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Author Topic: HBO's miniseries John Adams  (Read 28917 times)

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Online SSG Snuggle Bunny

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #125 on: April 13, 2008, 07:39:26 PM »
Quote from: Wretched Excess on April 13, 2008, 07:11:21 PM

tonight's episode covers his presidency and the bitter election of 1800.  I've been waiting for this one;
it will be interesting to see how they treat it. 


Diebold figures prominently.
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Offline LadyLiberty

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #126 on: April 13, 2008, 07:44:30 PM »
Quote from: Mr Snuggle Bunny on April 13, 2008, 07:39:26 PM
Quote from: Wretched Excess on April 13, 2008, 07:11:21 PM

tonight's episode covers his presidency and the bitter election of 1800.  I've been waiting for this one;
it will be interesting to see how they treat it. 


Diebold figures prominently.

Actually, that is not too far off the mark. In last week's episode, Adams learns that the very first election was somewhat crooked. I don't know if that is true or not.
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Offline LadyLiberty

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #127 on: April 13, 2008, 07:45:49 PM »
Quote from: CactusCarlos on April 07, 2008, 12:11:11 PM
Ok, so what did Adams have such a desire to change the title of the president ("His Majesty" was one of the suggestions?!)  :mental:

I think he wanted to give the POTUS a title that had more clout than what it has...and the rest of his colleagues disagreed, as they thought it was too much of a British thing to do.
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Offline Wretched Excess

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #128 on: April 13, 2008, 07:46:07 PM »
Quote from: Chris on April 13, 2008, 07:35:44 PM
Quote from: Wretched Excess on April 13, 2008, 07:11:21 PM
tonight's episode covers his presidency and the bitter election of 1800.  I've been waiting for this one;
it will be interesting to see how they treat it. 

That was an interesting part of the book.  The election of 1800 makes modern Presidential campaigns look like a couple of schoolgirls playing pattycake.

it's a huge event in american history;  pretty much the birth of political parties.

reading john adams made me curious to know more about the election of 1800.  there have been a ton of books written on the subject, but this one was good.



don't pick it up unless you are prepared to hate thomas jefferson. :-)
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Offline Wretched Excess

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #129 on: April 13, 2008, 07:48:41 PM »
Quote from: LadyLiberty on April 13, 2008, 07:44:30 PM
Quote from: Mr Snuggle Bunny on April 13, 2008, 07:39:26 PM
Quote from: Wretched Excess on April 13, 2008, 07:11:21 PM

tonight's episode covers his presidency and the bitter election of 1800.  I've been waiting for this one;
it will be interesting to see how they treat it. 


Diebold figures prominently.

Actually, that is not too far off the mark. In last week's episode, Adams learns that the very first election was somewhat crooked. I don't know if that is true or not.

there was a good bit of scheming to keep aaron burr out of office in the first few elections.  shooting alexander hamilton dead ultimately takes care of that concern.
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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #130 on: April 13, 2008, 07:49:56 PM »
Quote from: Wretched Excess on April 13, 2008, 07:46:07 PM
don't pick it up unless you are prepared to hate thomas jefferson. :-)
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Offline Chris_

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #131 on: April 13, 2008, 07:50:06 PM »
Quote from: Wretched Excess on April 13, 2008, 07:46:07 PM
Quote from: Chris on April 13, 2008, 07:35:44 PM
Quote from: Wretched Excess on April 13, 2008, 07:11:21 PM
tonight's episode covers his presidency and the bitter election of 1800.  I've been waiting for this one;
it will be interesting to see how they treat it. 

That was an interesting part of the book.  The election of 1800 makes modern Presidential campaigns look like a couple of schoolgirls playing pattycake.

it's a huge event in american history;  pretty much the birth of political parties.

reading john adams made me curious to know more about the election of 1800.  there have been a ton of books written on the subject, but this one was good.



don't pick it up unless you are prepared to hate thomas jefferson. :-)

Excellent.  I'm always looking for something to read. 
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Offline LadyLiberty

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #132 on: April 13, 2008, 07:51:22 PM »
Quote from: Wretched Excess on April 13, 2008, 07:48:41 PM
Quote from: LadyLiberty on April 13, 2008, 07:44:30 PM
Quote from: Mr Snuggle Bunny on April 13, 2008, 07:39:26 PM
Quote from: Wretched Excess on April 13, 2008, 07:11:21 PM

tonight's episode covers his presidency and the bitter election of 1800.  I've been waiting for this one;
it will be interesting to see how they treat it. 


