Customer Reviews

The Sopranos - The Complete Second Season [VHS]

5 star:		(121)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The Sopranos is one of HBO's greatest achievements (although I admit that I think it lost some of its momentum and spark with seasons three and four). When I first saw the show, I was hooked. I'd watch anywhere from three to four episodes a day. One of the great things about first watching this show on DVD was that I could watch any number of episodes instead of just watching one per week.

"The Sopranos: The Complete Second Season" has to be my favorite season. As much as I love the first one, this was when things were really funny, intense, dramatic and involving. The season doesn't let us down when it comes to Tony having more problems than ever before. Both in his Mafia Family and his immediate family, Tony can never get a break. His wife gives him grief while his kids keep doing things that upset him. And don't get me started on his ill mother and self-centered sister. Life isn't much better in his Mafia Family when the brother of Jackie is released from prison and is giving Tony a hard time both personally and professionally. Not to mention that his long time friend, Big P. comes back from a long hiatus when he was first suspected of turning rat to the Feds. All of this leads to one incredible and unpredictable season that showcases the show like none other.

For me, this was the most entertaining season of them all. I loved the characters, the constantly changing storylines, and the personal and business life of Tony Soprano, which is superbly balanced in this season. There's still the much appreciated humor in these episodes that were found lacking in the next two seasons. It doesn't feel like a soap opera, but a more enhanced look into the Mafia world. There's plenty of action as well as dramatic storylines that will make everybody happy for the most part.

This season comes in a set of four discs, totaling at 13 episodes. The great thing about the show is that it is presented to us in a widescreen format that is enhanced for widescreen TVs. This really makes the show that more effective because you feel like you're actually watching a movie rather than a show on cable. The picture and sound quality is great and really shows. There are some nice little extras, such as featurettes, brief previews and recaps of episodes, web-links and more.

"The Sopranos: The Complete Second Season" is a bundle of laughs, suspense, drama, action and surprises. You're always on your toes and you never know what's coming next. One thing's for sure; this is the most unpredictable season out of the four seasons (the fifth one looks pretty promising thus far). While you'll want to start with the first season if you've never seen the show before, you'll know that you will have something special to look forward to once you get to the second season. In my opinion, this is where Sopranos is flawlessly at its best. -Michael Crane

In some viewer's eyes, season two of HBO's The Sopranos suffered in comparison to the sensational first season. The initial buzz of such a high calibre television show had worn off to a degree. What helps make season two so special is how those qualities that made season one such a hit were (and are) intact.

O.K., the overall feel of the sophomore season isn't as lighthearted as the first--should it be? There is much that Sopranos creator David Chase has to say about life in general. And you may find that you have more in common with the mobbed-up characters than you think. It's an interesting, edgy, wicked, funny and frightening ride that hasn't lost it's intelligent touch. The production of The Sopranos in subsequent seasons has grown (along with the size of its viewership), and the writing has been progressively more mature, dark and realistic. Yet, it's still fun to watch, even with the darker plotlines.

If you've never seen an episode of The Sopranos, please do. WARNING: Once you do, you'll probably fork over the money to buy both seasons of the series. It's THAT addictive. The episodes are more rewarding upon repeated viewings.

I originally rented the first season of the Sopranos on DVD and ended up watching all thirteen episodes over a two day period. I went out and bought the second season as a Christmas present for myself and I am pleased to say it surpassed even my lofty expectations!

The season starts out where the last one left off. Tony's not talking to his mother, Uncle Junior's been arrested and is let out on house arrest, Big Pussy's is now an FBI informant, and Dr. Melfi's seeing patients in a motel. But things get turned upsided down with the addition of two new characters: Tony's sister Janice (aka Parvati) and Richie Aprile, the brother of the late former boss Jackie Aprile and Janice's former lover. He's just been released from prison and is looking for a piece of the action, both from Tony and from Janice.

I'm not going to spoil the season for you by running down every episode, but every episode, while self-contained, helps paint a piece of the larger picture of the season. Everything is covered here from the relationship between Tony and Dr. Melfi to a friend's gambling problem to a power struggle at the type to a final farewell to a major player in the Sopranos.

