John Adams (HBO Miniseries)

ON STRIKE UNTIL AMAZON STOPS DELETING FAVORABLE VOTES FROM FANS AND COUNTING NEGATIVE VOTES FROM THOSE WHO HATE THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE BOOK BEING REVIEWED MORE THAN THEY CARE ABOUT THE REVIEW.

I rented, and learned that there are three separate disc in Blockbuster, AND a duplicate third disc so if you grab the four that are on display, you end up with three useful and one duplicate. I certainly hope that Best Buy and others are only selling a single disc, but thought to mention, renter or buyer, beware. There are seven parts in all. The first two (disc one) takes you up to his riding off to the first Congress. The second goes through Washington's being elected President, and the last features his own presidency, tragedies, the rise of his son John Quincy to be president himself, and his death, the last of two (Thomas Jefferson the other) to survive, both dying on the 4th of July 50 years after independence.

I was moved by this movie, and think ever more highly of Paul Giamatti for his acting. I received insights I did not have before, and while some may complain about the details, for myself, this was an extraordinary three hours or so watched over the course of three evenings.

In books, consider:
1776
What Kind of Nation: Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, and the Epic Struggle to Create a United States
The Thirteen American Arguments: Enduring Debates That Define and Inspire Our Country

The mini-series, John Adams, has restored my faith that there is high quality American entertainment intertwined with history out there. The tasking of taking David McCullogh's prize winning book of the same name into a spectacular mini-series can be overwelming. Of course, there will be things left out but I can't recommend it enough because it's so addictive. To begin with, Paul Giamati (Sideways star) transforms himself into John Adams, America's second President and first Vice PResident and America's first ambassador to Great Britain after the American REvolution. He is madly in love with his wife, Abigail, played remarkably by Oscar Nominee Laura Linney. Adams is not without his faults especially towards his three children, JOhn Quincy Adams who is his favorite, his only daughter Nellie (played by Sarah Polley) who married Colonel William Smith who thinks he can use the Adams name, Charles Adams as the disappointment who makes a fool of himself and the family name but suffers the most and marries his brother-in-law's sister, Sally Smith (played by Mamie Gummer who is Meryl Streep's daughter). and the other son whose name escapes me at the moment.
In other parts of the film, David Morse (St. Elsewhere) becomes George Washington and so identical to the man on our dollar bills that it's uncanny and strange all at once. Tom Wilkinson OBE plays Ben Franklin who is both genius and decadent in Paris. I don't remember the actor who plays Thomas Jefferson but he is memorable.
The mini-series is high quality and first rate that it would have swept the Academy Awards as a film but it was nominated for 23 Emmys, Giamati won Best Actor, Linney won Bet Actress, Wilkinson won Best Supporting Actor as Franklin but I would have wished there was a tie between him and Morse. It also won for Best Writing but lost for directing to a two hour film which was just wrong because this mini-series is perhaps the best things to watch in a long time.
I think this DVD should be in ever history classroom in America. It makes you understand the American Revolution, the rise of American politics, and the humanization of the country's founding fathers.

This is simply put, quality work! I enjoyed every episode. I didn't want it to end.

"John Adams" is one of the best , if not the BEST Historical Video Presentation to come down the pike in a long time. The casting, acting, wardrobe and photography were SUPERB!

The only critizism I would give is the lack of DETAIL in some of the scenes and to increase the length of the video another 2 hours.

The packaging of this video is EXCELLENT and has become a HIGHLIGHT of my VIDEO LIBRARY.

I am a very fussy and ardent fan of early U.S. history and am blown away by this production. Acting is phenomenal, art direction, makeup, sets, etc., all far beyond the ordinary. In short, I'm very glad I bought it.