tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931682382198278362.post2413652634239831349..comments2024-03-28T21:32:05.688-06:00Comments on American Revolution Blog: Early Reviews for HBO's "John Adams"Brad Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669677047039491864noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931682382198278362.post-23716983763614559832015-03-17T15:40:07.866-06:002015-03-17T15:40:07.866-06:00HBO's John Adams is a thrilling realization of...HBO's John Adams is a thrilling realization of, what I'd say, is the fact that history is more extraordinary and more interesting than fiction. Film makers, even those keenly interested in historical accuracy, face a challenge to condense events without missing key aspects of the story and to get the personality and bearing of historical characters right. The handful of movies made about the life of Beethoven suggests how difficult this can be. Each depicts Beethoven's anti-social behavior and deafness from mild to severe, from quirky to seemingly mad, from hard of hearing to utterly deaf. The periods in his life portrayed don't seem to be the key difference, it seems to be the conception of the filmmakers that changes.<br /><br />"John Adams" is more careful and thoughtful on these questions but the John Adams of the film differs from the John Adams of McCullough's biography and other other biographies. It seems to me that the irascible, unlikable, inappropriate and bitter parts of Adams personality have been emphasized for dramatic contrast with his extraordinary accomplishments. And John Adams, the difficult patriot and father of his country who on occasion undermined his own efforts and his reputation is the core of the plot. It seems to be a way to make a film that film makers can't resist.<br /><br />"John Adams" does an admirable job of condensing events and devising conversations among the characters that never happened but do an incredibly good job of portraying events accurately. One of my favorite scene is when Citizen Genet makes an impertinent display in the office of the President with Jefferson Hamilton advising Washington. This meeting never occurred but each character's viewpoint and remarks relative to the issue are accurately portrayed. One short scene tell teh whole story.David J Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10760087405580284041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931682382198278362.post-3697941272415438482008-03-16T16:42:00.000-06:002008-03-16T16:42:00.000-06:00The biggest problem I have so far wit the series -...The biggest problem I have so far wit the series - based on the early reviews - is the filmmakers' decision to associate John Hancock and Sam Adams with the tarring and feathering scene that is to be graphically portrayed in tonight's episode. <BR/><BR/>I'm all for them showing someone getting tarred and feathered. I think it's important for Americans to see that the mob stuff happening in New England (and other parts of the colonies) wasn't all good. IN fact, the mobs could be very brutal, which is why many Founders (incl Adams) shied away from "mob rule." <BR/><BR/>But the filmmakers could've made that point, without dragging down Hancock and Sam Adams.Brian Tubbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15412421076480479001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931682382198278362.post-83329129606395322522008-03-15T14:40:00.000-06:002008-03-15T14:40:00.000-06:00I agree. I think HBO did a pretty good job with t...I agree. I think HBO did a pretty good job with the casting for this project. I'm sure that there will be a few mistakes here and there (mistakes that historians are sure to take note of), but I think that the overall opinion of this miniseries will be pretty positive.Brad Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17669677047039491864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6931682382198278362.post-9941674370343154092008-03-15T14:03:00.000-06:002008-03-15T14:03:00.000-06:00Paul Giamatti is a genious, and him potraying Adam...Paul Giamatti is a genious, and him potraying Adams makes sense. Adams wasn't the most "savy" guy, but hey he was a founding president. Lets see if Giamatti can go beyond my expectations, and my expectations are alreading pretty high.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com