My Christmas Gift...The Sopranos!

Before I ever saw the first episode of 'The Sopranos' on HBO in 1999, I knew that this was a story that would interest me. The previews promised a unique look at the subject matter of life in the mafia and how the pressures of life at the end of the Twentieth century had a similar flavor for individuals in ALL walks of society, legal or illegal.

The series 'The Sopranos' turned out to be even better than I had hoped and I felt sympathy for the main character Anthony Soprano (James Gandolfino) by the end of the first episode. A man who loves ducks can't be all bad, even if he is a 'mobbed up' murderer! I never missed an episode all during the two years the show has been on and I have watched the reruns many times as well. I guess it was easy for my husband to decide what to get me for Christmas, but I think he wanted 'The Sopranos: The Complete First Season' boxed set on DVD as much as I did.

We have watched the entire 13 episodes 3 times so far, and each time I catch some new details that I missed before. The acting and writing are just outstanding on this series, there are so many subtle little nuances that add to the depth of the story.

Each episode usually has 2 or 3 story lines interwoven and the character development by the actors and actresses create REAL PEOPLE that the viewer feels they know. The casting is perfect and the scenarios are unique, it's no wonder 'The Sopranos' is so popular and was nominated for so many awards.

Some of the outstanding performances include that of Edie Falco as Carmela Soprano, wife of Anthony; Steven Van Zant as Silvio Dante, a member of Anthony's crew; Michael Imperioli as Christopher Moltisanti, Anthony's nephew; Nancy Marchand as Mrs. Soprano, Anthony's mother; Lorraine Bracco as Anthony's psychiatrist. I could just go on and on, everyone is excellent in this series.

I admit, the story is extremely violent, profane and there is plenty of nudity and sexual content. But all this is congruent with the characters and story. There is also plenty of 'dark humor' woven throughout to counteract the violence. 'The Sopranos' is definitely not for everyone, but I think it's the best I've ever seen in it's genre. I liked 'The Godfather' trilogy, 'Goodfellas' and 'Casino', but for me, 'The Sopranos' is the best I've seen.

If you enjoyed the three previous movies then this series is for you. Check at Sam's Wholesale Club to get a bargain on this boxed set to start from the beginning, catch the second season reruns on HBO and be ready for the third season on HBO in March. I can hardly wait!