Studio: Hbo Home Video Release Date: 09/05/2006 Rating: Nr

If the title of HBO's brutal prison drama suggests a fairy tale, be warned that this Oz lies on the other side of the rainbow. This gritty portrait of men behind bars is a testosterone-driven soap opera packed with murder, suicide, sadism, and savage battles for dominance in the concrete jungle.

Season 2 opens in the wake of a prison riot that shut down the experimental cell block known as "Emerald City" among the inmates, but it doesn't take long to build a whole new head of steam after prison reformer Tim McManus (Terry Kinney) reopens the unit. The drug wars pit the Italians against the blacks, the Aryan Brotherhood re-establish their campaign of intimidation, and Alvarez is pushed to desperate measures when he's ousted by the new Latino leader (Luiz Guzmán). Even more volatile than the physical brutality (this season offers up a bloody blinding and a crucifixion) is the soul-crushing psychodrama played out between vicious Aryan leader Schillinger (J.K. Simmons) and Beecher (Lee Tergeson), the meek lawyer transformed into a drug-addicted wild man by prison's predatory world and seduced by cold-blooded killer Chris Keller (Law and Order: SVU's Christopher Meloni).

Some the stories get lost in the thrilling runaway pacing, but at its best Oz's searing stories of men penned in and pushing back goes straight for the jugular and invariably draws blood.

In addition to HBO's four-minute promotional short is an interesting featurette in which the creators and select actors discuss the show. The three-disc set also features cast and crew bios, an episode index, and episodic previews.--Sean Axmaker

ITS BEEN SO LONG SINCE I HAVE WATCHED OZ ON HBO AND AFTER WATCHING SEASON 2 ON DVD BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES OF HOW VIOLENT AND GRITTY THIS SHOW WAS. ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK GOD I AM NOT IN JAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is so real as to leave you with thoughts and dreams after you have seen it. Shocking and scary in it's presentation....and frightening in it's stark reality. Actors bring you to the edge, while the direction keeps you on track with reality.

I just purchsed the first three seasons. Unfortunately for me, the close caption for hearing impared in only in Spanish... No English... In fact even when I select NONE for the close caption, the wording is still coming across the bottom of the screen in Spanish.. How can anyboby put out a dvd without English close captioned.. I mean we are in America right--

This show is not for the faint-of-heart. It depicts the conditions in a maximum security prison without any politeness. The writing is smart, and moves quickly, the acting is superb. The plots are interesting, and make you think about our criminal justice system, and what could be done to improve it.

As a middle-aged female, I find it hard to fathom that there truly are men (and women), who are so evil, and cruel to fellow human beings. I sure am glad they are behind bars!

LOVE THIS SERIES, ESPECIALLY THE BRAVE PRODUCERS WHO PROVIDE THE MALE FRONTAL NUDITY! IT IS ABOUT TIME FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE SICK OF ALL THE FEMALE FRONTAL NUDITY. AS FOR THE ACTORS, YOU CAN'T BEAT THE CAST, SO MANY ALL STAR ACTORS, SUCH A PLEASURE TO SEE THE DIFFERENT SIDES THAT THESE ACTORS CAN PORTRAY.