Boardwalk Empire: Season 1 Box Set (5 Discs)

Boardwalk Empire is a fictional story made up with factual events and characters about the life of Nucky Thompson, the undisputed ruler of Atlantic City and a man that dabbled in Politics and Crime! Like The Sopranos this show is slowly paced and enables the viewer to become familiar with the characters. Theres a interesting story and some great acting from a variety of actors. Also good to see Kelly Macdonald (Trainspotting) and Stephen Graham (Made In England). If you enjoy Millers Crossing, One Upon A Time In America, Sopranos and other Crime / Gangster Movies / Shows you will probably like this. As far a tv productions go his is the one i have enjoyed the most in a while. Compulsive Viewing.

This is not a bad programme, but I just feel there is a major lack of action. The story lines are good but it feels as if the entire first series is just there so you get to know the characters ready for the second series (which is much better). The characters lack any 'moods' which is what made the Soprano's so realistic and as stated before, the lack of action lets it down badly. However, it is worth watching just to build up for the second series.

There is always going to be comparisons with the Soprano's what with both coming from HBO and written by Terence Winter. But what's the point of copying past glories? Boadwalk Empire is a totally different story from a different time. This is set at the dawn of prohibition as the story chronicles the life and times of Enock Nucky Thompson (excellent Steve Buscemi), the cities treasurer whose double role of polition and bootlegger makes him Atlantic Cities undisputed Czar of the time, but with the ban on booze it opens up a very lucrative set of opportunities for him and his "rum runners" and distributors. The story perfectly captures the time, the sets are amazing, the acting is fantastic and the story although slow to warm up really does flush out the characters with all their baggage, double crossing and other motivations and as the series moves on it opens up to the relentless Feds, rival gangsters including Arnold Rothstein, Lucky Luciano and Al Capone. This 12 episode first season is some of the best TV I have seen in ages, It's not full of shoot-outs, but when the violence errupes it should satisfy those with the blood lust, but it's the interweaving story that shines through that's laced with some brilliantly dark comic moments, You must stay with this show to get the full benefit as it's a little known bit of American history that us on this side of the pond are not that familar with. All in all this is the set up of a much bigger story and leaves everything hangin in the balance for the much awaited Season 2.
See if you like.....
Once upon A Time In America.
The Untouchables.
The Road to Pertition.
Millers Crossing.

There is always going to be comparisons with the Soprano's what with both coming from HBO and written by Terence Winter. But what's the point of copying past glories? Boadwalk Empire is a totally different story from a different time. This is set at the dawn of prohibition as the story chronicles the life and times of Enock Nucky Thompson (excellent Steve Buscemi), the cities treasurer whose double role of polition and bootlegger makes him Atlantic Cities undisputed Czar of the time, but with the ban on booze it opens up a very lucrative set of opportunities for him and his "rum runners" and distributors. The story perfectly captures the time, the sets are amazing, the acting is fantastic and the story although slow to warm up really does flush out the characters with all their baggage, double crossing and other motivations and as the series moves on it opens up to the relentless Feds, rival gangsters including Arnold Rothstein, Lucky Luciano and Al Capone. This 12 episode first season is some of the best TV I have seen in ages, It's not full of shoot-outs, but when the violence errupes it should satisfy those with the blood lust, but it's the interweaving story that shines through that's laced with some brilliantly dark comic moments, You must stay with this show to get the full benefit as it's a little known bit of American history that us on this side of the pond are not that familar with. All in all this is the set up of a much bigger story and leaves everything hangin in the balance for the much awaited Season 2.
See if you like.....
Once upon A Time In America.
The Untouchables.
The Road to Pertition.
Millers Crossing.

in my opinion boardwalk is better than the soprano's although i can appreciate others would disagree as the soprano's is equally fantastic. i just love the early 1900's setting to this series, it feels so vibrant. there are some truly memorable characters and the acting is flawless all round, steve buscemi is particularly engrossing in the lead. it would be easy to watch all the episodes back to back as its like a good book you just cant put down, such is the diversity in plot points and plot lines. i pray there are many more series to come as its my favourite thing on the box at the moment. unmissable!
p.s. the 2nd series is even better, if thats possible.

A brilliant first step for what is surely the most widely acclaimed HBO drama since the Sopranos. However it is fairly inferior to the second season which is absolutely mind blowing.

Coming from HBO Boardwalk Empire focuses on Atlantic City in the 1920s. Prohibition has just come into effect and the city's corrupt treasurer Nucky Thompson, seeing a business opportunity, begins working to tighten his already firm grip on the city. Unfortunately for Nucky he will have to deal with equally violent rivals and determined FBI prohibition agents if he is to succeed.

Being created by Terence Winter Boardwalk Empire is always going to be compared to masterpiece that was The Sopranos. In this regard the first season is certainly lacking in the emotional complexity and tight script that made The Sopranos the show it was with some of the violence and sexual scenes not always feeling essential to the plot.

Despite this Boardwalk Empire does have enough going for it to forge its own identity and by the series end it was safe to say it that it had earned its early season 2 renewal. Being a character based drama it obviously relied heavily on its cast and it was here that this opening season really excelled. Lead by the always excellent Steve Buscemi the supporting cast were equally as successful at bringing the characters and plots to life and ensuring audiences stayed tuned in.

While Boardwalk Empire hasn't exactly reinvented the gangster genre it is has certainly shown enough potential to bring me back for another watch next year.

Coming from HBO Boardwalk Empire focuses on Atlantic City in the 1920s. Prohibition has just come into effect and the city's corrupt treasurer Nucky Thompson, seeing a business opportunity, begins working to tighten his already firm grip on the city. Unfortunately for Nucky he will have to deal with equally violent rivals and determined FBI prohibition agents if he is to succeed.

Being created by Terence Winter Boardwalk Empire is always going to be compared to masterpiece that was The Sopranos. In this regard the first season is certainly lacking in the emotional complexity and tight script that made The Sopranos the show it was with some of the violence and sexual scenes not always feeling essential to the plot.

Despite this Boardwalk Empire does have enough going for it to forge its own identity and by the series end it was safe to say it that it had earned its early season 2 renewal. Being a character based drama it obviously relied heavily on its cast and it was here that this opening season really excelled. Lead by the always excellent Steve Buscemi the supporting cast were equally as successful at bringing the characters and plots to life and ensuring audiences stayed tuned in.

While Boardwalk Empire hasn't exactly reinvented the gangster genre it is has certainly shown enough potential to bring me back for another watch next year.

I watched every episode of season 1 and always felt it never really got going. It lacks the humour, intellegence and subtlety of something like the Sorpranos. Always found myself getting bored- I don't care what happens to the characters as they are never really developed. Everyone plays the same mood every episode- they are very 1 dimentional and as such I struggled to care about them. Angry cop is always angry, the moody youth is always moody, the exasperated gangster is always the same. The story/plot is slow and feels quite confused- jumps around a lot (not in a good way!). Would not buy this, just watch on TV.

a great series to watch. not sure how historically accurate this is,( i beleive the real nucky thompson was a huge hulking man) but its still very entertaining. could do with more grit to be more inline with other hbo classics like the sopranos. good but needs a few small changes to be great.