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The Sopranos: HBO Season 6 (Part 2 - The Final Episodes) [2007]

starring: Tony Sirico, Steven R. Schirripa, Aida Turturro, Michael Imperioli, James Gandolfini
directed by: Steve Buscemi, Danny Leiner, David Nutter, Alan Taylor, Steve Shill

November 19, 2007
This last (half) series of the finest TV show ever made is actually one of its best (semi) seasons, so it makes some sense to review this masterwork from the (hopefully now spoiler-proof) end. The Sopranos finishes, indeed, as wonderfully as it began and carried on: constantly complimenting the viewer's intelligence, right up to the bitter-sweet dénouement.

Yes, the penultimate episode is the proper narrative/dramatic "end," with its stunningly-staged assassination of Baccala and the calamitous (and, typically of the show, almost hilarious) near-fatal wounding of Silvio (to the sound of Nat King Cole, the sight of naked Bing bystanders and with hideous collateral damage to a passing motorcyclist).

But the actual finale ... Read More:

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The Sopranos: HBO Season 6 (Part 1)

starring: James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli, Dominic Chianese
directed by: Jack Bender, Steve Buscemi, Alan Taylor, Tim Van Patten, Danny Leiner

November 27, 2006
seem to have a different opinion from so many other viewers, since I really enjoyed the first half of season six. Seeing Tony get shot, not by season one's physically and mentally vigorous Uncle Junior, as I had kept anticipating that season, but by the toothless demented Uncle Junior, believing he was shooting someone else entirely was priceless irony. I loved the part with Tony in the coma in our world, while -wherever he was - he was exactly what he had always dreaded being - a nobody. Worse, he's a traveling salesman who is "trapped" and unable to get home. When Tony comes out of his coma, he vows to change and take every day as a gift, but later he is gradually pulled back into his old ways, since his position as boss really gives him no alternative. ... Read More:

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The Sopranos: Complete HBO Season 5

starring: James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Dominic Chianese, Michael Imperioli, Steve Buscemi

June 20, 2005
This is definitely the series where the sopranos lost their way completely. It didn't just take a step toward the quirky and obscure, it jumped in with all arms, legs and kitchen sink.. there is no other way to put it, it was just plain weird and boring at that. If the franchise had back to back series of that style and standard it would die right there, no doubt.

As an avid fan myself i know you are gonna buy anyway. you know you are gonna buy anyway, but i advise for you to set those expectations to low to avoid disappointment. Series 5 is way below expectations.

Now series 6... is another story...

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The Sopranos: Complete HBO Seasons 1-6 Box Set [1999]

starring: James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Steve Van Zandt, Tony Sirico, Lorraine Bracco

November 19, 2007
I brough the Sopranos thecomplete collection as soon as I saw that it was for sale at a relativly cheap price (£90) I rented the first season from Amazon after readding the variety of positive reviews I had read about it. And I can see why, the acting especially by James Gandolfini is brilliant, Gandolfini manages to both be terrifying and touching to the point were you forget that he is a murderering gangster and start to cheer him on. The array of guest stars is also brilliant especially when Steve Buscemi appears as Tony's cousin. The writing is gripping and at points incredibly funny.

Finally when I got to the last episodes I could not take my eyes off the screen not knowing how the show was going to end; and though the ending of the final episode ... Read More:

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The Sopranos - Complete HBO Series - Deluxe Edition [1999]

starring: Tony Sirico, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Steven Van Zandt, Elizabeth Bracco, Lorraine Bracco
directed by: Steve Buscemi, Danny Leiner, David Nutter, Alan Taylor, Steve Shill

November 17, 2008
I brough the Sopranos thecomplete collection as soon as I saw that it was for sale at a relativly cheap price (£90) I rented the first season from Amazon after readding the variety of positive reviews I had read about it. And I can see why, the acting especially by James Gandolfini is brilliant, Gandolfini manages to both be terrifying and touching to the point were you forget that he is a murderering gangster and start to cheer him on. The array of guest stars is also brilliant especially when Steve Buscemi appears as Tony's cousin. The writing is gripping and at points incredibly funny.

Finally when I got to the last episodes I could not take my eyes off the screen not knowing how the show was going to end; and though the ending of the final episode ... Read More:

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The Sopranos: Complete HBO Season 4 [1999]

starring: James Gandolfini, Steven Van Zandt, Lorraine Bracco, Joe Pantoliano, Annabella Sciorra

November 03, 2003
This is without doubt the best series however it recieved heavy criticism due to the level of violence depicted. However although the violence is graphic and often uncomfortable to watch it is crucial for the development of the characters. Furio in particular has a challenging moral dillema which keeps the viewer on a razors edge throughout!

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The Sopranos : Complete HBO Season 3 [1999]

starring: James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Lorraine Bracco, Michael Imperioli, Dominic Chianese

November 24, 2003
Series 3 of the Sopranos is magnificent. Nothing I can say can do it justice.

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Bad Boys [1995]

starring: Martin Lawrence, Will Smith, Téa Leoni, Tchéky Karyo, Joe Pantoliano
directed by: Michael Bay

January 15, 2001
I'm a big fan of action films, with cop movies topping the bill. Having read the other reviews here I had high hopes for this film - I ignored the occasional negative review reasoning that any film with Will Smith in it can't be that bad. How wrong I was!

The cinematography is lush and colourful, helped significantly by the Miami backdrop. And that is about as far as my compliments can reach I'm afraid - the film rapidly falls apart from the first moment the characters open their mouths.

The script here is utterly dreadful! Whilst similar untaxing commercial offerings such as the likes of Lethal Weapon or Die Hard give you witty and slick lines, Bad Boys instead resorts to perpetual bickering between the protagonists. It soon becomes tiresome and ... Read More:

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The Basketball Diaries [1995]

starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Lorraine Bracco, Marilyn Sokol, James Madio, Patrick McGaw
directed by: Scott Kalvert

December 04, 2000
Leonardo DiCaprio is brilliant as is Lorraine Bracco as his desperate mother. If the scene with them either side of her door with him begging her for money doesn't make you cry then you are probably already dead. It is the story of a good boy (with a good Italian Catholic mother) going wrong and then turning it around. Starting with a bit of petty theft it saunters into drugs then freefalls into a state of desperation. Very moving.

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Last Man Standing [1996]

starring: Bruce Willis, Bruce Dern, William Sanderson, Christopher Walken, David Patrick Kelly
directed by: Walter Hill

September 27, 1999
A remake of the famous "Fistful of Dollars" brought up to the prohibition era of the thirties.
Bruce Willis as "Smith" rolls into a veritable ghost town in a battered old Ford. The good citizens have abandoned the place to two rival gangs of thugs.
In Eastwood style, Smith plays them against each other, and comes out on top.
The low growling voice of Willis, the old bangers and the sets, make this a most enjoyable film. To top it there is the perpetual dust and desert (in spite of lots of rain) - and it creates effective atmosphere and sense of abandon.
I don't know what sort of firearms he was using, but they never ran out of ammo and bodies dropped by the score. It all made for good viewing.
I am not at big Willis fan, but this one I enjoyed, particularly ... Read More: