DVD Features:
Audio commentaries
Biographies
Deleted scenes
Episodic previews
Episodic recaps
Featurettes
Music video
Original cast audition tapes
Exclusive extended cut of the series finale and more
Putting prison break to shame nearly a decade earlier, this
Boaty McGee | 06/28/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"About the show:
Wow. From the first episode you feel as if you are hooked in, although I dont want to dive too much into the show itself (just skim it) you find that this show, apart from its hard hitting grit and honesty (maybe it is? I dont know, ive never been to prison) dealing with drugs, ethnic grouping, racist attacks, homosexuality, violence and spiritual guidance, this show has something for everyone to walk away with and contemplate as it does dictate a lot of what our soceity is like, even if we have to look at a test subject that is criminal and locked up.
Few warnings though:
Not for the faint hearted: If you are conservative in nature, I would not suggest watching this show, as some of what happens is REALLY harsh (especially as seasons go on)
Not for children: I personally dont believe that people who are under the age of 17 should be watching this show, as it contains graphic sexual scenes and nudity.
Dont watch this if you are a devote prison break fan: This show just makes it look like a joke! Although only the first season of the show was in prison, the realism (if they even tried for that) just doesnt compare to how hard up prisoners really have it, which i feel OZ may convey much better. Tea bag? More like hand bag! Compared to characters like Shillinger and Ada Beisi he is TAME.
On the continual arguments with pricing and dvd quality:
Despite claims in these previous reviews, I have yet to find a problem with this six season set.
Although, I have to admit, the menu's are seemingly primative and quite long in loading up (panning through computer graphics etc which gets annoying) but the quality is still great.
I also dont see how this boxset is seen as expensive. At the time fo this review (28/7/07) the entire show in this offer costs $208, If you look to buy all seasons seperatly, it will cost you an extra $8 dollars, which you could just spend on getting a better delivery service.
When I bought this show (about 4 months ago) I payed about $170. So at this point in time I do find it a bit pricey and would suggest watching it since prices go up and down. I personally feel though even at 208 USD, its still worth it."
The entire series for less than 250?!?!
Alejandro Leon | 09/27/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What more could you ask for? Considering it's not a secret that HBO charges an arm and a leg for their season DVDs, this set is truly worth the money. Thanks to netflix I rented season 1 of this and just kept going episode after episode. Never have I been so into a television show like I was with this. The writing is incredible to say the least, back stories are explained with extreme detail, continuation is nothing less than amazing, casting is great(especially the special guest stars i.e. Jon Seda, LL Cool J, Luke Perry, etc...) This show brought out the best in a lot of actors you had no idea were capable of such drama. Everything about this show is entertaining, hard hitting, emotional, shocking, and just fun. I've said this 100 times and I'll say it again, OZ is truly the best show that television had. It's a shame it had to end but these DVDs will prove how important and incredible this show was and it's potential. Only season that is somewhat sub par is 3.Couldve finished better. Where as the season finale had a lot of unexplained questions as well, the special features includes the finale uncut with an extra 45 minutes! Basically a movie."
Like No Other
J-Train | 03/24/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Not always easy to watch, but always worth it. I agree with a reviewer above, this show is addictive! The story isn't as great as Six Feet Under. There are no Tony Sopranos or Paulie Walnuts to keep you entertained, but Oz is great in it's own way. Every character has flaws, but they also all have some quality that you can sympathize with. It makes it really hard to choose who to root for.
The plot line is always evolving and the violence gets even more raw as you move through the series. I do feel like there are some plot holes in this show and some of the things that happen don't seem like they really could happen in real life, but hey... it's fiction. There is a lot of great acting in this show and it keeps you on your seat waiting to see what is going to happen next. The show can drag a little bit when the prisoners are in counseling and the scenes with the prison staff don't captivate me as much as the stories about the prisoners, but everything is related in the story and it becomes difficult to separate the prison staff from the prisoners themselves.
This show is excellent and complex. It is worth watching again so you can catch some of the things you may have missied the first time around. Therefore, I think this is a series that is worth owning. I give it 4 out of 5 stars only because there are some things that happen that don't seem very realistic."
WARNING: Region 2 & 4 fans of HBO's "Deadwood" and "Oz".
Mr. Cameron J. Hamill | 05/21/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"WARNING:
Customers from outside of North America considering whether they will buy the Region 1 versions or the Region 2 & 4 versions of HBO's "Deadwood" and "Oz" may be interested to know that the Region 2 & 4 versions of these series do not contain audio commentaries.
If audio commentaries are an important feature for any fans of the series then I recommend purchasing the Region 1 versions. I do not know if any other HBO TV series have suffered the same fate as these ones outside of Region 1. My only question is why? Why rip off consumers from other countries? It's not like audio commentaries take up a lot of disc space. Shame on HBO.
Bottom line:
As I enjoy audio commentaries I will buy the Region 1 versions of "Deadwood" and "Oz" as I refuse to be cheated out of my money.
P.S. I'm not sure if the new Region 2 & 4 21 Disc "Oz The Emerald City Collection" suffers the same fate as the earlier releases."
Tell it like it is
Atlanta | 04/03/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I purchased the whole set and although scenes are sometimes lengthy and boring the series does get the message across that prison is not the place to be. Surprising display of violence, nudity and male emotion dominates much of the story. If you are looking for a man-to-man video I would recommend this purchase. If you are looking for scenes of violence and blood like you find in the Hostel and Saw movies this one is not quite up to that level."