The Sopranos: The Complete First Season

HBO | minutes | | | Standard DVD reviewed by: Fusion3600

Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) is having problems in his life, some with his home life and some within his professional life as well. He has pressures from both sides at all times and of late, he has been having some panic attacks and feels like he might be losing his grip on things. At home, Tony tries to keep his children in line and his wife happy, while at work, he tries to keep a crew of criminals in line. You see, Tony Soprano is involved in the Mafia and when he isn't dealing with that family, he is having problems with his other one. He knows he needs some help, but he doesn't want to seem weak in the least, so he frequents a psychiatrist on the lowdown. He tells this shrink about his tempestuous young teen daughter, his overbearing mother, his problems with the federal agents, and of course, the various plots to kill him. Tony Soprano might be the head of a household and a leader in the mob, but he has feelings just we all do, though he tries to never show them. Can Tony manage to juggle all this pressure, all while remaining sane and staying alive?

There has always been a viable market for mobster movies, but what about the untapped resource of television? The quota for Mafia television has meet fulfilled by The Sopranos, which has won acclaim from both critics and viewers since the first episode was aired. I like this series a lot and while the later episodes lacked the same impact as these, the first season contains some the best television I've ever seen. I can't describe how unique, fresh, and risky this show was at the time, but it nailed the audiences and critics, which is what counts. This series has much more depth and continuity than normal television shows, never reliant on gimmicks just to make it through another episode, instead weaving together a larger picture and that works very well here. The center of the show is Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), but the supporting roles turn out to be just as vital, which gives the series a lot of depth. No gimmicks, no cliffhangers, and no rushed writing here, as The Sopranos is solid and consistent from episode one through the season's end. If you're a fan of the series, then this is a real no brainer, this set belongs in your personal collection. But also, anyone who likes mobster films or well written, complex television will also want to give this collection a spin. I give this release my highest recommendation. Bada-Bing!

HBO has chosen to release The Sopranos within a seasonal division, so you can pick up the entire first season in one fell swoop. As I am sure is the case with most of you, this concept is pleasing to me, as I don't have to wait forever for additional discs to be issued. This also keeps the overall price down, so instead of paying five or six times for discs with new episodes, you can just smack down one amount and nab them all. This is the same model used for HBO's Sex in the City and I think it worked well, so let's hope they continue this trend. This edition includes four dual layered discs, each of which contain four complete episodes of the show. The final disc houses only one episode, but also contains some cool bonus material, which is always nice. The four discs are houses within a gatefold packing, like Fox's X-Files releases, but that case fits inside a larger box as well. I like the visual impact of this edition as well, I guess this one just hits all the right notes, eh? HBO has also chosen to issue The Sopranos in anamorphic widescreen and with Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes, which also adds a lot of value to this release. This is how all television shows should be handled, so all you other studios need to take notice.

The Sopranos is presented in a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This looks much like the show does on television, but sharper and in turn, more defined. The contrast looks a little dark at times, but this is intentional and as such, nothing to be worried about. I didn't see any visible detail loss, while black levels were dead on and well balanced. The colors seem natural, as on television and never become too rich or dull. The flesh tones come off well also, very warm and consistent. I did notice some minor edge enhancement at times, but aside from that, I saw no compression problems and in the end, this is one good looking transfer.

The audio for the series is Dolby Digital 5.1 and when it needs to, it kicks into high gear. This is a mob based series, so you know some guns are involved and when they're pulled, the mix ups the ante. So while the surrounds might not always be alive, when they need to be used, this mix makes sure they're put to very good use. The music also comes across well in this track, but never overpowers the other elements. The dialogue is the main focus in this series, so I am pleased the vocals are crisp and smooth throughout. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround track, as well as a Spanish mono option.

This release also includes some nice supplements, such as two behind the scenes featurettes. One is centered on the character of Tony Soprano and runs about four minutes, which is mixed between show clips and interview footage with James Gandolfini. The second piece also clocks in around four minutes, but is more of an overall behind the scenes look, including cast and crew interviews. Next is an in depth interview with series creator David Chase, with filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich asking the questions. This incredible piece runs over one hour and seventeen minutes, with each minute filled with information. If you're a fan of this series, you simply cannot afford to miss this fantastic interview session. More insight from Chase can be found in an audio commentary track for the first episode, as again Bogdanovich serves as moderator. I wish commentaries were done for all the episodes, but you can't have that cake and eat it too, right? Also included are cast bios and a list of the awards the series has taken home.