Spartacus Seasons 1-4 Bundle [DVD]

When I first started watching Spartacus it was a guilty pleasure; I was afraid to admit that I liked it. It seemed to be little more than a vehicle for violence and nudity (copious amounts of both!), but after about 4 episodes I was forced to admit that it was good. And not good in that it was fun to watch, but actually good. You have to get used to the dialog and stylized violence, but once you do it's a great series. It gets to the point where the violence and nudity barely registers, but to the show's credit it never really slacks off. Don't you hate some series that start out with some very sexy actresses who never take their clothes off again after the third episode? Yeah, that doesn't happen here. Characters are well-developed, complex and flawed, and you find yourself both liking and hating almost every character at some point. You recognize the obvious villains and hate them in their dealings with the heroes but cheer for them when they deal with their own villains. The first season is the strongest in terms of plot and story arcs, and it's not an exaggeration to say that I could barely sit still during the last three episodes. The prequel season is an excellent filler that really develops a lot of characters from the first season. A lot of backstory is developed and I still find it hard to believe that it was written after the first season. I accepted the switch to Liam McIntyre in the title role for season 3, though I'll always wonder how great Andy Whitfield would have been (stupid cancer). The fourth season introduced a new antagonist in Crassus, but I hesitate to call him a villain because he's not a bad guy; I was rooting for him as much as I was rooting for the slave rebellion. This is a highly recommended series, though it is definitely not appropriate for young viewers and those who don't like to see the human body (both inside and out).

And amazing and extremely realistic snapshot of ancient Rome its gladiators and those who owned and used them. Extremely graphic with complete nudity (male/female) as we would really expect, if we could travel in time. I believe that this series must be one of the best for it's very realistic portrayal of our characters, ongoing plot and many subplots. Excellent acting by absolutely everybody, major and minor roles... Physical beauty, excellent CTI representation and many extremely brutal moments which were essential to our storyline and should not be construed as gratuitous. I think most would agree this is a very accurate depiction of Rome and it's many aspects of the era. I saw one season and new the rest had to be at least as good… And, I was definitely not disappointed! Without hesitation, I strongly recommend the entire series (all four seasons) and the valuable entertainment which Will be encountered and this most worthy investment. Don't hesitate… Order it as soon as you can. Enjoy!

The show does get 4.5/5 stars from me. It's one of the best original shows to come along. What I found weird was how I got this package. The first two seasons (Gods of the Arena and Blood & Sand) were in standard multi-DVD packaging. But then Vengeance and War of the Damned were in this slipcover packaging with a 'book-type' casing, where each disk was kept in a cardboard page-sleeve and opened like a book, set within a hardcover. I love consistency myself. However, all of them were shrink wrapped and bound with an official binding on the outside. I wasn't sure if there were book-type casings for Gods of the Arena or Blood & Sand; I wish there were and they were included in the set, but for the price I got the whole series for during its sale, I cannot argue. Having the whole series for my own is definitely something. If you do find the individual DVD sets on sale in the future, jump on them. If this ever goes on sale again, jump on it.

Brutal. I've never seen anything quite like this. Really enjoy the plot line, and how the characters build. There are very few redeeming characters in this show. Many times you find yourself rooting for one of the players to get killed. Sometimes the graphic sex gets a little overboard, at least for me, but in certain amounts is important in setting the mood of the times. One note, I started the series with the six episode Gods of the Arena. I'm glad I did, as it is a prequel to the rest of it. Although not crucial to do that, it tends to give the entire four seasons a little better flow, especially with the evolution of the house of Batiatus, and later with Gannicus and Ashir. This is a great one of a kind show, definitely not for kids, or anyone without a strong stomach. I lucked out and got all four on an Amazon special for $54.00. As a suggestion, I would recommend watching the two seasons of Rome as well.

I wish the Spartacus blood in the sand was complete it is missing episode 13. Other than that I is a great TV series.

The DVDs themselves came in great shape, no scratches and no skipping when playing in various devices. As for the series itself I found it enjoyable and easy to get into, (especially if you start with Gods of the Arena first instead of season one). There are some truths from what history is known about Spartacus and of everyday life as a Roman but most is of the producer's vision. As someone who loves historical accuracy I can still enjoy the show with the great use of so much focus on detail in the costumes and staging of the scenes. It does have lots of the CGI skies and effects like in 300 which I don't partially care for. The music is nice and fits with every scene. This series might not be everyone's cup of tea but if it is this package is a great deal and nice to have to watch whenever one desires.

Received defective merchandise and policy states item cannot be returned

The story line, action and use of cgi were well done. The loss of actor Andy Whitfield after the first season was tragic but the continued story line carried the series. The price of all four season was exceptional. Will enjoying watching over and over again.

Addicting series