and heartily recommend them to all Rankin/Rebus fans.

tv series of rebus

Would be better reviewed had the subsequent series not been better performed. A reasonable rendition of Ian Rankin's novel

Subtitles

Being deaf I really need subtitles to enjoy the films and boo hoo this early Rebus didn't have any..... Why oh why isn't it compulsary to supply subbies on all DVDs?

superb detective work

John Hannah (Rebus),fits the part like a glove. Great stories set with an atmospheric Edinburgh background. Tightly plotted stories are a joy to watch rent this series and enjoy.

Good old fashioned detective

I liked John Hannah as Rebus, he brought an old school flavour to a crime series. It's always good to see a Scottish set programme.

VERY GOOD BUT WHERE IS...

The three stories so far were very good, but the most baffling case is story 4 Mortal Causes, which is missing from this and future Rebus dvd releases.It took over 3 years for it to be shown on tv, supposedly because of 9/11, and maybe why it is missing off this set, however the most ironic thing is, this missing episode IS featured in the US

NTSC release !.

Rebus

I borrowed this as I thought this was the series where John Hannah's character played a pathologist and rode a motorbike - I've never read Rankin's books. It was worth a watch and great views of Edinburgh. Can't compare John Hannah to Ken Stott as Rebus as I've not watched the series before as I discovered above. Good stories on the first disc, gritty and yet personal -Rebus didn't have much luck with his loved ones and friends in these two episodes.

[Highly rated reviewer]

If you like Chandler's Marlowe...

This is not Humphrey Bogart, nor is it exactly Chandler's Marlowe, but the borrowings are all there. I am surprised no one else reviewing this seems to have made the connection yet. The setting is translated from the glamour of L.A. to the seedy and sordid underbelly of Edinburgh, but the language is unmistakeable. Rebus, like Marlowe, is a good man in a benighted world. He keeps reflecting on the lacklustre world around him with quips and witty observations.. There is a steady flow of repartee between Rebus and the characters he meets. The plots are as tight and many-sided as a Chandler novel. You have your femme fatale, your informant/stool pigeon, your bent cop, your corrupt millionaires.. Rebus keeps on knocking back whisky as he goes, just Marlowe, and striking up cigarettes with lucifers. There are red herrings, and sometimes even a McGuffin. No car chases or big shoot-outs, just slick dialogue and a plot as tight as a steel trap, the way Chandler would I have liked 'em. I am interested to see how Stott's Rebus compares..

Customer Review

I too much prefer the John Hannah series to the Ken Stott ones. They are far more faithful to the original stories, portray Edinburgh beautifully--and who says John Hannah looks too young? I'm 60 an I look as good a him (well almost). These are highly recommended. The later ones are poor in my opinion.