I know the high price might keep some people from buying the set, but it is well worth it! If you get the chance, buy it!

I watched the 1st season from the public library's collection. I liked it so well that I bought the second season on DVD. Now I am so hooked on these characters and the intelligent writing that I don't know how I'm going to wait for the 3rd. I really don't want to subscribe to HBO just to see it but it is tempting. One would think you couldn't do anything new with this mobster scenario but boy, does brilliant writing make the difference. Each episode is very well thought out. Once again, the females are not slighted in the storytelling which is usually the case in these mafia storylines. In fact, Tony's sister is a major new character in this season. At first she comes off as a New Age flake but gradually you discover that the acorn didn't fall far from the tree. Her whole romance with fellow gangster Richie becomes one of the prime plotlines of the 2nd season because Richie makes Tony nuts, even causing him anxiety attacks! I can't recommend the series highly enough. If you can resist compulsively watching this episode after episode, you are stronger than I!

Building on the excellent foundation set in the first series, the second season continues the character development of NJ's favorite mafia family nicely. There is less violence than in the first series (which should to be watched before this one if you want they full background).

Almost none of the characters are clear-cut, making them very believable. The acting is excellent and the script is fantastic, with the slight exception of a somewhat over-contradictory role written for a priest. Tension and distrust seem to be the main constants in Tony Soprano's life. You can decide if the worst thing in his life is his mother and uncle, or his crew and the Feds...or, maybe, himself. There is less screen time given to certain key "family" members in this series but it does not lessen their impact on the storyline and the addition of a few "blows-ins" adds to the tension.

If you enjoy excellent acting, won't hate yourself for actually liking some things about the ruthless main protagonist, and can cope with occasional graphic violence then this set of shows is absolutely worth watching.

This was another superior season of the series. Basically the final two episodes are the strongest of the set -- but the rest of the season builds up to a sensational pay-off.

Tony Soprano (as excellently played by James Gandolfini) -- he is a ruthless and often cruel businessman, but he is also a decent family man (He has genuine love for his wife and children) and lives by a "code of honor". Is he to be admired or vilified?

Livia Soprano (Nancy Marchand -- too good for words). She's a manipulator, but is her only sin that she loves her children TOO much? Her final scene is touching and bittersweet. I felt she was a tragic figure, not a villain.

The acting in this series is SO good, its difficult to imagine certain members of the cast AREN'T their characters! (specifically Michael Imperioli, Tony Sirico, and Aida Turturro).

Edie Falco (Carmela) -- also a terrific actress with a great role.

The quality of these DVDs (as well as the first season) is top-notch. I was most impressed with the 5.1 surround sound. Its one of the best stereo-surround soundtracks I've heard on a DVD (possibly because it was recorded with home viewing in mind?).

As with the first set -- HIGHLY recommended.

Do I really have to say it? This is the best tv show ever made. Forget that, this is the best thing ever recorded on film. I bought the first and second seasons without ever seeing an episode, and I ended up watching all 26 episodes (about 26 hours, mind you) in less than a week. And I have a life! It's that good. I must admit - I enjoyed the Godfather series and Goodfellas was a classic...but still none of them compare to a season of the Sopranos. The show has intelligence, humor, and a perfect amount of violence and sex that makes it realistic without making those things the focus. My mother hates violence and mafia movies. She watched five episodes in a row. I have skipped classes in college and showed up late for work because I didn't want to turn off the tv. From the opening theme song and camera shots of north jersey to the final credits, you CAN NOT stop watching. Every single episode is exciting and I guarantee you can't just watch one. The only thing I would warn about is that, even though it shows the downside, this show WILL make you consider a life of crime.

4.5 stars is a more accurate rating. THE SOPRANOS had a tough act to follow after that remarkable first season. With so many characters having gotten wacked by the end of the first season, the show faced the always-tricky challenge of integrating new characters into the mix.

