|
John Adams (HBO Miniseries) | 
 enlarge
| Actors: Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney
Studio: HBO
Category: DVD
List Price: $59.99
Buy New: $33.78
You Save: $26.21 (44%)
New (48) Used (20) from $32.99
Rating:  292 reviews
Sales Rank: 34
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)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Number Of Discs: 3
Running Time: 501 Minutes
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
Condition: BRAND NEW! FACTORY SEALED!
| |
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
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
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
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 287 more reviews...
 Unnecessary nudity and poor camera technique August 28, 2008
creeksidek (The Heartland)
Sadly, as in many movies based on books, the book was better. They play with the facts. The tar and feather scene shows full frontal nudity which was completely unnecessary. Unfortunately I didn't preview this before my children watched it with the family.
The Boston Massacre is a pivotal event in American History. Too bad they didn't represent it accurately. Products of public school education will be easily misled.
The cinematography is very poor. Many of the shots are way out of frame and the camera seems to be handheld by a person with a tremor problem. I began to get seasick. I kept wanting to change the camera frame and get a steady mount for it.
I liked the acting. John and Abagail were as I imagined them to be when I read the book. The costumes and scenery made me feel as though I was observing the events first hand. This made the jittery, poorly framed scenes even more disappointing.
 John Adams August 27, 2008
Denver Rose (Denver)
I originally watch the special on HBO, and I wanted to watch it again. I was very happy that you offered the mini series. I have watched it again, and passed it along to friends who have not had the pleasure of watching the original mini series. thank you for offering this special.
Great history, lots of speeches August 26, 2008
Mark Crafton (Sacramento, CA USA)
Paul Giamatti does something in this production that surprised me: he gave a performance I enjoyed as someone I would not have enjoyed knowing in life. I am not a huge history buff, so I am not sure of the accuracy of much of this production. However, I did see quite a few things that had me running for the books and wiki to see if they were true. Wonderful sets and cinematography, crazy strong cast, and very realistic feeling sets all work to make this an amazing series. My only sticky point here is that for large sections of the series, you feel as though Adams is only able to speak in angry, long, moving monologues and that the world is a place that had to stop and listen. About the 12th or 13th time, it gets a little hard to sit through again.
John Adams August 25, 2008
Michael J. Mccully (Pasadena, CA USA)
This book should be required reading in our schools. It's incredible the degree of education our founding fathers had. The book is revealing and inspiring. A must read.
Terrific and awe inspiring August 25, 2008
Charlie's mom (Hurst, TX USA)
My husband,though not being a movie fan, got up each morning anticipating the next segment. We were awed by what our founding fathers endured in order to make life so good for us. Soon afterwards, we saw another movie about someone who had never voted and he was incensed that anyone would have the gall to ignore that for which others had given so much and some had given their lives. Should be required viewing in history and government classes!
|
|
|
Copyright 2008 DVDonsale.com | |
