John Adams (HBO Miniseries)

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.

DVD Features:
Documentary
Featurette
Production Notes

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

Great
Absolutely one of the best, most informative mini-series I have seen. It covered much of the verifiable facts without using alot of todays's revisionist/PC jargon. Many have little information on Adams, and this series covers quite a bit of ground from all angles; again - job well done.

I would highly recommend this for factual history lessons/classes in school, and also for avid history buffs.

Simply Fabulous!
We missed this show when it was released. We had heard that it was a fabulous and very accurate portrayal of the events surrounding our founding as a nation. Our family LOVED it and highly recommend it for family viewing. There is one "love scene" between John and Abigail that wouldn't be appropriate for younger children and a couple of surgeries that were graphically portrayed so keep your remote handy to fast forward.

The production values are magnificent, the character development is excellent and overall it made us want to buy the book and read it as well.

Very well done! The life of John Adams that you didn't read in history books in school!
My husband and I just finished watching this HBO series on John Adams. It was a wonderfully done, authentic rendition of the book written by Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough. It took us several evenings to complete this DVD set and we found ourselves eager to see the next chapter in the series. I recommend that all patriots of the USofA watch this DVD set so that you can be reminded of how our nation came to be. This production was produced by Tom Hanks and seemed to be a labor of love. Enjoy!

Entertaining and Informative series......excellent acting
I think I learned more about history and our founding fathers
than all the time I spent in school. John Adams sacrificed many years
of time with his family,because of trips abroad and meetings out of town
to help America become independent and won the Presidency by one vote....
Abigail Adams was an intelligent woman too....I didn't know much
about her..,she was intelligent,pretty, and had a lot of grit.
This dvd gives a insight into the difficulties our country and the
people of that time had and makes you feel more patriotic...

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were friends,
adversaries,and then friends again.

An Uncanny Fact is, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on the
same day JULY 4th 1826..on the 50th anniversary of our Independence.
I never knew that.

The acting was impeccable.....

I think anyone that is interested in History will enjoy this series...
some nudity and intense scenes...not for little kids...

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