John Adams (HBO Miniseries) | 
| Actors: Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney
Studio: HBO
Category: DVD
List Price: $59.99
Buy New: $34.64
You Save: $25.35 (42%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  305 reviews
Sales Rank: 35
Format: Box Set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 3
Running Time: 501
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.9 x 1
MPN: 1000038820
UPC: 883929020065
EAN: 0883929020065
ASIN: B000WGWQG8
Theatrical Release Date: March 16, 2008
Release Date: June 10, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
John Adams is a sprawling HBO miniseries event that depicts the extraordinary life and times of one of Americas least understood and most underestimated founding fathers: the second President of the United States John Adams. Starring Paul Giamatti (Sideways Cinderella Man HBOs American Spendor) in the title role and Laura Linney (You Can Count on Me Kinsey) as Adams devoted wife Abigail John Adams chronicles the extraordinary life journey of one of the primary shapers of our independence and government whose legacy has often been eclipsed by more flamboyant contemporaries like George Washington Thomas Jefferson Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin. Set against the backdrop of a nations stormy birth this sweeping miniseries is a moving love story a gripping narrative and a fascinating study of human nature. Above all at a time when the nation is increasingly polarized politically this story celebrates the shared values of liberty and freedom upon which this country was built.Running Time: 501 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 883929020065 Manufacturer No: 1000038820
Amazon.com
Based on David McCullough's bestselling biography, the HBO miniseries John Adams is the furthest thing from a starry-eyed look at America's founding fathers and the brutal path to independence. Adams (Paul Giamatti), second president of the United States, is portrayed as a skilled orator and principled attorney whose preference for justice over anti-English passions earns enemies. But he also gains the esteem of the first national government of the United States, i.e., the Continental Congress, which seeks non-firebrands capable of making a reasoned if powerful case for America's break from England's monarchy. The first thing one notices about John Adams' dramatizations of congress' proceedings, and the fervent pro-independence violence in the streets of Boston and elsewhere, is that America's roots don't look pretty or idealized here. Some horrendous things happen in the name of protest, driving Adams to push the cause of independence in a legitimate effort to get on with a revolutionary war under the command of George Washington. But the process isn't easy: not every one of the 13 colonies-turned-states is ready to incur the wrath of England, and behind-the-scenes negotiations prove as much a part of 18th century congressional sessions as they do today. Besides this peek into a less-romanticized version of the past, John Adams is also a story of the man himself. Adams' frustration at being forgotten or overlooked at critical junctures of America's early development--sent abroad for years instead of helping to draft the U.S. constitution--is detailed. So is his dismay that the truth of what actually transpired leading to the signing of the Declaration of Independence has been slowly forgotten and replaced by a rosier myth. But above all, John Adams is the story of two key ties: Adams' 54-year marriage to Abigail Adams (Laura Linney), every bit her husband's intellectual equal and anchor, and his difficult, almost symbiotic relationship with Thomas Jefferson (Stephen Dillane) over decades. Giamatti, of course, has to carry much of the drama, and if he doesn't always seem quite believable in the series' first half, he becomes increasingly excellent at the point where an aging Adams becomes bitter over his place in history. Linney is marvelous, as is Dillane, Sarah Polley as daughter Nabby, Danny Huston as cousin Samuel Adams, and above all Tom Wilkinson as a complex but indispensable Ben Franklin. --Tom Keogh
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| Customer Reviews: Read 300 more reviews...
 Makes You Love Your Love! Who Would Have Guessed? September 4, 2008
The history shows the weak early nation. I am limited on history, but it was enjoyable to watch. The characters are not idealized so they were able to be enjoyed more.
What hit me most was the immense love of Adams and spouse, and this was acted so beautifully, it was almost something that leaked a tear. These are top actors. Thank you for sharing your gift.
 Not faithful to the book September 4, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
McCullough stated that when he wrote this book he intended to write about both Adams was more compelling and more interesting. One of the main themes that runs through the book was how uninspiring, to say the least, Thomas Jefferson's behavior was (especially towards Adams). Strangely, this never really comes up in the movie. Instead it is Adams who is presented as a curmudgeon, almost manic-depressive, cold man and Jefferson comes across as the sage from Monticello. Never mind the fact that Jefferson spent his entire life massively in debt to english creditors and ran back to his mansion whenever things got tough. No, these things never come up in the movie and we are left with an incomplete picture from which we draw inappropriate conclusions about the shortcomings of Adams. The movie never details how Jefferson undercut Adams time and time again. Instead it goes to great lengths to show how Hamilton tried to screw things up. The whole feel of the movie just falls on its face compared to the book.
