When HBO Max was added to Roku devices last month, I was unsure if I was willing to spend the money on it. Did I really need another streaming service?

I decided to give it a try, and that turned out to be a fantastic decision.

HBO Max immediately rose to the top of my preferred streaming services, and it is the only one I have used since I subscribed.

It has an impressive collection of movies that are a good mix of newer releases and classics. For people like me who love old movies, it has iconic films like “Casablanca,” “Citizen Kane” and Sergei Eisenstein’s silent masterpiece “The Battleship Potemkin.”

A number of 2021 releases will also be made available on HBO Max for free to subscribers, which would be a good alternative for people who do not want to risk a trip to the movie theater.

Another perk of HBO Max is the full catalog of HBO’s original series, movies and specials from over the years. Their current shows are on there as are some of their most popular older shows, like “Deadwood” and the recently wrapped-up “Game of Thrones.”

My favorite movie that I have watched on HBO Max so far has been “Seven,” the 1995 thriller directed by David Fincher.

It stars Morgan Freeman as a detective who is about to retire and Brad Pitt as a younger detective who has just transferred in to replace Freeman.

The two work on a case together as part of a transition process and end up investigating a mysterious serial killer whose murders are based on the seven deadly sins.

“Seven” is one of the darkest and most disturbing movies I have ever seen. You never actually see any of the murders taking place, but you see the aftermath as the detectives investigate the crimes scenes and look at photos of the bodies.

Despite the unpleasantness of much of the subject matter, “Seven” was definitely worth watching.

I have also been watching the iconic HBO series “The Sopranos” and am currently halfway through season four.

“The Sopranos” has often been regarded as one of the best TV shows of all time, and it is easy to see why.

The show follows Tony Soprano, a mob boss in New Jersey as he navigates family life and the world of organized crime.

It is expertly written and acted, and although there are dozens of characters to keep track of, it is mostly easy to follow along due to the way the stories unfold.

There is not a weak performance from anyone in the sizable cast, and the show mixes tension, violence and humor perfectly.

I can’t wait to discover more of what HBO Max has to offer.

Adam Tumino is a senior journalism major. He can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].