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Kennedy [1983]
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RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £13.13 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
Made in 1983, the US TV mini-series Kennedy has Martin Sheen playing a president well before his stint on The West Wing. All of the momentous events of JFK's remarkable term are covered (with actual news footage used to excellent effect), but it is the portrayal of the entire Kennedy family as real, flawed people that gives Kennedy its power. The Kennedys gossip, snipe, joke and bother each other like a real family rather than rigid historical figures or threadbare caricatures. Sheen plays JFK as a man with lofty ideals who is more than willing to dirty his hands to serve his greater purpose. Blair Brown plays Jacqueline Kennedy with a shrewd understanding of politics, but also a whiff of vanity. In addition to the strong performances by both leads, Vincent Gardenia gives a brilliant performance as J Edgar Hoover: stiff, quirky and strange, prurient and moralistic at the same time and boiling with hatred. --Ali Davis
Kennedy
Review date: 2004-02-12 Rating: 8 out of 10
The DVD box set offers excellent value for money and Martin Sheen and John Shea are very powerful as the Kennedy Brothers. History is repeated with accuracy although my only critisism is that their golden era is portrayed as just that "golden" although it clearly wasnt. I would still recommend this set to anyone for a rainy Sunday afternoon in.
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Reviews
A superficial look at a crucial period in history
Review date: 2003-12-27 Rating: 4 out of 10
Kennedy serves as an introduction to anyone interested in this period of history. The series essentially uses the "Greatest Hits" formula for JFK's presidency and to anyone with knowledge of the events, they are far too superficially covered.
There are not too many faults with the series/film (although 5 1/2 hours is a little long for one sitting), it is not bad, just not . . . good. There are far too many examples of how JFK's presidency has been better dramatised.
Buy this if you wish to do so but I would recommend "Thirteen Days" for an excellent dramatisation of Kennedy in office and if anyone wants this series in condensed form, the opening sequence of JFK achieves the same level of information in 1/10th of the time.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Geraldine Fitzgerald
Martin Sheen
John Shea
Vincent Gardenia
E.G. Marshall
Creators:
Martin Sheen (Primary Contributor)
John Shea (Primary Contributor)
Ernest Vincze (Cinematographer)
Alan Landsburg (Producer)
Andrew Brown (Producer)
Bob Morris (Producer)
Joan Barnett (Producer)
Margaret Matheson (Producer)
Reg Gadney (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: ITV DVD
Manufacturer: ITV DVD
EAN: 5037115052834
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2003-10-20
Number of discs: 2
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 313 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1983-11-20
Language: English (Original Language)