Judith E. Buchman

I have to say I found the show interesting and entertaining, as it delves into the socio-economic problems of the type of Spanish neighborhood tourists don't get to see. The themes are universal, and although some of the characters' actions are questionable - that is up to the writers - - of course. It is understood why it has become so popular. Blending a typical. rough neighborhood crime series with romantic intrigues typical to telenovelas with several loveable characters, I found this series engaging, and really enjoyed the acting of several of these fine, veteran and accomplished actors.

I watched The Sopranos and was looking forward to this film. It certainly was dramatic and fast moving, however, so much of the action centered around the temperament and love affairs of Tony’s uncle, rather than his immediate family dynamics. We, as viewers, may now better understand why Tony was chosen to take over the family business, in view of his intellect and potential, and we also see the basis for his family-loving nature, as well as his violent streak. Young Mr. Gandolfini's performance was on target. But in this film, at some point, so much of the motivation of the gangster action was presented to be racially based, i.e., much of their activity was somehow connected to the aftermath of the Newark riots [which the gangster's exploited]. I would imagine that many residents of Newark would not be pleased with this entire portrayal. The whole racial aspect of the film should not have been emphasized quite so much, in my opinion. [Leslie Odom Jr. is stellar]. Worth watching, but I am not sure many viewers, as we have seen in the previous reviews, are not crazy about the prequel's answers to many questions.

I fully enjoyed this film. I saw it in a real movie theater, not on my couch [where I have been viewing many films over the past year due to the pandemic]. It was engaging and engulfing from the get go. Some of us prefer a slowly developing format with twists and turns. The acting performances were stellar. From reading other reviews, it appears people do not have patience for a story to unfold at its own pace, and prefer fast action and violence. It is loosely based on a true story, but does not present itself as art imitating life. It was refreshing to see a good drama on the big screen.

This series is extraordinary. I just finished all 7 seasons and feel I have been so affected by the human suffering and questions that came up about survival. It is difficult to reconcile the evil humans are capable of. I have seen many WWI movies, several of which told of the Jews’ expulsion/extermination in Poland, but I had never seen one about France. The will to survive amidst the German occupation put forth difficult decisions for the locals. Political purism led to extremism, even when fighting for a supposedly just social cause. The acting, script and art direction were excellent - - the documentary clips with real survivors were hauntingly educational. The characters are so compelling and interesting, that I was not bothered by the soap opera aspect of the series. Everyone was scarred from the ordeal of the occupation, and there was no break for the Jews, who had, at one time, been an integral part of the flourishing society of the fictional town of Villeneuve. It is a history lesson for all of us.