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Rome: The Complete Second Season | 
| Studio: HBO Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: CDN$ 74.98
Buy New: CDN$ 42.99
You Save: CDN$ 31.99 (43%)
New (16) Used (4) from CDN$ 42.99
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 205
Format: Ac-3, Dolby, Dubbed, Ntsc, Subtitled, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Spanish (Dubbed)
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.8 x 1.7
MPN: HBOD93956D
UPC: 026359395628
EAN: 0026359395628
ASIN: B000PGTPH8
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: August 7, 2007
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.ca
Unlike another certain celebrated HBO series, IRome/I's end will satisfy those swept up in its lavishly mounted spectacle and invested in the human dramas of the historical figures and fictional characters. Season 2 begins in the wake of Julius Caesar's assassination, and charts the power struggle to fill his sandals between "vulgar beast" Mark Antony (James Purefoy) and "clever boy" Octavian (Simon Woods), who is surprisingly named Caesar's sole heir. The series' most compelling relationship is between fellow soldiers and unlikely friends, the honorable Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus "Violence is the only trade I know" Pullo (Ray Stevenson), who somewhat reverse roles when Vorenus is overcome with grief in the wake of his wife's suicide. Season 2 considerably ups the ante in the rivalry between Atia (an Emmy-worthy Polly Walker), who is Antony's mistress, and Servilia (Lindsay Duncan) with attempted poisonings and sickening torture. Another gripping subplot is Vorenus's estrangement from his children, who, at the climax of the season opener are presumed slaughtered, but whose true fate may be even more devastating to the father who cursed them. pIRome/I's second season does not scrimp on the series' sex and violence, in both cases exceedingly brutal. But in this cauldron of treachery and betrayal, words, too, are vicious, as when a defiant Atia ominously tells Octavian's new wife, Livia, "Far better women that you have sworn to [destroy me]. Go look for them now." In writing IRome/I's epitaph, we come to praise this series, not to bury it. Although two seasons was not enough to establish a IRome/I empire, it stands as one of HBO's crowning achievements. I--Donald Liebenson/I
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| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
 Aborted Brilliance June 11, 2008
K. S. Puls (British Columbia, Canada)
"Rome" represents one of the saddest misjudgments in video history. HBO assembled an incredible cast, built an amazing set, and started telling a story that could have held an audience for many years. Unfortunately, when the series was initially slow to draw fans, HBO decided to cut their losses, and started wrapping up in a hurry. The great loves, hates, and political and moral issues that had begun to be developed were resolved in a couple of episodes. Then, about the time they offed Caesar, they realized that they had taken a potential huge hit and killed it as well. br / br /The second season is a salvage job, still brilliant in terms of characterization, but with a feeling of getting the remaining plot lines concluded as quickly as possible. The brilliant casting, dialog and characterization were murdered before their time due to a fatal lack of patience. Too bad.
 Kind of a Soap Opera May 23, 2008
Catwoman (Yukon, Canada)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
After being blown away by Season 1 (and watching the entire series in just under 2 weeks--yes it was that good!), I just had to buy Season 2. While Season 2 is just as visually stunning, and contains most of the same characters as Season 1, I find it's kind of, well, boring. br / br /I've owned Season 2 for about 6 weeks and am only about 2/3 of the way through (and I don't feel that excited about getting back to it anytime soon). It's just not as compelling. Instead of eagerly anticipating what's going to happen next as I did in the first season, I am put off by Season 2's contrived storyline and flat characterization. Where Season 1 was a thrilling, groundbreaking drama, Season 2 is definitely more a soap opera.
Rome Season 2 March 25, 2008
FRED LAW (Canada)
It is funny. I did not start with Season 1. I straightly jumped into Season 2. Therefore, I cannot compare with those 2 seasons like other reviewers did. However, what impressed me most in Season 2 is that it tried to bring up those complex interpersonal relationship between the characters. Also, this Season shows how smart Octivian is. He carefully calculated his every single move to put whole Roman against Mark Antony. Last but not least, this Season gives a taste of ancient Roman life, which is involved plenty of betray, politic and sex! br / br /This definitely is a crown production from HBO. Too bad, this series only have 2 Seasons with it. No doubt, it could be most expensive production from HBO.
 Glorious Filth! February 2, 2008
Ms. N. P. Dougan (Ravara, Ireland)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
br /Revenge, treacherous intrigues, incest, betrayals, bloody violence, corrupting power, and explicit sex all contribute to the glory of Rome. br /Rome delights viewers by giving them a delicious taste of the villainous history of the Roman Empire, between 52 B.C. and 31 B.C.. We see the rise and bloody fall of Julius Caesar and also the political machinations that followed, between Mark Antony and Gaius Octavian Caesar (Augustus Caesar). The stories of these characters are well-known to most of us, with writers such as William Shakespeare and Robert Graves offering us detailed character portraits. However, this is where Rome strives and succeeds to be different. Rome throws out all of these noble, heroic, and cliched images and starts afresh. Antony, for example, is portrayed as the ultimate lad, his thirst for excess and vice unrelenting, and he just loves a good barbarous battle. Whereas Octavian is an intelligent and often cruel political strategist, who prefers to sit in his tent as the battle commences. Yet, this rehashing of characters is not all that Rome has to offer, for its genius lies in other quarters. br /Rome brings to life creatures that are only briefly mentioned by historians, such as Vorenus and Pollo, two soldiers whose exploits are at centre-stage of all the action. And, according to Rome, both men have a profound, if often accidental, influence on Roman history. Vorenus is unintentionally responsible for Julius Caesar's death, and Pollo is responsible for Cleopatra's claim on the Roman Empire. If there are any heroes in Rome, Vorenus and Pollo are the most likely candidates. Vorenus is an honourable soldier, whose dedication to doing the right thing often leads him to ruin and unhappiness. However, Pollo is an entirely different sort of creature. He is just such a lovable, "big-bear," who the viewer can easily forgive the odd, homicidal rampage. Both men are fiercely loyal to each other, even after an argument, and they save each other's lives on numerous occasions. br /But Rome's "piece de resistance" is without a doubt the character of Atia of the Julii, played by Polly Walker. She is scheming, vengeful, cruel, and, at times, foul-mouthed; you cannot help but adore her. She perceives life to be a series of trivialities sent by the God's to vex her. Only when she realises that she has lost Antony and that her son has become a cold, callous opportunist, just like his mother, do we see a solemn side to Atia's nature. br /Of course, some will argue that Rome takes considerable liberties with history, but what writer worth their salt would ever let history get in the way of a good story? br /Rome informs us of the salacious and villainous exploits of Roman nobility, yet it does not forget the Plebs and the Foot Soldiers, who constitute the life-blood of any empire. This epic saga is tantamount to glorious filth, and you will love every violently lecherous minute of it. br / In short, Rome is a sumptuous production that sports a superb cast and outstanding writers, and is, quite simply, sublime. br /
Very Good December 16, 2007
Scotty (Canada)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Its a great series ... I would recommend anyone to buy this entire HBO series.
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