"John Adams" - Page 3

Dianekkdi · 03-24-2008, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PursuitOfHappinessParty

I'm half way through the book. It makes a great pre-read, though they might catch up to me (single father = no time to read).

Adams is an overlooked founding father. I had skimmed his contributions and his history before, but I way understimated him. I am now of the opinion that he was the biggest factor in the success of our even declaring independence as well as it's success (next to Jefferson).

His winning of the trial reaffirmed to him the necessity and propriety of law. It was Brittish law he was upholding. He used it when formulating later various legal items and issues. He felt that the King was in violation of law by treating his rightful and loyal subjects in America as second class citizens. He knew that would not change. He wished for a complete break as he felt the only way England and the world would recognize the U.S. was if they unified and declared Independence as a complete nation.

I believe the smallpox inclusion in the show is very important. First, not many people know that during the revolution a second front was being fought by both sides - this disease. Second, it helps to focus the viewer more on the fact that this man was away from his family for up to 2 years at a time. A family struggling to make ends meet (they should've included his buying things for her to trade in lieu of limited $), on a slave-free working farm, and family suffering from a often fatal disease. He did this for his country.

The show is very close to the book, written well, directed and edited well, and the acting across the board is fantastic.

I am intrigued.

I've always enjoyed reading the book and watching the movie. The book is often better unless it's based on the screenplay. What is the name of the book? I'll look forward to reading it too.

The_Heretic · 03-24-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bengalcat

Last night sure portrayed the French as being rude and obnoxious. I felt bad for JA how he was treated. And yes the pox scenes are a bit icky but the tar/feather scene in 1st episode disturbed me alot. I cringed watching that.

It's the French nobility that's being protrayed and their protrayal is of decedance. 'Course, once you see scenes like that [as of 1777] you can understand why the rest of France cut their heads off twenty six years later.

bengalcat · 03-25-2008, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dianekkdi

I am intrigued.

I've always enjoyed reading the book and watching the movie. The book is often better unless it's based on the screenplay. What is the name of the book? I'll look forward to reading it too.

It's based on the book John Adams by David McCullough. McCullough has written alot of great books on history.

Dianekkdi · 03-25-2008, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Heretic

It's the French nobility that's being protrayed and their protrayal is of decedance. 'Course, once you see scenes like that [as of 1777] you can understand why the rest of France cut their heads off twenty six years later.

I wonder what a state dinner looks like these days...

See French Revolution - Robespierre, and the Legacy of the Reign of Terror

Quote:

...'Twas in truth an hour
Of universal ferment; mildest men
Were agitated; and commotions, strife
Of passion and opinion fill'd the walls
Of peaceful houses with unquiet sounds.
The soil of common life was at that time
Too hot to tread upon; oft said I then,
And not then only, 'what a mockery this
Of history; the past and that to come!
Now do I feel how I have been deceived,
Reading of Nations and their works, in faith,
Faith given to vanity and emptiness;
Oh! laughter for the Page that would reflect
To future times the face of what now is!'
William Wordsworth

The_Heretic · 03-25-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dianekkdi

I wonder what a state dinner looks like these days...

See French Revolution - Robespierre, and the Legacy of the Reign of Terror

Europe's governments have slowly be homogenizing since WWII [WWI being the wakeup call, and WWII being the second wakeup call after the snooze button]. So while there's still cultural specifics for each European nation's state dinner they're largely similar.

Dianekkdi · 03-26-2008, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Heretic

Europe's governments have slowly be homogenizing since WWII [WWI being the wakeup call, and WWII being the second wakeup call after the snooze button]. So while there's still cultural specifics for each European nation's state dinner they're largely similar.

My comment was a sarcastic dig at the corruption and despotism of our United States government state dinners of today.

I think our founding fathers would have a withering opinion of today's United States Government.

On our current course without change...soon our Revolutionary soldiers will have died for naught.

VKMHVM2 · 03-26-2008, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dianekkdi

My comment was a sarcastic dig at the corruption and despotism of our United States government state dinners of today.

I think our founding fathers would have a withering opinion of today's United States Government.

On our current course without change...soon our Revolutionary soldiers will have died for naught.

Soon?

Dianekkdi · 03-26-2008, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VKMHVM2

Soon?

You might be quite right there.

Actually, you are quite right there.

Dianekkdi · 03-30-2008, 07:29 PM

What is the theme song?

The_Heretic · 03-30-2008, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dianekkdi

What is the theme song?

Don't have a clue.

Interesting to watch George Washington take the oath of office so quietly that everyone around them, even those on the platform with him, strained to hear him recited it.

And we're also starting to see the ideological fracture between Jefferson and Adams that'll eventually define the partisan devide to take shape during and after Washington's two terms in office.

03-30-2008, 07:29 PM	#29 (permalink)
Dianekkdi Truth, Justice & ... Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: A place between yesterday and tomorrow Posts: 642 Blog Entries: 6 Thanks: 3 Thanked 19 Times in 12 Posts	What is the theme song? __________________ ---------------------- Reinvestigate 9/11 Impeach......Prosecute......Imprison "...The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed...." --Thomas Jefferson
	Top

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode