Title: John Adams
3 BD-50 Dual-Layer Discs
Video: 1080p/VC-1
Audio: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Aspect Ratio: 1:78:1
Subtitles: English, French, and Spanish
Run time: 560 minutes
Studio: HBO Home Video
Rating: Unrated
Player used for review: LG BH200
My take: (the breakdown)
Being the amateur historian that I am I try to give shows like this at least a sample viewing to see just how good they are. To be rather blunt I was absolutely blown away by the John Adams miniseries and it is undoubtedly the best series/miniseries I have seen from HBO other than Band of Brothers. Not only did the director and producers follow David McCullough's book of the same name, but they also did their homework for historical accuracy. The costumes, weapons, lighting, architecture, and dialects are all exactly as they should be for the 1770s-1790s. This is a must own for anyone appreciating a well made piece of film work if you ask me.
The video is quite stunning. The dominant hues are reds, whites, browns, and grays and they all are quite bright and vivid. Flesh tones are also extremely accurate. Fine detail is right on the money even on distant shots. There is a thin veil of grain that remains consistent during the entire 560 minute run time as well. My sole complaint is that that are a number of darker scenes that are so dark you can't tell what is going on. Other than that this is an excellent transfer from HBO.
The audio is even better than the video presentation. We are given a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track that really shines even though this is predominately a drama. There are indeed a few instances of action that boast musket fire and cannonball shots that really liven the sub up. Dialogue is clearly understood at all times and the music never becomes overbearing. This is definitely a reference audio track from HBO.
While we don't get much in the way of the supplements for this Blu-ray release what we do get is of high quality. We are supplied with a 29 minute making of feature of the miniseries, a 39 minute feature showing the transfer from McCullough's book to the screen, and a couple interactive features that play while watching the series. These interactive features include Facts are Stubborn Things and Who's Who in History. The two aforementioned features are both presented in 1080.
Movie: 9/10
VQ: 9/10
AQ: 10/10
Supplements: 3/10
Final word: A Must Own
As always thanks for reading folks.