tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931682382198278362.post3433261848726578538..comments2024-03-28T21:32:05.688-06:00Comments on American Revolution Blog: Thoughts on "John Adams," Round 1Brad Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669677047039491864noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931682382198278362.post-88967765061032742082008-03-21T17:40:00.000-06:002008-03-21T17:40:00.000-06:00To follow up, though, I must commend Tom Hanks, th...To follow up, though, I must commend Tom Hanks, the cast, and HBO overall. They did a splendid job.<BR/><BR/>I particularly liked how well they reconstructed the 18th century, their handling of the Boston Massacre, and the debates within the Continental Congress. Great job in the portrayal of John Dickinson!!! That character (esp that final speech) was extemely well played.Brian Tubbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15412421076480479001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931682382198278362.post-82103104184670237422008-03-21T17:23:00.000-06:002008-03-21T17:23:00.000-06:00Finally saw it myself. Okay, I agree pretty much w...Finally saw it myself. Okay, I agree pretty much with Brad's summary. I will add the following critiques:<BR/><BR/>1) No mention of Thomas Paine. I'm not a Paine fan, but <I>Common Sense</I> was enormously influential in shifting public opinion toward independence. I know Adams was no fan of Paine, but it's really a shame that the film couldn't at least mention Paine. <BR/><BR/>2) There was no need to make John Hancock (and Sam Adams) responsible for the tarring and feathering scene. I'm glad the scene was in there, but it was not necessary to tarnish those men's reputations in portraying it. There's no evidence that i'm aware of that either of those men directly supported or participated in the tarring and feathering of Loyalists. <BR/><BR/>3. The actor portraying Washington does a good job, but GW is shown as being TOO old in the film. This seems to be a trend among many Revolutionary War documentaries and films, but Washington was 43 at the time of his being named Commander-in-Chief. GW looks like he's in his 50s or 60s in this miniseries. I'm sure the war aged him quickly, but no need to show him as an old man at the beginning of it.Brian Tubbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15412421076480479001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931682382198278362.post-13521982594472620732008-03-18T16:13:00.000-06:002008-03-18T16:13:00.000-06:00I am back!!!! Ever try to review the reform movem...I am back!!!! Ever try to review the reform movements and teach the Missouri Compromise and the Monroe Doctrine in one day? Whew!!!<BR/> Anywho, I wanted to point out that the tar and feather scene may just have been representative of the street violence prevelant on the streets of Boston. There were plenty od street toughs getting busy, hanging people from the Liberty Tree, beatings, breaking every window in the lt. governor's house amongst other things. There happens to be an excellent book...."Paul Revere and the Time He Lived In" by the inestimable esther Forbes. Since I was only previously familiar with her Newberry Award winning "Johnny Tremain" which has been force-fed and thus reviled by generations of students. ( I use "My Brother Sam Is Dead" by Collier and Collier). It is excellent peek into colonial Boston, meticulouly researched andweel-written. It was a pleasure to read.<BR/> I agree the first installment was overall well done. But it would not taken much to show that several of the soldiers from the Boston Massacre were convicted of manslaughter, they were not all acquitted. Also, more a little more of Sam Adams, John Hancock and Dr. Joseph Warren or other prominent Sons of Liberty (Paul Revere) could have had a little more attention. I think a general viewership would have been a little more intersted with passing characters they would have recognized like Paul Revere.<BR/> I am with Steve about the tarring for a particular reason, since they stripped his pants I will have to edit or have a harder time securing permission for classroom use.<BR/> Also, Sam Adams may have had money at one time...but by the time of FCC he was broke. Hancock was bankrolling him. It is said that Sam Adams wrote the letters, Hancock paid for the stamps.David Mabryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17261259862668271212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931682382198278362.post-77462560639728315962008-03-17T16:48:00.000-06:002008-03-17T16:48:00.000-06:00An excellent show. I was entertained.An excellent show. I was entertained.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931682382198278362.post-62070207220125103462008-03-17T14:44:00.000-06:002008-03-17T14:44:00.000-06:00Thanks for providing some additional insight into ...Thanks for providing some additional insight into the HBO production. I really enjoyed watching the show, and I also enjoy checking this site to hear what is being said about it. It provides some much appreciated clarity. Keep it coming!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931682382198278362.post-51436032585841408842008-03-17T14:34:00.000-06:002008-03-17T14:34:00.000-06:00I liked what I saw from last night's show. I did ...I liked what I saw from last night's show. I did not like, however, the fact that Hancock and Sam Adams were associated with the tarring and feathering scene...that never happened. I also think that the scene where Franklin, Adams, and Jefferson were debating the Declaration of Independence was not accurate. They should have also put Washington's acceptance speech in the congress instead of as a side-bar discussion between Adams and Washington.<BR/><BR/>My favorite scene was the Adams speech of a "free country." VERY well done in my opinion.Steve-Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07787126423114998767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931682382198278362.post-43432016211066949612008-03-17T13:09:00.000-06:002008-03-17T13:09:00.000-06:00I agree with your general summary of the first two...I agree with your general summary of the first two "John Adams" installments. Overall, the film is very well done. I believe that the major problem of this film - and it is likely to continue throughout it - is the fact that it moves very quickly through the entire story. The seventh installment is supposed to finish with the death of John Adams. Covering the entire life of Adams will, unfortunatley, force the miniseries to move at a very fast rate, leaving much of the important history out. I guess that is the price we pay. In the end, i'm glad to see a film done on the revolution.Lindsey Shumanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13536959819608584779noreply@blogger.com