Diebold figures prominently.

Actually, that is not too far off the mark. In last week's episode, Adams learns that the very first election was somewhat crooked. I don't know if that is true or not.

there was a good bit of scheming to keep aaron burr out of office in the first few elections.  shooting alexander hamilton dead ultimately takes care of that concern.

OK, I am definitely reading that book that you just recommended...I know nothing of what you just said here, and now I need to know  :-)
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Offline Wretched Excess

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #133 on: April 13, 2008, 09:54:07 PM »
they are portraying hamilton too negatively, and jefferson too positively.

hamilton was the central figure in the federalist faction, which made him a target
of the republicans, and was a controversial figure for reasons having to do with,
um, "character", I suppose you would call it  . . .  he slept around.  but he wasn't
the frivolous and slightly comical figure that they are  making him out to be.  and
he may very well have followed jefferson as president if aaron burr didn't blow him
away in a duel.

jefferson was a complete pain in the ass to two presidents, and he and madison
weren't the most noble or ethical people in the run up to the election of 1800.  he is
probably my least favorite founding father.  they are also underplaying his rapturous
adulation for france and all things french.   he remained under the spell of the ideals
of the french revolution, despite the fact that it had long since devolved into The Terror.

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Offline DixieBelle

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #134 on: April 14, 2008, 09:09:32 AM »
They have portrayed Jefferson in a very understated manner. Even the actor playing him is being cool and collected. He speaks in soothing tones and doesn't make any sudden movements. It's very well done from a critic's perspective. Historically accurate? I dunno. But, he is making TJ likeable. He comes across as Adams' foil and this is the John Adams story after all. I really need to pick up that book you mentioned upthread.....
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No, my friends, there’s only one really progressive idea. And that is the idea of legally limiting the power of the government. That one genuinely liberal, genuinely progressive idea — the Why in 1776, the How in 1787 — is what needs to be conserved. We need to conserve that fundamentally liberal idea. That is why we are conservatives. --Bill Whittle

Offline Chris_

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #135 on: April 15, 2008, 01:13:04 AM »
Quote from: Wretched Excess on April 13, 2008, 07:46:07 PM
it's a huge event in american history;  pretty much the birth of political parties.

reading john adams made me curious to know more about the election of 1800.  there have been a ton of books written on the subject, but this one was good.



don't pick it up unless you are prepared to hate thomas jefferson. :-)

Well, that was quick.  My book is already waiting for me at the library.

I love the innernetz. :)
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Offline Wretched Excess

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #136 on: April 20, 2008, 12:12:43 PM »

HBO is doing an afternoon-long marathon right now.  it looks like they are doing all of the episodes in sequence,
right up until the latest one tonight.

episode 1 is on now.
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Offline DixieBelle

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #137 on: April 20, 2008, 12:47:18 PM »
Finale tonight! Can't wait! Tried to get kiddo into the marathon. He ain't buying it. Sigh. Too much for his age I guess.
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I can see November 2 from my house!!!

Spread my work ethic, not my wealth.

Forget change, bring back common sense.
-------------------------------------------------

No, my friends, there’s only one really progressive idea. And that is the idea of legally limiting the power of the government. That one genuinely liberal, genuinely progressive idea — the Why in 1776, the How in 1787 — is what needs to be conserved. We need to conserve that fundamentally liberal idea. That is why we are conservatives. --Bill Whittle

Offline Wretched Excess

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #138 on: April 20, 2008, 06:58:21 PM »
Quote from: DixieBelle on April 20, 2008, 12:47:18 PM
Finale tonight! Can't wait! Tried to get kiddo into the marathon. He ain't buying it. Sigh. Too much for his age I guess.

heh.  the marathon was almost too much for me. :-)  the continuity from having them back to back
does help, I think.

and the finale is on in an hour. 
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Offline dutch508

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #139 on: April 20, 2008, 07:12:30 PM »
Quote from: Wretched Excess on April 20, 2008, 06:58:21 PM
Quote from: DixieBelle on April 20, 2008, 12:47:18 PM
Finale tonight! Can't wait! Tried to get kiddo into the marathon. He ain't buying it. Sigh. Too much for his age I guess.

heh.  the marathon was almost too much for me. :-)  the continuity from having them back to back
does help, I think.

and the finale is on in an hour. 


you know how it ends, right?


