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John Adams | 
| Director: Tom Hooper
Actors: Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney, David Morse, Sarah Polley, Rufus Sewell
Studio: HBO Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: CDN$ 74.98
Buy New: CDN$ 54.99
You Save: CDN$ 19.99 (27%)
New (8) Used (3) from CDN$ 49.99
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 481
Format: Ntsc, Widescreen
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Aspect Ratio: 1.77:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
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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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.ca
Based on David McCullough's bestselling biography, the HBO miniseries iJohn Adams/i 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. p Besides this peek into a less-romanticized version of the past, iJohn Adams/i 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. i--Tom Keogh /i
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| Customer Reviews:
 I am completely blown away! Well done... December 21, 2008
Winston (Canada)
I should admit this has completely blown me away. Probably the best TV show in years. Great acting and story line. Wonderfully done. Paul Giammati is just great as John Adams. The tv shows shatter the cliches and framed historical characters we hear about every day. Also, the viewers get to see the birth of the USA as a nation and a republic. I didn't know that Jefferson was so revolutionary and passionate about revolting against the status quo. And I had no idea about the role the Netherlands had played in the American revolution and I consider myself an Americophile. So much to learn and enjoy. Highly recommended, especially to clueless youngsters of our time. Job well done.
Almost as good as the book November 21, 2008
R. Doig (Alberta, Canada)
I read the Pullitzer Prize winning book, John Adams, by David McCullough, not realizing it had been made into a mini-series. The book was excellent. Despite being a 700+ page historical biography, it actually held my attention, kept me up late and night and reduced me to tears in places, especially when it recounts how John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. br /I thought the mini-series was also very well done. The acting was great, the way it brought the events to life was breathtaking. I loved the portrayal of Abigail Adams by Laura Linney. This mini-series is definitely worth watching and will have a proud place in my collection. br /I have a few little points of contention when it comes to the portrayal of various characters. I thought, for example, the movie made John Adams out to be a little ridiculous at times, putting in words into his mouth in public settings which were actually said in private letters. The demise of his son Charles being a consequence of his lack of parental involvement was not as clear cut in the book as the movie made it seem, nor was John Quincy quite so bullied by his father. The book also makes much more of the duplicity of Thomas Jefferson, the indolence of Benjamin Franklin and the designs of Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson and Franklin still come out as heroes in the movie. Perhaps I bring up these points because the book makes you admire and love John Adams despite his weaknesses. If you enjoyed the mini-series, read the book too. It fills everything out, adds detail and insight, and gives a real appreciation for the Second US President who is so often overshadowed by Washington and Jefferson.
It's like being there ... September 7, 2008
Yves Fournier (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec Canada)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I am no history major, just a history buff, and as such, this series blew me away. Very well acted, un-manicured, beautiful settings, quality stuff with lots of extras. The documentary about Mccullough's writing habits is excellent. It makes you want to know more aout this time and place in history. Now proudly sits on the shelf next to another Tom Hanks masterpiece, Band of Brothers.
 Um, Why? August 10, 2008
Dave and Joe (Toronto, Ontario)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a wonderfully crafted mini-series. The writing is superb, the acting is terrific. So, what's wrong with it. Was it me, or was anyone else wondering why they picked John Adams? He didn't really do much, acheive much, he was kind of in the right place at the right time. I didn't catch why I should care about this guy. I loved his relationship with his wife, but his relationship with his nation was not all that stirring. Glad I saw it even if I wonder why.
The Birth of a Nation August 5, 2008
Coach C (Canada)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
In this 7-part miniseries HBO has captured what Historian Gordon Wood describes as "The Radicalism of the American Revolution". As a Canadian, I had to wait until the DVD release but it was well worth the wait. br / br /If you're looking for action, intricate battle scenes or romance you'll find little here. Instead, "John Adams" looks at the life of the second President of the US from a career and familial point of view. The intellectual exchanges between Adams and Benjamin Franklin, Adams and Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and Jefferson, and last but not least the fascinating exchanges between the congress of 13 states debating the issue of independence are wonderfully done. HBO recreates this cataclysmic moment in history with great purpose immersing the viewer with every spoken word. br / br /The acting is equally superb. Paul Giamatti is electric as John Adams and Laura Linney brings the beauty, grace and intellectual brilliance of Abigail Adams to life. br / br /For those in Canada who are relatively unfamiliar with American history, this HBO mini-series is an excellent primer in understanding the fundamental pillars of the creation of the American republic and how they still impact the way America works today.
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