Movie Review: CSI Cyber

From the CSI franchise comes this fourth instalment, CSI Cyber, which draws inspiration from the advanced technological work of a real cyber-psychologist called Mary Aiken. Special Agent Avery Ryan, a former psychologist whose practice was ruined by a still-at-large hacker, heads the FBI’s Cyber Crime Division in Quantico, a unit at the forefront of solving illegal activities that live online and play out in the real world.

While other agents search for criminals in the streets, Avery knows how technology allows people to hide in the shadows of the Internet while committing serious crimes and she spends her time searching the deep recesses of the Web where anonymity protects, money is less-traceable, and almost anything imaginable is up for sale.

Thumbs Up

This series has the cast going for it; an award winning actress for the lead role, Van Der Beek, who is an effortlessly charming former teen idol, and former child rapper-turned-actor, Bow Wow. The series also takes a unique modern twist on this long-running series that involved lots of action in crime fighting. The concept of tech-crime is also interesting and keeps one on their toes on the endless kinds of crime that can be committed.

Thumbs Down

The dialogue tends to be dull and full of tech jargon especially when the three techies - Koontz, Moss and Kiyoko - are in conversation. You can tell that the characters often do not seem know what they are talking about, even while they are still talking. There is use of all types of stereotypes such as overweight hackers and the fact that the characters have to explain modern tech to an audience that is already tech savvy makes it unrealistic.

Verdict

Fans of CSI shows will likely warm up to this latest franchise extension otherwise feel free to watch anything else on TV. Anything.