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Hawkeye_a · Feb 5, 2011, 08:25 AM

I wanted to watch some good movies based on the time period of the American Revolution. People like George Washington, Ben Franklin,etc...the writing of the constitution, etc.

I watched The Patriot, which was decent but not enough about the key characters.

Any suggestions ?

Cheers

Laminar · Feb 5, 2011, 09:10 AM

The Social Network.

Gankdawg · Feb 5, 2011, 09:58 AM

I enjoyed John Adams.

John Adams (TV mini-series 2008) - IMDb

Paul Giamatti is a great actor.

SpaceMonkey · Feb 5, 2011, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by Gankdawg

I enjoyed John Adams.

John Adams (TV mini-series 2008) - IMDb

Paul Giamatti is a great actor.

First thing I thought of as well.

imitchellg5 · Feb 5, 2011, 10:34 AM

Thirded for John Adams.

Hawkeye_a · Feb 8, 2011, 09:27 AM

Rented it out on Sunday and watched the entire series, thanks for the recommendation guys. It's exactly the sort of content i wanted to see.

I enjoyed the stories about the diplomacy and nation-building plans that were portrayed. While i know this series was specifically about John Adams, i would have liked to see more of Ben Franklin, and George Washington.

A minor criticism of the series was the complete lack of any set pieces (battles, Boston tea party, etc), so it lacked that sense of excitement/urgency and closure so to speak. Much has been said of Giamatti's performance, and it was very good, but i tend to see him in the comical sense unfortunately (i keep picturing his character from Planet Of The Apes

). I thought Laura Linney's performance was one of the best i've ever seen in a miniseries.

Any more suggestion ? I would like to see more of the battles and of G.W.. Is 'The Crossing' any good ?

Cheers

BadKosh · Feb 9, 2011, 11:15 AM

True Grit.

ort888 · Feb 9, 2011, 11:16 AM

Robocop

The Final Dakar · Feb 9, 2011, 11:31 AM

Wild Wild West

SpaceMonkey · Feb 9, 2011, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Hawkeye_a

Is 'The Crossing' any good ?

I remember it being okay. For focusing on such a specific event, it's surprisingly shallow, glossing over many of the difficulties of the crossing and raid, and from what I remember I think it tends to misrepresent the historical relationships among the principals (Washington, Hamilton, Knox, Greene, etc.).

SpaceMonkey · Feb 9, 2011, 11:48 AM

It's not about the revolution itself, but another movie set in the time period that is worth seeing is Drums Along the Mohawk, with Henry Fonda (1939). It's a John Ford movie (pre-Grapes of Wrath).

andi*pandi · Feb 9, 2011, 11:49 AM

Last of the Mohicans.

SpaceMonkey · Feb 9, 2011, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by andi*pandi

Last of the Mohicans.

Decent film, but the setting is fifteen years off.

andi*pandi · Feb 9, 2011, 04:15 PM

It's a better answer than Robocop.

mattyb · Feb 9, 2011, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by BadKosh

True Grit.

Originally Posted by ort888

Robocop

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar

Wild Wild West

Multi-reported. Dakar twice for putting his reply in italics.

Shaddim · Feb 9, 2011, 05:24 PM

The Patriot? That was awesome!

No, not really.

Hawkeye_a · Feb 10, 2011, 08:49 AM

Cheers for the recommendations guys. I watched John Adams again, and i really like it (despite a few short comings).

I have been looking around for a decent movie about the revolution in general, and quite frankly, i'm shocked that there isnt one worthy of the content. Documentaries yes, but not movies. George Washington in specific seems particularly ignored by the movie industry, at least in quality titles it seems, which is a shame.

Cheers

Shaddim>> seen the Patriot, was a decent flick, but was more of a side-story/drama unfolding with the backdrop of the revolution.