Rating: 
Summary: Sopranos Does Not Glorify Violence
Review: I'm tired of hearing complaints that the Sopranos glorifies violence. The people who claim this opinion have obviously never watched an episode of the Sopranos. If they had, they would know that the show is not about the glorification of violence -- not by any means. The reason the Sopranos has been so acclaimed by "much of America" is that it does not numb its audience with sugar-coated, unrealistic representations of American life. Rather, it uses the medium of the mob family to force the viewer to confront his/her concept of morality with an honesty and truth unmatched by any program found on network television. Just watch the episode called "Employee of the Month" from the third season to see what the Sopranos is really about. Tony's psychiatrist is brutally raped and finds the justice system does not work in her favor. She struggles with the temptation to tell Tony, the man she is trying to cure of his sociopathic tendencies, so that some form of justice will be carried out. There are no heroes on the Sopranos because there are no heroes in real life -- that is what the show is about. Millions of people PAY to watch the Sopranos because the television that is available for free is, for the most part, mindless drivel. The Sopranos haters can go ahead and cuddle up with Seventh Heaven. The rest of us are interested in something with substance.
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Summary: A Box Set Offer You Can't Refuse
Review: In just the first two episodes of Season Three: Livia dies -- but doesn't stop causing trouble for Tony. Christopher gets his "button" -- but learns that being a bad guy isn't all it's made out to be. Meadow goes off to college -- and discovers being a mobster's daughter has some advantages. The Feds plant a bug in Tony's favorite conference room. Oh, yeah -- and Carmella is now sitting on the couch with Tony, across from Dr. Melfi. Sound like enough? You better believe it is, and that's just the start. The Sopranos was, and remains, the most detailed, luscious, involving drama on TV. Ever. Period. Season Three is a little more straightforward than the lovely meanders and sidestreets we saw in Season Two, and most viewers will probably prefer it that way. But hurry! Season Four starts broadcasting on September 15, 2002, so you'll want to get caught up ASAP.
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Summary: Still the best thing on TV!
Review: OK, I'm prejudiced. I loved the Sopranos from the first time I saw the show and, as of just a few minutes ago, I now own the first three seasons. Yeah, I saw every episode of the third season (twice, no less!), but it's still such compelling television that it's impossible not to want to watch it over and over. (Incidentially, the trailers for the upcoming season look AWESOME). Anyway, this is, like the two previous seasons, well packaged and will be part of my family's viewing lineup for many years to come. Bada-bing! It's a hit!
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Summary: HOW DO YOU KEEP THE MUSIC PLAYING?
Review: Unlike the first and second season boxes, there's simply not enough singing here to make this an essential purchase. Buy THE THREE TENORS instead.
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Summary: Sopranos Still On Top
Review: The Sopranos. 3rd Season. What can you say about it? The pattern still holds that whenever a breakthrough artistic movement starts to shed it's 2nd skin, the fans begin to show dissent. Art is an everchanging facet just as are all the characters, writers, and plain old people who work on this show. This show is basically changing and metamorphosing from what it was in the first season to what it is in the 3rd season by natural law. It's still the Sopranos. It's still great writing, acting, and directing. And yes, there may be some unfamiliar territory arising, but is that a bad thing? This is not a movie, it's an ongoing series. New conflicts must arise. New needs must arise. And new stories, in general, must arise. Chase is taking this in a direction he feels necessary and is doing a wonderful job with it. My point is, if you will trust the writers on this 3rd season and really take time to ask yourself "What are they trying to tell the viewers now?" or "How IS this different from the last seasons, and why?", then there are plenty of Sopranos surprises in the 3rd season. Take it as a new season, free of expectations and you'll be pleasantly surprised, as I was. Otherwise, get used to dissappointment. I am one who wants to see new stories and new sides of characters and was pleased as punch the direction the 3rd season went. It still kicks ... and delivers the stories that reflect our own lives, as absurd and far fetched as they look on screen. Viva la Sopranos.
