This is a scene from the movie "The Many Saints of Newark." The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. (CNS/Warner Bros. Pictures)

By Catholic News Service

Not so much a prequel to “The Sopranos” than a richly textured origin story of Tony Soprano, this is a matter of details to fans of the long-running drama, and confusing to anyone else.

Screenwriters David Chase and Lawrence Konnor and director Alan Taylor show us that Tony’s belief, expressed in the series, that life used to be better was only a protective fantasy. Continuously, teen-age Tony (Michael Gandolfini) is denied the moral, intellectual and spiritual guidance that might have separated him from a career of crime and murders.

The film contains pervasive gun and physical violence, a scene of torture, fleeting upper female nudity, brief scenes of sexual activity, pervasive racial slurs and pervasive rough language. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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