Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1574 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-11-24
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
• Number of discs: 4
• Formats: PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, French, Arabic, Bulgarian, Croatian, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish, Turkish, Polish, Czech
• Dubbed in: French
• Number of discs: 4
• Running time: 780 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The Sopranos is more than just a suburban Godfather, it's a modern-day I, Claudius with all the consanguineous conflict of the Caesars translated to New Jersey. At the beginning of the third series--just as brilliant and compelling as the first two--the Soprano clan are under close surveillance from the FBI; but, as ever, that's the least of their problems. Anthony Jnr is getting into trouble at school, Meadow's romantic liaisons at college are a cause of friction, Carmela is having a crisis of conscience and Tony trades one dangerously neurotic mistress for another. Livia's death does nothing to help Tony's psychological problems, and his relationship with therapist Dr Melfi is increasingly strained, especially after she undergoes a shocking ordeal of her own.

There's tension in Tony's other "family", too, as Christopher finally gets made but then chafes at the extra responsibility, much to Paulie's disgust. In one magnificent episode (directed by Steve Buscemi) the two become stranded in the snow-filled woods overnight where all their mutual resentment boils over even as they both freeze. But Tony's real problems emerge from the Aprile family: Jackie Jnr is becoming a dangerous loose cannon, actively encouraged by his borderline psychotic stepfather Ralphie (a marvellous Joe Pantoliano), whose erratic behaviour threatens to ignite a deadly feud ("He disrespected the Bing", says Tony after punching him). When Jackie Jnr and Meadow become an item, both of Tony's dysfunctional families collide with devastating consequences.

On the DVD: The Sopranos, Series 3 arrives in a neat fold-out four-disc set, with four episodes on a double-sided first disc and three each on the remainder. The contents are an improvement on previous releases, with three separate episode commentaries, which are all informative and worthwhile: costar and sometime writer Michael Imperioli (Christopher) talks us through his own script for "The Telltale Moozadell"; Steve Buscemi appears on his directorial effort, "Pine Barrens"; and series creator David Chase chooses the penultimate episode, "Amour Fou". In addition there's a tiny three-minute backstage featurette. Picture and sound are up to par as ever. --Mark Walker

DVD Description
Episode list:

Synopsis
This collection comprises the entire third season of the HBO gangster drama, THE SOPRANOS. Some highlights of this season are Gloria and Tony's encounter at the snake exhibit, a GLADIATOR-inspired barroom brawl, and the first joint session between Tony, Carmela, and Dr. Melfi. Episodes include Pine Barrens (directed by Steve Buscemi), Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood, Fortunate Son, and the intense season finale The Army of One.

Customer Reviews

Y' want cawfee?
Series 3 of the Sopranos is magnificent. Nothing I can say can do it justice.

PINE BARRENS
"So," Tony asks Dr. Melfi in the wake of not-so-dearly-departed Livia's death, "we're probably done here, right?"
Sorry, Tone, not by a long shot. Unresolved mother issues are the least of the Family man's troubles in the brutal and controversial third season of The Sopranos. There are some major plot developments in this third (and best) season. Starting off slowly, the first episode chronicles the synchronized, often comical efforts of the FBI, which is trying to get an electronic surveillance bug in place in the Soprano's household with a'Police' song playing in the background...."Every breath you take, every move you make, I'll be watching you...."


Livia Soprano's death brings daughter Janice back from where she had fled, after she had bumped off her manic boyfriend, Richie Aprile, last season. Janice returns with a narcoleptic, musician boyfriend who is the antithesis of Richie. As always, Janice likes to stir up trouble, and her mother Livia's wake and funeral services are fertile country for her new machinations and self-importance. When she tries to stir up trouble with Livia's one legged, Russian caregiver, which leaves the caregiver searching for her missing prosthetic leg, however, Janice soon discovers that she has gone too far, and her chickens come home to roost with a vengeance.


Meadow Soprano, a college student, gets a new boyfriend, Noah Tannenbaum. He is handsome, intelligent, and articulate, and African-American Jew boy. Tony hates him on the spot for obvious reasons concerning his skin-colour and religion. Uncle Bens stir-in sauce makes a cameo appearance. This will create a certain amount of tension between father and daughter, and an estrangement ensues. When Noah breaks her heart, Jackie Aprile, Jr. is waiting in the wings with her parent's blessing, and Meadow goes from the frying pan into the fire.


AJ Soprano, (Jr), the angst ridden teenager, who has turned out to be an unexpected gridiron wonder, is also sowing his wild oats, getting himself in deep trouble at school, much to his parents' anger and dismay. When Anthony, Jr. continues in this vein, there is a big surprise in store for him, causing him to undergo a major life change. He is not, however, the only Soprano family member to do so.


Tony finds himself head over heels with Gloria (Annabelle Sciorccio), a Mercedes car salesperson, Gloria, the new light of Tony's life, is gorgeous, passionate, and a totally loose cannon. She will cause quite a bit of conflict for Tony as their affair heats up, as Gloria likes to fight fire with fire. Gloria has to watch out that she, herself, does not get burned.


Carmela finds her thoughts increasingly absorbed by Tony's henchman, Furio, the sexy, pony tailed Italian. The problem is that Furio, too, is experiencing deep feelings for Tony's wife, a situation that can only become increasingly dangerous for all concerned. How Furio and Carmela handle their feelings and resolve this potentially dangerous development is of great interest.


Dr Bee Clarke. 10/10

The best season (of any show)
The Sopranos season 3 blew me away. A friend lent me the first four seasons on DVD and this one was comfortably the best. I think I watched it all in about 3 days, it was absolutely compulsive viewing. I never believed a TV show could be this good. After season 3 The Sopranos was never as good. It was still brilliant, but nothing can match the sheer quality and consistency of this season.
Brilliantly written and acted, this is razor sharp with it's humour as well as it's storylines.
Class.