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| Actors: Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney
Studio: HBO
List Price: $59.99
Buy New: $20.99
as of 11/23/2009 04:11 CST details
You Save: $39.00 (65%)
New (50) Used (26) Collectible (1) from $20.53
Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  653 reviews
Sales Rank: 42
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, 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 5.8 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 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 11-15 of 653
 A time when men rose to the occasion and achieved greatness October 19, 2009
Joseph P. Menta, Jr. (Philadelphia, PA USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I guess one could always quibble about what was included or not included, emphasized or not emphasized, from the David McCollough book of the same name, but looking at this production just as an HBO mini-series, it's a complete triumph. One gets a generous examination of a variety of events: the famous ones we all learned about in school, lesser known historical events (John Adams actually defended the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre, for example), and all kinds of other things that took place over the course of John Adams' personal life. It's all facinating and involving, without a shred of boredom.
Like the book's approach, the mini-series' seven parts (each a shade over an hour), examines history in an intelligent and detailed manner, but always filtering it through the personal lives of Mr. Adams and his associates, and the personal challenges that everyone dealt with at the time (in particular, the challenges of disease and pestilence). In other words, the story doesn't take the position of lauding great people in great times, but normal people doing their best in challenging times, which often resulted in greatness.
As pointed out by a few other reviewers, this IS some nudity during "John Adams", but it's used to illustrate things like the cruelty of tarring and feathering (it wasn't the "prankish" activity it seemed like when we learned about it in school) and the primitive nature of 18th century surgery. As such, "John Adams" is perfectly fine for older children on up, though not for those easily upset.
"John Adams" looks and sounds wonderful on standard DVD, with a special mention going to the outstanding orchestral soundtrack (both the rousing main theme and the subtle, crisp incidental music). In keeping with the theme of emphasizing the personal over the iconic, the special features on the final disc include a wonderfully entertaining profile of David McCollough, which highlights the writer's often whimsical personality and comforting home life, letting his skills speak for themselves. There's also a terrific special feature showing how many of the adaptation's special effects were created.
I often say in these Amazon reviews that the worst thing that a piece of creative work could be is boring. And "John Adams" is never that. You'll definitely learn a few things about our history and our founding fathers if you pick this series up, but you'll always be absolutely entertained along the way. As said at the outset, a triumph all around.
John Adams (HBO Miniseries) October 15, 2009
Debra A. Jackson
Very educational. Loved every minute of it. IF you are a history buff, then you will certainly love this.
Laura Linney's Film October 14, 2009
Birdman (Minnetonka, MN USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I was surprised, impressed and moved by this magnificent, albeit compressed, account of the lives of our most compelling founding father and mother. While Paul Giamatti, at first blush, did not seem the John Adams type, his generous, authentic performance was over the top. I admire the fact that screenwriters incorporated so much essential information in less than eight hours of running time, and that the drama never flagged for a moment.
I must say that this was Laura Linney's film. Her portrayal of Abigail exceeded all my expectations and reminded me how underutilized this splendid actress has been in the US. She brought her role to life with humor, pathos and innuendo. Her dialogues with Jefferson smoked. Her occasional rages at John, for all his absences, were wrenching. And the scene in which she watches her children receive innoculations for smallpox was deeply disturbing. In turn, her struggle to maintain emotional strength as Nabby struggled to survive the illness were unspeakably moving.
I could go on and on about the cameos and other principal performances, perhaps the most surprising of which was David Morse as Washington. I'll simply say the casting was dead-on.
When I saw Tom Hanks' Playtone logo, I expected quality. What I did not expect is that I would be moved to the marrow. JOHN ADAMS is a must-see for anyone who wants a sense of the human beings who won and secured our country. Even more, it establishes Abigail Adams' position as a founder more significant than half the signers of the Declaration.
A beautiful series which deserved all the accolades it received.
if I look at even the smallest thing my imagination begins to roam the Milky Way! October 10, 2009
C. CRADDOCK (Bakersfield)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
David McCullough, the historian who wrote the biography of John Adams upon which this seven part mini-series was based, has won 2 Pulitzer Prizes. After seeing John Adams it is easy to see why. He researches his subjects until he almost knows them better than his own family. He takes what he has learned and tells the story so you see not only what they did, but why. He brings history to life. By focusing on John Adams he was careful not to be distracted too much by all the colorful characters such as Jefferson, Washington, Hamilton, and Franklin. They were all in the story, but it followed Adams and the Adams family, leaving out lots of other material. The story was about Adams and his role in the foundation of our republic, so that was as it should be. Adams has until now been kind of an unsung hero.
Abigail Adams was also an unsung heroine, well played by Laura Linney. She was a feminist before there was even a word for such a thing, and gave her husband, John Adams, great advice. When he was away from her, he often made bad decisions. Unfortunately, she spent many years apart from him. After the American Revolution, she did get to join him in Europe, where she made quite an impression. While there she had an interesting flirtation with Thomas Jefferson, but later, when they were political enemies, she backed her husband to the hilt. Abigail had severe trials and tribulations, like when she had to have her family vacinated against smallpox. This was a risky and untested medical procedure in the 1700's. Abigail ran a farm and family, often all on her own.
Throughout John Adams there was great production with lots of special effects and green screens to produce epic crowds and battles, and all manner of magnificent historical moments. Very good attention to the detail of the clothes, even changing styles year by year. What kind of three cornered hats did the fashionable folk wear in 1776? Watching John Adams, you are taken back in time to those tumultous days.
Hamilton was a very interesting character and the dynamic between he and Jefferson, or Hamilton and Washington, was clearly illuminated. Hamilton longed to be an aristocrat and thought the country should be ruled by the rich and elite, or even a monarchy; while Jefferson believed in the ideal of Democracy. He saw his path to glory through war, which he longed for. Hamilton was much smarter about finances than Jefferson, and we have him to thank for our Federal Banks. Though Hamilton was an aide to George Washington, many thought that through his strong will he was really the one pulling the strings. Hamilton was well played by Rufus Sewell, who captured what must have been Alexander Hamilton's intensity well.
In John Adams there is a great scene when in later years Adams views the iconic painting of the signing of the declaration of independence but says they were never all in one place signing, but scurrying to and fro preparing for war. He was kind of grumpy, and had his sideways "Merlot" moments, but after all he had been through, you could see why he felt and acted as he did.
John Adams had some disappointments with his children, like one died an alcoholic, and another married a man who got into severe debt and had to leave his wife to seek work elsewhere. This daughter had breast cancer, had a masectomy, and later died after a relapse. On a more positive note, his oldest son, John Quincy Adams, later became President, though both John and John Quincy Adams only lasted for one term apiece.
Paul Giamatti was great as Mr. Adams. He played Adams in every direction but sideways. Like Giamatti, Adams was short, grumpy, and not very attractive, but he held to his principles and accomplished a lot.
Giamatti showed well the successes and failures of John Adams -- his strengths and his flaws -- for instance, he was really a fish out of water in France, and awkward as well in Britain, after the war. In France he couldn't keep up with Franklin. In Britain, he meets young insane King George and has to bow awkwardly. He spoke out and said what was on his mind, but this wasn't always the most diplomatic way to approach.
Adams was ready to fight and go to war if necessary, but after the American Revolution was over he opposed Alexander Hamilton who wanted very badly to go to war with France. Though Adams mostly sided with Jefferson against Hamilton, Jefferson repayed him with betrayal, when for political reasons Thomas Jefferson was harshly critical and spread vicious rumors. Interestingly, too, as Adams got older he gave up his grudge and corresponded with Jefferson, as there was hardly anyone left who had been through what they had been through, who could understand and talk about it with him. Their correspondence was a great source of material for John Adams, the seven part mini-series.
Great ending when both he and Jefferson die on the Fourth of July, exactly 50 years after 1776. How thoughtful of them to provide such an auspicious ending to the seven part mini-series. Famous last words of John Adams:
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John Adams: Thomas Jefferson survives.
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Still competitive with his old rival, but actually it was Adams who survived Jefferson, if but only by a few hours. Though Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence that said "all men are created equal" he was a slave owner. John and Abigail Adams managed to operate their farm without slaves.
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John Adams: My thoughts are so clear to me... each one takes perfect shape within my mind. But when I speak, when I offer them to others, they seem to lose all definition.
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John Adams wasn't the first time Giamatti and Linney played man and wife. In 2007's The Nanny Diaries (Widescreen Edition) Paul and Laura were Mr. and Mrs. X.
Also in 2007 Laura Linney was in The Savages, where she played Wendy Savage, Philip Seymour Hoffman's sister.
Laura Linney was Claire, Gabriel Byrne's better half, in 2006's Jindabyne. This film from down under shows Claire struggling to make amends with the aboriginals when her husband finds a murdered woman floating in the river while on a fishing trip, and instead of going back to report it her husband and his fishing buddies keep on fishing.
In The Exorcism of Emily Rose - Unrated (Special Edition) (2005) Tom Wilkinson (who played Benjamin Franklin) was Father Moore; and Laura Linney was Erin Bruner.
The Squid and the Whale (Special Edition), also from 2005, has Laura Linney as Joan Berkman, the wife of a self-absorbed professor played by Jeff Daniels.
2004's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind gave us another great Tom Wilkinson performance as Dr. Howard Mierzwiak, the inventor of a process to erase unpleasant memories that is utilized by Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet to erase memories of each other.
Laura Linney was playing Clara McMillen, the wife of Professor Albert Kinsey, in 2004's Kinsey. Though she often plays the wives of accomplished men, she is never overshadowed by them, and her own strong personality always comes through. She understands and admires the men, but also sees their faults all too clearly. Clara McMillen is the role that most reminded me of her Abigail Adams.
Paul Giamatti was priceless as Miles, the wine connoisseur in the 2004 vintage Sideways, who refused to drink Merlot. He played a very flawed individual who was very hard to like, but by the end he had you, and you too would henceforth eschew Merlot for Pinot Noir. When you think about it, Miles was kind of a latter day John Adams in some ways.
In American Splendor from 2003 Paul Giamatti was Harvey Pekar, another rugged individualist who could be grumpy and stubborn, like John Adams.
Though 1998's The Truman Show starred Jim Carrey, it did feature Laura Linney as Meryl Burbank and Hannah Gill; and Paul Giamatti was the Control Room Director. Who could predict that 200 years earlier they would end up married?
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John Adams: I have seen a queen of France with 18 million livres of diamonds on her person, but I declare that all the charms of her face and figure added to all the glitter of her jewels did not impress me as much as that little shrub right there. Now your mother always said that I never delighted enough in the mundane, but now I find that if I look at even the smallest thing my imagination begins to roam the Milky Way!
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 HBO John Adams Series October 8, 2009
L. Logan (BIrmingham, AL)
My 10th grade son needed a series of movies for his US honors history class at school. Our whole family enjoyed sitting down watching this series. In fact I learned alot of historical facts about John Adams and his important role in the Continental Congress and drafting the Declaration of Independence. Some of the language did involve some curse words which was not essential to the movie.
Showing reviews 11-15 of 653
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