John Adams Season 1

DVD Wholesale Quick Overview:

From HBO Films comes this Emmy(R)-winning, seven-part miniseries starring Paul Giamatti as John Adams, the Founding Father and 2nd President of the U.S who played a pivotal role in fostering the American Revolution and building a republic.

Watching John Adams is my yearly ritual. This is one of the rare instances where , despite the usual “artistic liberties” taken that good History is still so very well done and portrayed on film. True, Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney gives a masterful performances as John and Abigal Adams, and the rest of the casting is spot on, but this is the second HBO films production (the first Being Band of Brothers) that seem to be done with actual respect and reverence to the topic and intent on illuminating the true essence and urgency of the turbulent times before, during and even after the American Revolution. The Harrowing images of war, Washington’s pessimism, Adams’ struggle to be heard and sway congress to Independence is strongly felt and a sense of frustration and urgency is felt just as the relief and joy is felt during the outcome. The viewer is truly drawn in for the full experience and not just mere observation.

Of course it helps that the Author, David Mccullough was on hand every step of the way from development to the actual filming and that the Director, Tom Hooper and his team of make-up artists, costumers, set designers and even his CGI team aimed to produce as brilliantly authentic production as possible. The care and craft of this production is so well and beautifully done that every award for this program is so very much deserved.

– D. Matlack

Goes into quite a bit of depth. There are times it seems a bit slow, but one can truly appreciate what John Adams went through.
He allows his son to leave to go to another country (when the boy was 14 years old — what a different time then!), then doesn’t see his son again until the fellow is in his 20s. He’s also separated from his wife for YEARS. This really takes a considerable amount of sacrifice, courage and conviction.

We cannot appreciate some of the tougher aspects of their lives…John Adams gets sick for MONTHS, and there’s no medicine but what his body can do for him. He pays a dear price for doing service to his country.

The series appears very realistic, well done with all the minor details…depicting how the French wore makeup to cover up their infrequent bathing. How the royal court lived – so opulently while the poor live very poorly.

For those who are history buffs, you should like it. FOR THOSE WHO WANT A QUICKIE PEEK BACK, and don’t want the details, this series might provide too much information, and move too slowly for you.

– Robert Gedzelman

DVD Wholesale Main Features :   

Genres: Drama
Director: Tom Hooper
Starring: Paul Giamatti, Laura Linney
Supporting actors: Danny Huston, John Bedford Lloyd, Justin Theroux, Ritchie Coster, Guy Henry, Steven Hinkle, Madeline Taylor, Brennan Brown, Boris McGiver, Tom Beckett, Bill Buell, Vincent Renart, Melissa Blue, Jim Carmalt, Cheyenne Casebier, Chris Clabo, Dara Coleman, Michael Hall D’Addario
Season year: 29/09/2010
Region: Region A/1
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number of discs: 3
Producers: David Coatsworth, Frank Doelger, Kirk Ellis, Gary Goetzman, Tom Hanks, Amy McKenzie, Kirk Saduski, Steve Shareshian, Greg Spence, Graham Yost
Format: Multiple Formats, AC-3, Box set, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English
Run Time: 430 minutes