John Adams (HBO Miniseries)

Loved the John Adams miniseries. So much interesting history. Good refresher for the Independence Day celebration. Dragged a little in a few places, but overall was very good.

Until I viewed the HBO Miniseries, "John Adams", my impression of the American patriot had been based largely on William Daniels' brilliant, if preening rooster, in the musical, "1776". After viewing Paul Giamatti's fabulous, more grounded portrayal, I must admit THIS is by far the best Adams you'll ever find! Proud, yet insecure, lacking the sophistication of Jefferson, stature of Washington, or urbane wittiness of Franklin, Giamatti's Adams is occasionally coarse, frequently headstrong, but makes up, in fervor, what he lacks in tact. Unlike Daniels' 'take', he is certainly no genius (his thinly-veiled envy of Jefferson and Franklin provides some of the story's conflict, and humor), but he is an impassioned activist, a 'doer' without whom America would never have been born. The first third of the series, covering the Revolutionary War, 'reinvents' Adams for modern audiences, and is both fascinating, and quite moving.

Based on David McCullough's celebrated biography, and filmed largely in eastern Europe and Williamsburg, VA, the series wonderfully captures the 'look' of the times, from untamed wilderness, to cities both old and grimy, and young and dynamic. In this tableau, rough-hewn Americans contrast sharply with coiffed Europeans, providing a nice visualization of the difference between the Old and New Worlds, and justification for the existence of a new nation. In the entertaining 'middle' segments of the production, Adams is thrust into European society, a bull in a china shop who embarrasses both Franklin (a terrific Tom Wilkinson, looking eerily like the legendary Founding Father), and later, Jefferson (Stephen Dillane, who lacks Jefferson's height and charisma, but is quite good). Despite the loyal friendship of George Washington (a dead-on, very effective David Morse), Adams proves a disastrous diplomat and Vice President, and is stymied as President by a near-fanatical fear of terrorism (shades of 9/11 and today!)

Perhaps the series' finest moments come when Adams leaves office, and tries to adjust to life as a farmer and forgotten 'hero of the revolution'. Here, Laura Linney's contribution, as Abigail Adams, truly shines; a loving, feisty, politically savvy woman, she now ages gracefully as a supportive wife and heartsick mother (particularly during the illness and death of daughter 'Nabby', portrayed sensitively by Sarah Polley). Linney and Giamatti's scenes together, terrific throughout the series, are especially poignant as their lives draw to a close. Another plus in these chapters is the renewal of the Adams/Jefferson friendship, through correspondence, as two old warhorses face a changing world and mortality, together (both would die on the same day, July 4th, fifty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence...a touch no author would dare invent, but true!)

"John Adams" is an epic achievement, and the perfect way to celebrate Independence Day, any time you pop it into your DVD player!

This series is one of the best things I have ever seen on TV. It brought that very important history alive and it made me appreciate the great contribution of John Adams to our history. He was indeed a great man. The acting was first-rate and the settings were magnificent. I have been thoroughly delighted. The special features were very interesting also.It would be wonderful if more similar movies could be done on America's history.

This towering miniseries, based on David McCullough's biography of John Adams, tells the story of one of our Founding Fathers and our second president.

The miniseries begins in 1770, when Adams agreed to serve as counsel for British soldiers following the Boston Massacre. Adams was a leader in uniting the various sections of the colonies for independence from Great Britain. One of the most poignant scenes in the entire miniseries was the one in which the delegates to the Second Continental Congress voted to issue the Declaration of Independence, and then seemed shocked that they had done so--they must have known how extremely difficult and costly it would be to make the new Declaration stick.

Adams then was ambassador to France, the Netherlands, and England, and the miniseries shows the toll that his absence took on his family life.

After the Constitution was ratified, he was elected the nation's first vice president and was frustrated in that role. In 1796, Adams was elected president. Relations with France were a large part of what Adams dealt with during his presidency--he became very unpopular after the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts, which were passed in 1798 in response to the XYZ Affair and Quasi War.

This miniseries accurately portrays the buildings that people lived in and daily objects used by people during our country's founding. Life was very hard then (there is graphic portrayal of ghastly late eighteenth/early nineteenth century medical techniques--be grateful that you live now and not then). John and Abigail were the first couple to live in the White House--they moved in just before Adams was defeated in his bid for reelection by Thomas Jefferson in the 1800 presidential election. The portrayal of Washington D.C. as simply the nearly empty, unfurnished White House and a couple of other buildings in the midst of a bunch of mud and forests serves as another reminder of just how young the country was at the turn of the nineteenth century.

In his later years, Adams revived his friendship with Thomas Jefferson. Adams and Jefferson, two of our most important Founders, died within hours of each other on July 4, 1826, fifty years to the day after the Declaration of Independence was issued. No Hollywood scriptwriter would have ever dared script that scenario!

Some of the bonus features on the DVD set include "Facts Are Stubborn Things", which provides subtitles that add background information (this feature can be viewed or not viewed while watching the miniseries); "The Making of John Adams", which provides information on the special effects and sets in the miniseries; and there is also a feature on David McCullough's work as a historian.

The miniseries is a reminder of the high price that Adams and the rest of the Founding generation paid for our independence and demonstrates how grateful we should be for their bravery and sacrifices.

This story will never need to be re-done again due to this most excellent and moral depiction of relationships from our history and the young men (and woman) who founded our country in relationship to God. Well done Tom and we thank you!