Although there are some lulls early in the second season, the show ultimately surfs the transition extremely well. Episode 14, the first of this season, reveals what became of Big Pussy Bonpensiero; it also introduces us to Janice, Tony's ne'er-do-well sister from the West Coast. In episode 16 we get a blunt introduction to Richie Aprile (brother of the late Jackie Aprile Sr.). Richie has just been released from prison, and we immediately know that he's going to be a nasty thorn in Tony's side. But frankly, you could skip over episodes 17 and 18 and you would barely miss a thing. By far the most significant long-term development in those episodes occurs when Tony brings Furio back after a "business trip" to Italy.

Things really start cooking in episode 19 when we meet Tony's old high school buddy David Scatino, brilliantly played by the underrated actor Robert Patrick. (Frank Sinatra Jr. has a cameo in this episode). It would be unfair to newcomers to detail any more plot twists beyond this point.

The sessions between Tony and Dr. Melfi remain the prism through which the entire show is filtered. One of their best and most pointed exchanges occurs in episode 22. Dr. Melfi asks Tony if he believes that his nephew Christopher will burn in hell because of his mob activities. Who among us really belongs in hell? "The serial killers, the people who kill for pleasure, the child molesters, the Hitlers, the Pol Pots. Those are the [bleeps] who belong in hell, not my nephew," Tony responds (I'm paraphrasing a bit). After all, "Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan were crooks and killers too." But those Gilded Age elites needed Italian immigrants "to build their cities and dig their subways and make 'em richer." The rise of La Cosa Nostra early in the twentieth century, Tony concludes, was simply a class struggle in which the hard-working sons of Italian immigrants claimed their rightful "piece of the action." Not even Dr. Melfi can stomach this much moral equivalence. In one of the few times that she blows her stack at Tony, she angrily asks, "Does that justify EVERYTHING you do?"

The show's little touches are almost as impressive as the big ones. For example, episode 23 begins with an eyewitness telling the cops about a murder. Later we see him at home, sipping wine and reading ANARCHY, STATE AND UTOPIA. This episode also reveals Richie and Janice's unorthodox (and hysterically funny) lovemaking techniques, which only the two of them could have dreamed up.

One could go on and on about what makes this show so special. The key to the show's success, I believe, is that it tends to be character-driven, whereas too many other shows are strictly plot-driven. That explains why THE SOPRANOS almost always rings true. Thank God this show is on HBO and not regular network TV.

If you are looking at this review, you probably already have the first season. All I can tell you is that the second season is as good, if not better, than the first.

There are some major plot developments. Livia and Tony's uncle hatch a plan that can have murderous consequences for Tony. Carmela is doing all in her power, and I mean all, to help Meadow get into a good college. In her own sweet way, Carmela can be just as scary as Tony. Janice (Aida Tuturro), Tony's sister, comes back home, wreaks havoc, marries the former mob boss's jailbird brother, and then leaves town with a bang. One of Tony's best friends becomes a snitch for the Feds. No wonder Tony continues to have anxiety attacks and still needs to see his psychiatrist, Dr. Melfi.

The writing continues to be intelligent, and the story lines are as well thought out and engrossing as ever. I have watched the entire second season and am eagerly awaiting the third season. I absolutely love this series!

The four disc DVD set is well packaged, and the video and audio are crystal clear. The nice thing about the DVDs is that before an episode begins, if one likes. one may read a plot summary of the episode. Moreover, in addition to the thirteen episodes, there are some bonus features.

There aren't many television shows in the 50+ years of television history that can be categorized as a "weekly event". A "weekly event" show basically has everyone talking about the episode the next day. In the 1980s, shows such as "Dallas" and "Dynasty" were "weekly events". In the 1990s, "Seinfeld" would take emerge as the show that would become a "weekly event". As Seinfeld wound up, another show would soon take that title into the 21st century - that show being HBO's "The Sopranos". "The Sopranos" would be different in that it was a show that appeared on a premium (pay) cable station and would prove that premium cable stations can produce high quality shows that provide high levels of enjoyment. I'm not someone who subscribes to HBO so I felt on the "outside" on the "talk" would surround the episodes of "The Sopranos". However that didn't stop my curiosity about wanting to watch the show. Once I watched "The Sopranos - The Complete First Season", I not only got an appreciation for the show - but I now understood where all of the hype came from on this show. I was pleased when for the most part, "The Sopranos - The Complete Second Season" basically picked up with Season 1 left off.

