The Sopranos: Complete HBO Seasons 1-6 Box Set [DVD]

New Jersey mafia drama, The Sopranos, has been deluged with praise. Anyone approaching this for the first time might be expecting to have their expectations unrealistically raised - The New York Times called it possibly the finest piece of American television "in the last twenty years." However, this modern classic fully deserves every plaudit that has been laid at its door. The Sopranos is in the same rich vein of epic Italian-American storytelling as both The Godfather and Goodfellas, two classics of cinema; The Sopranos is easily a modern contemporary that can proudly take its place in the same pantheon.

The initial conceit of The Sopranos, as envisaged by creator David Chase, is that Tony Soprano, family man and Family man, is indulging in that quintessential middle class American crutch - psychotherapy. This calculating, cynical, mid-level mafia boss, is plagued by feelings of doubt and lack of self-esteem, `issues' that were inculcated in childhood and that have now blossomed in to full blown neuroses; these psychological problems are now starting to diffuse into both his personal relations with his family and his `business' decisions within organised crime.

The second conceit, one that is mostly played for laughs, is that the mobsters in The Sopranos are not only aware of films like The Godfather, they positively revel in their cinematic ancestry: mobster Silvio Dante repeatedly does terrible impressions of Al Pacino (from The Godfather Part III), other mobsters misquote or discuss various films and their similarities to the events that are happening around them; other scenes are based on sequences from Goodfellas et al but given an ironic twist. This could easily become so much post-modern rubbish in lesser hands, a one-joke routine spun out to encompass several series but this is most definitely not the case. A modern mob drama could not ignore those films previously mentioned, to do so would have been simply unrealistic; similarly, in recent FBI wiretaps, real life Mafioso have been recorded discussing The Sopranos and asking each other if it's based on them..

The writing of The Sopranos straddles that most difficult of genres, the comedy-drama. The series is frequently laugh-out-loud funny and yet at the same time we believe in the seriousness of the characters and the gravity of the dilemmas they face. Like certain other classic mob dramas, The Sopranos sucks the audience in: we cheer when Tony gets the better of his enemies, even though that means that innocent families get broken and others on the sidelines get killed. This brings us to the very essence of the entire series, articulated during a conversation betwixt Tony Sopranos' psychotherapist and her divorced husband: "Eventually, you're going to get past your psychotherapy with all its cheesy moral relativism and finally get down to good and evil. And he's evil."

As somebody who watched The Sopranos from its initial broadcast to its abrupt finale, all superlatives are fully justified. The whole six series establishes a high water mark for television. A landmark programme that redefines the medium's possibilities, each series stands alone as an epic movie. I have not singled out any particular member of cast or crew for special praise, as the entire ensemble is uniformly outstanding and all involved will probably never hit such heights again. If The Godfather and Goodfellas represent pinnacles of cinematic artistry, The Sopranos, it can now finally be written with certainty, can be added to such a rostrum. If expectations have been raised, they will be fully satisified.

Perhaps one day, many moons from now, somebody will pen a script, mould a story, acquire a magnificent cast and somehow create a television show that will better The Sopranos. Perhaps. I doubt it. This boxset is of course the entire set of Sopranos episodes and its utterly fantastic. Its as close to perfection as I could ever imagine television getting. Its sure to be more to somes taste than others but I just find it compelling to watch. Hilarious one moment, almost shocking the next. Utter genius. For those not yet aware of this masterpiece Tony Soprano is the main protaganist in this show. He is the boss of the New Jersey 'Family' and we view him plot his way through incident after incident. Fight after fight. Woman after woman and death after death. The best way to appreciate this television programme is to purchase the boxset and watch it. I have no doubt that it will be the best £100 quid or so you ever spend. If you like television and you like a story that will grip you then look no further. Within the red and black cardboard box is the finest piece of television ever made. Simply magnificent. Get it now so you don't have to regret not owning it anymore!

This series is truly remarkable. It's basically a family drama disguised as a mob thriller. What I mean is that even if you remove the criminal part, you still would find the story appealing such are the quality of the plot and the cast.
The true key for the success of this show resides in the attention given to the details. In this aspect the episodes are more like a film that just a TV's product. Every situation, place and attitude of the characters is meticulously planned and everything matches perfectly. There are also very well selected soundtracks that enriches the story.
The level of quality in 'The Sopranos' is so high that even when you think that you have seen everything, a new scene appears that just disconcerts you. Very dramatic situations combined with bursts of comedy are a example of that.
It will certainly enjoy seeing this show as I did, and if you have already seen it on TV you should buy it either and watch it continuously and without interruptions or commercials. As doing so, you'll notice, a lot of stuff and connections between the characters and the storyline that you were not aware and your marvel towards the show will only increase.
Relating to the product itself... Well it's simply a paper box containing all the respective individual seasons' boxes inside.
The price seems to me more than fair, considering all the cost involved in the production of the show and the global quality of the product.