The Jacksons - An American Dream (The Complete Miniseries)

Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0044006097794
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, NTSC
Label: Motown
Manufacturer: Motown
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: Motown
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2001-12-11
Studio: Motown
Theatrical Release Date: 1992-11-15

Editorial Review:

Amazon.comThe miniseries The Jacksons: An American Dream begins in the 1940s, when Joseph Jackson (Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs) and Katherine (Angela Bassett) meet and fall in love, and ends in the 1980s, when their sons reunite for the 1983 Victory Tour that brought them back together as the Jacksons. During the first part, 'The Early Years,' the couple starts a family, and although times are tough, Joseph still finds time to play music on the side. When he discovers that his sons have inherited the same talent, the Jackson 5 are born. They sign with Motown and start churning out the gold records. The second part, 'The Success Years,' begins in 1970 at the peak of their fame, but by 1976, the hits have started to dry up. If the acting is uneven and the story somewhat sanitized, Bassett is affecting, and the series includes Emmy-winning choreography and a combination of original and re-created material, ranging from 'I Want You Back' (1969) to Michael Jackson's 'Beat It' (from 1982's multi-platinum Thriller). --Kathleen C. Fennessy

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating:

- Jacksons the American Dream
It is and was a classic movie. The product was in great condition and got to the addressee in a timely manner. I will definitely consider Amazon first when ordering online.

Rating:

- Entertaining and well acted family bio
Joe Jackson had dreams as a young man. He wanted to be a boxer and musician and go to California. But he got his girlfriend, Katherine, pregnant and he did the honorable thing--he married her. He tabled his dreams for his family, working in the steel mills of Gary, Indiana, to put foood on the table. A religious and principled man (the Jacksons were Jehovah Witnesses), he took family seriously and since he didn't believe in birth control or abortion, he had a lot of kids--9 altogether. On occasion he was brutal--but if any of you are parents, can you imagine how brutal you might get having 10 people depending on you?

Gossip and badmouthing from the kids paint Joe Jackson as a tyrant--and he may have some very large flaws--but one thing is very clear: he never abandoned his family. He transformed his dreams to fit the talent of his children and took all of them out of a probable bleak destiny in Gary to the height of world recognition. I'm amazed by that, frankly.

This movie is definitely worth watching for many reasons. Though poor, this was a close knit family smothered in love and support by both parents. Angela Bassett is touching as usual, all mothery and love, but able to stand up to Joe when he gets a little too tough with the boys. Her children are still devoted to her. Lawrence Tillman as Joe Jackson gives a multi-dimensioned father. Proud of his children, a stern taskmaster, a visionary--as much a visionary as Berry Gordy--a family man who is complex and flawed. I loved the scene at the Apollo where he embraces Michael and gets off to his children performing Twist and Shout. We also see the music business during the Motown Age and the inner workings of Berry Gordy's Motown at the height of its success. Now Billy Dee Williams gives Gordy way too much sex appeal...but I enjoyed the charm anyway.

The boy who played preteen Michael was simply adorable and highly talented as singer and dancer. His singing of Kansas City and Twist and Shout in the first half had me moving. The second half, when the family is breaking up as Michael's star ascends was somewhat painful. The father loses control over his creation, Hollywood values destroy family unity, Katherine suffers from empty nest. But what an achievement.

I loved the fact that this is 4 hours long--it's like a good book you don't want to end. No doubt this story will be retold in fuller detail, but I suspect that story would take 8 hours. I'm looking forward to it.

Rating:

- GREAT DVD!
I have been looking for this film on video since i was a little kid. thanks Amazon.com for finally providing it.

Rating:

- The mini series is amazing
This mini series is amazing. It catches the true life story of the jacksons and how their life changed through the years. For once this mini series gives you a glimps into the real world of michael and the jacksons. Thsi is a true gift for any jackson fan.

Rating:

- Great Purchase
Great Purchase, expediate delivery, excellent condition, and the family really enjoyed watching this DVD. It's a collectors item.

- widescreeb tv
Software - Reviews

Bootcamp & Conference: BlogOn Half-Full

Ted Shelton: "Frankly I felt that BlogOn was a waste of time and money."

I think the BlogOn conference was overproduced. In the name of professionalism the organizing firm turned off potential speakers, oversubscribed sponsors, etc.

I would have liked a debatable topic (aside from *blogging = journalism*. Two people slugging it out. Or a devil's advocate taking challenges from the floor.

I would have liked more hard numbers. Facts. Charts. Diagrams. We have the analytic tools to BS-check them; harder on vague opinions and single-points-of-observation.

I found it disturbing how much money was being commanded (from both attendees and sponsors) for a conference at a university. Maybe it was because it was at Berkeley? Maybe we should have taken over a community college or a Cal State or a DeVry. The facilities costs would have been cheaper at least. I heard an organizer apologize and say the next one would be at a hotel, like that would have been better.

Cost wasn't the whole problem. We're at a stage where early adopters are meeting folks who want to leap the chasm. Huge gaps in knowledge, experience, context, culture, vocabulary. It's the gap.

There are huge ideas to be explored, even in the world of applying blogs to media strategy and the enterprise. And most of the big ideas weren't even on the agenda at BlogOn. Probably because it was catering to those who want to commercialize, fund, and otherwise exploit (excuse me, "get in on") the emerging medium.

Let's fork these conferences so advanced topics on business and technology and culture fit the participants.

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Should You Install Messaging Security Software on Your Exchange Server?

(Source: Sunbelt Software) Osterman Research shares insights gleaned from a just completed survey that dispel the fears of employing server-based email security solutions. Read this white paper to help you understand the latest Exchange security risks and also learn about reasons why an installed security solution may be the best option for you in countering those challenges.