The show focuses on an organized Italian-American crime family that is based in North Jersey. The main character of the show is Tony Soprano played brilliantly by James Gandolfini. Tony is the head of the fictional DiMeo crime family. On the show, we see Tony try to balance his "work" in the DiMeo crime family with his home life. Tony also suffers from panic attacks and depression and therefore sees a psychiatrist - Dr. Jennifer Melfi (played by Lorraine Bracco).

Here are some of the key storylines from Season 2:
1-Tony is now the head of the DiMeo crime family. We see the pressures of this responsibility begin to eat at Tony, raising signs of aggression and depression. This makes a strong testament to how great an actor James Gandolfini is.

2- We are introduced to two new characters, Tony's sister Janice (played by Aida Turturro) and Richie Aprile (played by David Proval), the brother of former DiMeo Crime Boss Jackie Aprile. Throughout the season, we see both Janice and Richie become involved with each other. Both will drive Tony crazy throughout the year.

3-Sal Bonponsiero (played by Vincent Pastore) is working for the FBI and his job is to get information on Tony in order to help the Feds proceed with an indictment. This is a very good storyline that will last throughout the entire season.

4-Dr. Jennifer Melfi begins to battle alcoholism as well as feelings for caring for Tony. This storyline continues to drag from Season 1. The alcoholism and Melfi's visits to her own psychiatrist do give more insight to her character than in Season 1, but overall I found this storyline not very interesting.

5-Christopher Moltisanti's (played by Michael Imperioli) continues to explore his dream of becoming a writer while at the same time trying to become a "Made Man". There are only about three episodes that really highlight Christopher's character - I would have liked to have seen more.

6-David Scatino (played by Robert Patrick), an old friend of Tony's becomes indebted to Tony and Richie following some gambling debts he accrued in a high stakes poker game. David's life slowly unravels as he deals with the financial stress he is under. This was a good storyline.

7-Uncle Junior (played by Dominic Chianese) is under house arrest as he awaits his day in court to battle the Federal Charges he is facing. At the same time, he is battling health problems. There is really only one episode that showcases Uncle Junior and during the rest of the year he is more of a supporting character.

8-Tony is still at war with his mother Livia (played by Nancy Marchand) over her attempt on Tony's life. At the same time Livia is battling her own set of health problems. Livia's role is not as prominent as in Season 1.

9-Meadow Soprano is trying to decide on a College to attend as her graduation is pending.

10-Anthony Soprano Jr. (played by Robert Iler) continues to try find himself as he begins to enter his teenage years. The episode surrounding his confirmation is one of his best.

11-Carmela Soprano (played by Edie Falco) begins to face the problems of her marriage and family - including Tony's infidelity as she begins to be attracted to another man.

Here are some other points to consider from Season 2:
- Overall, I thought the season started slow, but gained momentum by mid-season. By season's end, the show reaches heights beyond Season 1- including two terrific episodes to close the season.
- I was disappointed that Silvio "Sil" Dante is not a prominent character during Season 2. This is probably because he was touring with Bruce Springsteen during filming of this season.
- There is one episode where Tony goes to Italy with Paulie Walnuts and Christopher Moltisanti. The episode was filmed in Naples. Paulie's visit to the "mother land" provides some great comical moments, but more could have been done with Christopher's visit.
- Paulie Walnuts continues to be one of the better characters. His visit to a psychic is classic.
- The episode "From Where to Eternity" features a terrific scene between Tony and Melfi where Tony explains to Melfi why he is a soldier and does what he does - great stuff.

I called Season 1 to be "the most exciting 60 minutes on television". Despite the slow start, I still feel Season 2 continues to back this claim I make. As for the DVD packaging - besides the usual extras, one thing I really liked was how there was a brief textual synopsis provided on the screen before playing the episode. Overall, this is a very good and entertaining set - highly recommended.