Rating:
Summary: Very good, but not as good as seasons one and two
Review: This is still among the best TV out there. Why H.B.O. has kept us waiting more than a year is a mystery to me (maybe they were tired of winning so many Oscars?). This release is timed, it appears to coincide with the new season commencing in November. The inconsistency felt by the main characters mirrors our feelings about them, and for me it is what makes them so incredibly compelling. We sympathize (at least, I do) with them on the one hand while disapproving of their choices with the other. The complexity for me is they key; the lines between good and evil are clear in my mind, but blurred in each of the characters surrounding patriarch Tony. It does present any number of paths (not just the clear right and wrong) that he, his family and supporters may choose. Others have discussed the major themes in the season. Richie Aprile is gone, his Father still wanting to hold onto the reins of power. Richie's son, meanwhile, eschews a life of college for a life following in the family footsteps. One bane of Tony's existence is gone but not forgotten (his Mother, who, through the magic of television is with us just one more time), and another, his sister Janice (and somnambulist mooching boyfriend) take her place. A.J. has become a stud football player but almost overnight becomes a loser in school (almost headed to a Military Academy for the struggling adolescent). Tony's shrink, Dr. Melfi gets him involved with anther patient who is more in need of an army of shrinks than Tony, his Mother, his sister and all of New Jersey. What makes the show work as it does is their interplay. As but one example, the F.B.I. has a huge initiative aimed at taking down the Family. Meadow, after seeming years of angst decides upon Columbia University. These two end up hilariously intertwined (when will the suits realize that TV is actually funnier WITHOUT a laugh track?) when the effort to bug the Soprano household ends up getting her dorm conversations and little else. But, a couple of the characterizations have run their course for me. Meadow really tired me out two years ago, and has not improved herself. Her life is so totally ruined, all because of her mean old Dad. At least Carmella acknowledges the cognitive dissonance in her life (OK, maybe a priest AND a shrink of her own do help). Meadow is sufficiently self centered to blame him for ruining her high school graduation night because that is also the night when the Feds to come to the house to arrest him! I kinda wish she had gone off to school in Burma, and we only see her through an occasional post card. Ditto with Tony's new foil, Ralph Cifaretto. One more scene with him, and I will want to join the Mob just so that I may blow his brains out. Actually the best would be for that testosterone and coke-laden Christopher Molasanto to try and whack him, and letting them end up killing reach other! I may be guilty of expectations too high, but this Season left me a bit underwhelmed. I think too many loose ends were left. Given the buildup, we could have had a three hour season finale. It should have explained what happened to the Russian that Paulie and Christopher ended up trying to kill (and his Boss, who was a Soprano "ally"). I would have had Furio Giunta (the young enforcer who came back with Tony from the old country, who has become my favorite character) kill the unkillable Russian and his Boss, and then brutalize the kid who raped Dr. Melfi (how could they EVER leave that thread as they did?). How about some realization for either A.J. or Meadow that the life ends for too many folks like it did for Jackie Aprile, and an awful lot of bitter comes with the sweet they have perceived as entitlement? Great writing, though. Don't take my word for it: go to the "memorable quotes" link (the censors probably would remove most of them from this review anyway. Given what we did have this season, it would have been great TV for almost any other show (N.Y.P.D.-Blue should be so filled with compelling stories). But for this show, were we have come to expect nothing less, it left me wanting to tie up more. I am not sure we need a "Who shot J.R.?" like another reviewer suggests, but the end of season left too much to be resolved for my particular tastes. I guess that will make this upcoming season all the better.
Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable
Review: The Soprano's is the greatest show on TV...Anyone who disagrees needs to get their head checked!
Rating: 
Summary: not as good as the previous seasons
Review: this is somewhat of a disappointment as some rather lackluster events happen in this particular installment of sopranos. the plot is nowhere as gripping as the original and some of the "mafia" element that made the series so attractive is a bit lost. this season also tends to focus less on the main characters and edge off to the supporting roles, which while intriguing does not compare to the fun of the mob/family balance itself. hopefully the next season will improve. extras are limited to basic commentaries, other than that, this dvd set lacks good bonus features.
Rating:
Summary: Good Execution, Questionable Content
Review: On just the technical level - acting, directing, writing, cinematography, etc., - this is one of the finest crafted shows on television. I just wanted to comment that I find it sad that this show is so wildly popular that it's third-season VHS should become a top-ranking seller. I know this puts me out-of-step with much of America, but I'll say it anyway: Don't we have enough real violence and ugliness in the world already, without having to heap fictional violence and ugliness on top, and then glorify it? I don't care how well-acted and well-written a show is, execution isn't everything. Content is primary, and I object to the content.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Show
Review: I just got the first two seasons on DVD as a gift and I am blown away by how amazing this series is. James Gandolfini is an excellent actor who brings the life a stranger Mob boss to life. this show is extremely funny in its own peculiar way, but it is serious and gruesome as any mob movie/show is accustom to being. I highly recommnend you to buy this and the first two seasons even if you dont like Mafia stuff, you will love this!
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