SPOILER










(They hit an iceberg and the ship sinks.)
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Offline DixieBelle

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #140 on: April 21, 2008, 08:42:19 AM »
^Good thing I didn't read your post before the show! :-)

Okay, OH MY GOD! How about poor Nabby??? Yikes!!!

I thought the last episode was done well. It wrapped up things nicely and I liked the portrayal of TJ and JA reading their letters. I loved JA's critque of the artist who did the painting too. Brilliantly done!

Overall, I loved this series and I will probably buy the DVD's.
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I can see November 2 from my house!!!

Spread my work ethic, not my wealth.

Forget change, bring back common sense.
-------------------------------------------------

No, my friends, there’s only one really progressive idea. And that is the idea of legally limiting the power of the government. That one genuinely liberal, genuinely progressive idea — the Why in 1776, the How in 1787 — is what needs to be conserved. We need to conserve that fundamentally liberal idea. That is why we are conservatives. --Bill Whittle

Offline BEG

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #141 on: April 21, 2008, 10:35:02 PM »
Quote from: DixieBelle on April 21, 2008, 08:42:19 AM
^Good thing I didn't read your post before the show! :-)

Okay, OH MY GOD! How about poor Nabby??? Yikes!!!

I thought the last episode was done well. It wrapped up things nicely and I liked the portrayal of TJ and JA reading their letters. I loved JA's critque of the artist who did the painting too. Brilliantly done!

Overall, I loved this series and I will probably buy the DVD's.

I just caught the last episode tonight on my DVR.  I absolutely loved this series.  I agree with your statements on the last episode as well. 
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Offline Chris_

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #142 on: April 21, 2008, 10:43:06 PM »
I don't have HBO.  :bawl:

I liked the book but it was difficult to follow in some places.  I'm just going to have to hold my breath until they release it on DVD.
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Offline Chris_

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #143 on: May 07, 2008, 04:59:24 PM »
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Offline Chris_

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #144 on: June 11, 2008, 04:50:19 PM »
My DVD order just showed up.
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Offline The Ocean

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #145 on: June 11, 2008, 05:24:39 PM »
Came in the mail this afternoon. I am on part three, and I may just watch all nineish hours of it tonight.
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Offline djones520

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #146 on: June 24, 2008, 02:03:28 AM »
We just got this in the video store this pass weekend.  I've watched the first two episodes, and I'm enjoying it immensely.  I've been curious about some of the historical accuracy (was Adams a first responder at the site of the Massacre; where his children really "innoculated" for small pox; etc...), but all in all I'm greatly impressed.  Almost immediately they began to show differances between Adams and Jeffersons differances in governmental views, but if you wheren't aware of the bit of history there you probably wouldn't have really caught it.

I'm going to watch the rest of the series over the next few days.  I hope it keeps me as impressed as it has so far.
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Offline Miss Mia

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #147 on: June 24, 2008, 11:28:16 AM »
I got my DVD of at the end of last week.  I'm going to start it tonight.

Thanks to Chris on the heads up that it was only $35 on Amazon.   :-)
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Offline Chris_

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #148 on: June 24, 2008, 06:35:06 PM »
I liked the DVD, but I have to admit, I enjoyed the book a lot more.
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Offline Zafod Beeblebrox

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Re: HBO's miniseries John Adams
« Reply #149 on: June 25, 2008, 09:17:56 AM »
Quote from: Mr Snuggle Bunny on March 17, 2008, 05:10:37 PM



I just saw Giamatti in Shoot 'Em Up.



One of the worst films ever (behind freddy got fingered)
I lost 2 hours of my life I will never have back ....
good thing I pulled it from a torrent online and didnt have to pay to watch it....
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