Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: John Adams

This is topic John Adams - HBO Mini Series in forum The Afterlife at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 03-22-2008, 07:42 PM:

Has anyone been watching John Adams on HBO?

After watching the first 2 episodes of the 7 part series I think it's really good. The mini-series has an impressive cast. The script is based on a Pulitzer Prize winning book. Too bad there's not more shows like this on HBO.

Quite a few "digital backlot" techniques have been used in re-creating historic Boston and other places depicted in the series. HBO aired an interesting making-of featurette last Sunday showing some of this stuff.

It's not often I really notice the music score in a TV series, but I really like Rob Lane's music, particularly the rousing march theme on the show's opening titles.

Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 03-22-2008, 07:49 PM:

I will have to check this out I get a hard-on for anything having to do with Boston. I love that dirty water!

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 03-22-2008, 08:23 PM:

I generally like HBO original material...normally it has the highest quality in its production.

I am watching John Adams and though I think it is good...some of the shakeycam hand-held stuff is annoying...even on the "little screen."

Steve

Posted by Richard P. May (Member # 3598) on 04-07-2008, 12:42 PM:

The hand-held camera work caused us to turn off episode one after about 20 minutes. So much for that series!

WHEN will film-makers (?) realize that our heads don't bob up and down all the time.

RPM

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 06-09-2008, 12:05 PM:

I didn't think the cam work was so bad in this. Yes, it's handheld and it shakes a little but it's watchable. On the other hand I just watched "30 Days of Night" and it looked like the camera operator was having a seizure while he filmed.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 06-09-2008, 08:26 PM:

The complete series will be released tomorrow (6/10) on dvd and I am planning to buy it. It will be on sale at Best Buy for $34.95. I used to subscribe to HBO but no longer do because I get all of my movies from Blockbusters and usually rent or buy their excellent miniseries or shows on dvds. All of the reviews I read about JOHN ADAMS have been excellent and I am looking forward to watching it from tomorrow evening. I understand it covers most of Adam's life from the time he was a young attorney defending a British soldier up until his and Thomas Jefferson's death on July 4, 1826.

-Claude

Posted by Joe Tommassello (Member # 4632) on 06-10-2008, 12:12 PM:

Claude -

I think you will enjoy it very much. Stellar performances and production all around. I was particularly surprised how much CGI was used because it looks so natural. I highly suggest watching the episodes before the special features because now when I see it I think "Wow, they made that look so real!" I envy you a bit my friend for you are about to discover it for the first time.

Joe

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 06-10-2008, 07:24 PM:

Thanks, Joe,

I just picked up JOHN ADAMS from Best Buy today like I said I would and I cannot wait until tonight. I may have to watch an episode at at time because I also picked up the Ultimate Collector's Edition of HIGH NOON with Gary Cooper and got THE BUCKET LIST, THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL" and JUMPER from Blockbuster when I turned in three movies I had watched last weekend that was sent to me as part of my rental plan with them.

-Claude