Most Recently Viewed DVD? (Part 11)

Let's talk audio quality. Presented on HBO in stereo surround, The Sopranos has been remixed in 5.1 Dolby Digital for DVD. While the audio always sounds smooth and clear, it's not an especially active mix. The surrounds are used almost exclusively for music fill, with only occasional ambience heard during the on-screen action. Much of the soundtrack is very screen-oriented, but the front soundstage is nice and spacious. A Dolby Digital 2.0 matrix surround mix is also included (the 5.1 version edges it slightly in dynamics, as expected).
While this boxed set is not as feature-laden as I would have liked, HBO did throw in a few extras. There are two behind-the-scenes featurettes, which are less than five minutes each and were probably used on HBO to advertise the show. They offer almost no insight into the series, and are barely worth mentioning. A commentary track with the show's creator, David Chase, runs through the pilot episode. It's fairly informative, but Chase is a rather bland speaker. Don't fret though, because the real treat of the supplements is the 77-minute interview with David Chase by filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich. This interview covers almost everything a fan of The Sopranos would want to know, from the genesis of the show to the development, writing and music… you name it. While I normally like to see more variety of features on disc, this interview provides enough depth and information to cover all the bases. The only missing element on this set is more involvement by the cast. I'm sure I'm not the only Sopranos fan out there that would like to hear an interview or commentary with James Gandolfini or Edie Falco. Gandolfini has so much presence and power on the show, that I'm totally drawn into not only his character, but also Gandolfini as a person and his acting style. I want to know more! My hope is that when The Sopranos : The Complete Second Season debuts on DVD, HBO will leave off the fluffy promo pieces, and offer more with Chase, Gandolfini and the rest of the cast. A really good documentary would also be a welcome addition to future supplements.
While the DVD format is a collector's medium, it's not often that a studio will release a title (or titles) that can truly be considered special. It's even more rare when that kind of treatment is given to a TV series (only Fox's X-Files DVD sets have really stood out thus far). Rest assured, you can definitely add The Sopranos: The Complete First Season to the elite list of the best the DVD format has to offer. The Sopranos is not only a benchmark of television drama, it's also one of the most provocative shows to debut in years. If you've missed it on cable, this is the perfect opportunity to see what everybody's been talking about for the last two years. Highly recommended.
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