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03-18-2008, 01:11 PM
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#1 of 60 
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'John Adams' HBO Miniseries
I'm very surprised there isn't already a thread on this. I've only seen the first episode and enjoyed it very much. I have heard some complaints about Paul Giamatti playing the lead due to his physical appearance, but I know what I saw was great.
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03-18-2008, 01:19 PM
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#2 of 60
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Crawdaddy
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Re: 'John Adams' HBO Miniseries
Did you miss the second episode that came on right after the first one? A great mini-series so far.
Crawdaddy
G.W. McLintock: Camille, you're on your own.
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03-18-2008, 01:31 PM
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#3 of 60
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Re: 'John Adams' HBO Miniseries
I wanna see this, but I don't have HBO. In 4 or 5 years the inevitable DVD set (always a good thing) will drop in price to a reasonable level from HBO's exorbitant initial cost and I will see it then. In the meantime, in May I'll have the excellent PBS miniseries The Adams Chronicles, which follows the whole Adams line through lives of public service.
PatH
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03-18-2008, 01:36 PM
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#4 of 60
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Re: 'John Adams' HBO Miniseries
I'll probably try to catch the first three episodes during the free trial Comcast is doing this weekend, but who knows when I'll see the rest; the cost of the eventual BD collection already scares me.
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03-18-2008, 02:21 PM
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#5 of 60
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Re: 'John Adams' HBO Miniseries
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Originally Posted by Robert Crawford
Did you miss the second episode that came on right after the first one? A great mini-series so far.
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I have the second one on the DVR but haven't been able to watch it yet. |
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03-18-2008, 02:54 PM
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#6 of 60
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Re: 'John Adams' HBO Miniseries
I dropped HBO after John from Cincinnati ended in a cost-cutting move, so I'll have to wait for the DVDs. (And in the meantime I, too, will enjoy watching The Adams Chronicles for the first time in thirtysome years.)
Regards,
Joe
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03-18-2008, 03:51 PM
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#7 of 60
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Re: 'John Adams' HBO Miniseries
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Originally Posted by Jason Seaver
I'll probably try to catch the first three episodes during the free trial Comcast is doing this weekend, but who knows when I'll see the rest; the cost of the eventual BD collection already scares me.
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Exactly my plan. Have the DVR set to record the 3 airing during the free trial. I guess if it's that good I could order HBO for one month and then cancel it. Or wait to rent the rest later. We'll see. |
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03-18-2008, 03:51 PM
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#8 of 60
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Re: 'John Adams' HBO Miniseries
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Originally Posted by ScottH
I have heard some complaints about Paul Giamatti playing the lead due to his physical appearance, but I know what I saw was great.
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Have these people never seen a portrait of Adams? He was short and stocky so I think Giamatti is physically just right for the role. |
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03-18-2008, 04:26 PM
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#9 of 60
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Re: 'John Adams' HBO Miniseries
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Originally Posted by Kevin Hewell
Have these people never seen a portrait of Adams? He was short and stocky so I think Giamatti is physically just right for the role.
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I agree.
Here is one example of a critic complaining about it:
New York Times - 'John Adams' Review
An excerpt:
Quote:
John Adams is the weakest part of “John Adams.”
Based on David McCullough’s biography of Adams, the second president, “John Adams” is certainly worthy and beautifully made, and it has many masterly touches at the edges, especially Laura Linney as Abigail. But Paul Giamatti is the wrong choice for the hero.
It’s not his fault. Mr. Giamatti, who starred in “Sideways,” is a gifted actor. Still, in this historical drama, Mr. Giamatti is a prisoner of a limited range and rubbery, cuddly looks — in 18th-century britches and wigs, he looks like Shrek.
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He does then go on to say that "it's not about looks," but "screen presence." Not sure what he's talking about but I only saw the first hour. |
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03-18-2008, 08:33 PM
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#10 of 60
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Re: 'John Adams' HBO Miniseries
Quote:
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Have these people never seen a portrait of Adams? He was short and stocky so I think Giamatti is physically just right for the role.
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When Adams was Vice President he was given the mocking title of "His Rotundity", so I don't see what the problem is, either. (Both William Daniels - who created the role of Adams in 1776 on Broadway and reprised it in the film - and George Grizzard - who played Adams in The Adams Chronicles - were notably better looking and trimmer than the actual Adams.)
Regards,
Joe
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03-18-2008, 08:44 PM
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#11 of 60
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Re: 'John Adams' HBO Miniseries
I saw the first 2 episodes and enjoyed them both.
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03-19-2008, 01:16 AM
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#12 of 60
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Re: 'John Adams' HBO Miniseries
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He does then go on to say that "it's not about looks," but "screen presence." Not sure what he's talking about but I only saw the first hour.
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Yeah, I read the review and thought: did Giamani kick him down a flight of stairs somewhere?
Because (being a history major) I thought he was damn near dead on casting; he may be a touch to "pretty" for how people of the time period really were, but he much more closely matches the way I would perceive of John Adams based of all we know in comparison to almost any other major actor I can think of. I have been really pleased with his subtle, open performance that I think very well captures John Adams.
Very solid series. Has "EMMY" written all over it.
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03-19-2008, 05:41 AM
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#13 of 60
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Re: 'John Adams' HBO Miniseries
Love this series so far. The criticism of Paul Giamatti is unfounded IMHO.
I especially liked the scene where Jefferson, Franklin and Adams are starting to fomulate the Declaration of Independence, the looks that Adams and Jefferson exchange while Franklin is "editing" the declaration was priceless.
Looking forward to following this one - about time HBO put something worthwhile on their programming docket.
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