I just watched parts I & II of the VII part miniseries. What'd you guys think? I really enjoyed how they paid special attention to the sets & costumes, but more than that, I really liked the scenes in early 1770s Boston where you could palpably feel the unrest building & understand what colonial Massachusetts was like. I enjoyed how, during Part II, the director paid special care to show how the colonies were akin to individual nations and slowly (at least in the minds of those in Philadelphia during the summer of 1776) began to think in terms of states united to other states in a common cause. So many other colonial & revolutionary films come off as hagiographies or hero-making mythologies. This film seems to emphasize the humanness of these demigods. The actor who played John Dickinson nailed his anti-Independence speech, IMO. Jefferson was spot-on in his mannerisms & speech; Tom Wilkinson was brilliant as Franklin; David Morse at least looks the part of Washington--what a metamorphisis.

I know the reviews have called it drab & lacking in character, but I happen to disagree. If it comes off as drab, perhaps its because colonial America (with the possible exception of Philadelphia) was drab. It could be that Adams has never been a favorite son & is today often overshadowed by Jefferson, Washington, & Franklin. But I feel the character development is good thus far, especially the interplay between Abigail (Laura Linney) and John (Paul Giamatti).

I'm really looking forward to Parts III-VII. Are others watching this miniseries as well? If so, what do you think? My wife normally hates histories & biographies, but even she's enjoying this one, which leads me to believe it must be good.

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Censorship reflects society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime. ~Potter Stewart

I loved it too.

I really dont understand the drab tag. It kept my whole family tuned in for 2 1/2 hours.

I can't wait to watch it. I will catch in on on demand. Today before I went to a bbq I watched the making of and the other shorts on on demand. It looks really great.

I was actually going to post a thread about the show but you beat me to it.....loved it excited about the next episode and happy to have another historical drama on HBO joining the likes of Band of Brothers and Rome.

I'd like to see it but sadly no HBO in the dorms.

I do ADORE Rome though.

Rome was great, top quality.

Robert, do you know anywhere I can get this online?

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Trust me, I'm a socialist!

There's power in a factory,power in the land, power in the hand of the worker. But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand, there is power in a union.
The union forever defending our rights, down with the blackleg, workers unite. To our brothers and our sisters in many far off lands, there is power in a union.
Money speaks for money, the devil for his own. - Billy Bragg

Pirate. ::cough::

lol, yes, I'm in Britain though so I can't get HBO.

__________________
Trust me, I'm a socialist!

There's power in a factory,power in the land, power in the hand of the worker. But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand, there is power in a union.
The union forever defending our rights, down with the blackleg, workers unite. To our brothers and our sisters in many far off lands, there is power in a union.
Money speaks for money, the devil for his own. - Billy Bragg

The best I could find is the "Making of John Adams." I watched it on HBO. You'll at least get a feel for it:

John Adams: Making Of (HBO)

__________________
Censorship reflects society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime. ~Potter Stewart

Thanks.

I'll have a look myself to see if I can find it, or maybe just wait.

__________________
Trust me, I'm a socialist!

There's power in a factory,power in the land, power in the hand of the worker. But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand, there is power in a union.
The union forever defending our rights, down with the blackleg, workers unite. To our brothers and our sisters in many far off lands, there is power in a union.
Money speaks for money, the devil for his own. - Billy Bragg