For instance,what joy is there in the eventual renewal of friendship towards the ends of Adams and Jeffersons life if there is no real alienation? I hate to seem cynical, but it almost seems as if the producers are loathe to question the historical integrity of Jefferson. This couldn't have anything to do with him being the father of the Democratic Party you think?
Adams Mini-series September 4, 2008
This was an outstanding historical production. The detail was amazing. The look into the personality and character of one of our major Founding Fathers was fascinating. My only question was to the accuracy of the two references to the "White House" in episode #7. The year would have been in the very early 1800's. Not having read the book yet, it is possible that McCullough explains, but it is hard for me to believe that the now popular, even official name, of the President's home could have been used at that early time. Theodore Roosevelt first put the White House name on the official stationary of the mansion but that was after 1901. Adams was the first president to live there and although it was a white house, I don't think anyone was calling it that at that early date. A minor point in an otherwise riveting chronical. It may appeal to serious students of history more than the casual, especially in the middle few episodes. However, I would have to say that it is worthy of every one of the 23 Emmies that it has been nominated for. I was also impressed by the fact that there were few priveleged people of leisure in those days. Adams had a large estate and grounds. He, Abigail and their family were constantly laboring at Peacefield to keep up the estate and to make a living. For a man to live to the age of 90 in those days was an amazing accomplishment considering that the average life span was decades shorter than that. The other three presidents that lived to 90 or more were all in the 20th century.
John Adams - A Great Series from a Great Book September 3, 2008
This was an outstanding production that delivers more understanding of the period of our nation's founding than I had ever encountered in school. It would be well if every American would see it. And the acting and direction are superb.
 Rewarding and enlightening September 3, 2008
Although it took me almost a month to slog through HBO's series on John Adams, I persevered and found it to be a rewarding, enlightening and fascinating series. It is successful in showing the difficulties, grimness, and reality of life in 18th century America. I confess to initially thinking that Paul Giamatti as John Adams was not quite right for the role but he improved as the series progressed (into episodes 3 & 4). The series was directed by British director, Tom Hooper, and features a number of British actors: Stephen Dillane (Jefferson); Tom Wilkinson (Franklin) and Rufus Sewell (Hamilton). Personally, I found Stephen Dillane quite compelling and enigmatic as Jefferson. Dillane has always been magnificently expressive with his eyes and evokes stillness and grace while Giamatti brings more of a blustering, awkward physicality to his role: ultimately, both actors complement each other. Unlike others, I thought David Morse (usually a favorite) was merely adequate as Washington. Laura Linney as Abigail Adams has an engaging delicacy and conviction about her; unfortunately, she hardly seems to age throughout the series. Sarah Polley's performance as Abigail's daughter is deeply moving and reflective of the hardships and restrictions that women suffered during this century. My first complaint about the early episodes of the series regards the jerky camera movements; I became nauseous and irritable by the 3rd episode. However, there are outstanding moments in every episode. Also the series musical score is disappointing and unoriginal especially as it borrows 2 pieces of well-known classical works from the film "Barry Lyndon." Nevertheless, HBO's John Adams is outstanding in every other category, including costume and production design, and art direction. The series concludes with many poignant scenes. The scenes depicting the renewed correspondence between the aging Adams and Jefferson who died on the same day (July 4th) within hours of each other, could have evolved into another series.
Some of the correspondence between John and Abigail Adams is incorporated into the series which is appropriate and touching since the couple was often separated during the first decade-plus of their marriage. And one of the benefits of this John Adams series is that it will lead the audience into further exploration into early American history. I first heard excerpts of the correspondence between Adams and Jefferson on one of the American Experience Presidential series documentaries on either Adams or Jefferson. They were narrated by David McCullough who did such a fine job on the Harry Truman documentary of the same series. I also recommend reading "My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams" and "The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams." It also might be worthwhile to view the The Adams Chronicles (1976) with George Grizzard.
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