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Studio: Hbo Home Video Release Date: 06/16/2009 Run time: 560 minutes
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By Michael Wissinger
Having read multiple reviews on this website, the trend seems to be that people who read the book first hate this series. People who did not read the book, love the series. I am one who read the book before watching this dreadful series. Let me say that I have previosly enjoyed multiple HBO prductions. Being a native of Baltimore The Wire was fantastic and I watched the entire series in a few months. On this production (John Adams) I feel they failed miserably and it's a shame cause this truly is a great story. The acting is somewhat good and the production in itself is done fairly well. Paul Giamnti does his best to portray a difficult character. The actors playing Ben Franklin and George Washington do a nice job as well. The prize winner has to be Laura Linny. She gives a stellar performance as Abigail Adams. She's the one occurance where the book and series seem to agree. Where this seris goes wrong is how they tell the story. They miss so many key elements and I don't know how people who haven't previously read the book have any clue as to what's going on. When Adams went to France, do the viewers know it usually took up to a month to cross the Atlantic? The series makes it seem like an overnite trip. The book is very focused on the letters John and Abigail wrote back and forth while he was away. Only once do these letters get spoken of in the series. These are beautifly writtin letters and it's a shame the series brushed them aside to make room for made up drama. There are many maticulous errors in the series but I won't spend my time listing them. To me, the more galring problem is the choppiness of the series. If you watched this before reading the book, do yourself a favor and read the book. It's a better, much more accurate story.
By jimisrisingsun (Iowa)
What an amazing series and without commericals this is definitely the way to go. This series was cast really well, great script, scenery, costumes, make up etc. Truly worth the money for a week's entertainment.
By Scott Schiefelbein (Portland, Oregon United States)
HBO continues to produce some of the best TV around. From "The Sopranos" to "The Wire" to "Rome" to "Deadwood," the cable channel is doing something extremely right. Add "John Adams" to the list of great television events brought about by these folks.
Paul Giamatti may have come to national attention as the lovable shlub Miles in "Sideways," but John Adams provides Giamatti with the role of a lifetime in one of America's most important Founding Fathers. Indeed, the unwritten subtitle of this series could be, "The Forgotten Founding Father."
By bringing to brilliant light the story of Adams' life and critical importance to our young nation, this series reminds us that it took more than Ben Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson to give birth to our country. (Of course, the series exercises its own form of prejudice by completely ignoring James Madison, who played more than a minor role in the whole business!) Adams was a critical Massachusetts leader before the Revolution, he was a leader in the negotiation of the Declaration of Independence, he was a critical diplomat for the new country in Europe, and he provided crucial leadership as Vice President, President, and elder statesman.
The strengths of this series are many, but stem primarily from relying heavily on David McCullough's stellar biography on Adams. His "rotundancy" is shown as he was - warts and all. Adams was a brilliant, vain, pompous, ambitious man, and yet he channeled so much of himself into forming and guiding our young nation that it is impossible to say that without Adams, there would not be a United States as we understand it today, and perhaps not at all.
The movie also humanizes Adams. We see his early struggles with the notion of independence as he takes the British side in the Boston Massacre, defending the British soldiers accused of murder even as his own cousin, Sam Adams, lobbies for their hanging. John Adams is reluctant to break away from Britain as he sees America as dangerously close to mob rule. His journey to ardent foe of Britain is a joy to watch.
"John Adams" could also be called "The Adams Family." Laura Linney almost steals the movie with her performance as Adams' beloved and brilliant wife Abigail. This self-educated woman was a paragon of virtue and wisdom, and her partnership with her husband elevated John to what he was to become. These two experience more joys and sorrows in their 54-year marriage(!) than most families experience in several generations. John and Abigail provide the emotional high points of the series, and there are many. Their correspondence, including references to each other as "Dearest Friend," are incredibly touching.
Look for well-rounded performances from a wide cast of characters, but Giamatti and Linney remain the anchor for this first-rate production. Stephen Dillane is particularly fine as Thomas Jefferson, Adams' friend, then nemesis, then friend. Tom Wilkinson, as always, is excellent in his role as Ben Franklin. Sarah Polley shines in her small role as Adams' darling daughter Nabby. And Rufus Sewell makes for a satisfying "villain" in Alexander Hamilton, a huge thorn in Adams' plump side.
This series should be required viewing for all high school students who want a realistic, warts-and-all depiction of the birth of our nation and the struggles and sacrifices (and triumphs) of one of the most important Americans who ever lived. Kudos to all involved.
By Jack Burton (texas)
BORING!if you are looking for hours of conversations dragging on and on this is for you! little tip,brew a pot of coffe.
By Gloria Fasciano (Derby Kansas)
I certainly enjoyed this wonderful story of our Four Fathers..It was so informative and and full of History that I never knew about..Every American should watch this DVD and learn about our country in the best and worst of times..Will watch this over and over again..Thank you for making this available for me to order...Please continue to have these types of films for future enjoyment....Thanks Gloria Fasciano
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