The Kennedys: After Camelot [DVD]

I think this is one of the best Kennedy movies made. I think it's a first - the first time the story was told from RFK's assassination to JFK jr's plane crash. The actors were good and believable as the characters they portrayed with some exceptions. The actress who played Ethel Kennedy seemed to have crossed eyes. She didn't sound particularly like Ethel. She had a lot of energy. But I think if they had looked hard enough they would have found a better 'Ethel'. I don't know who cast the role of Ted Kennedy. He was a joke - more so than the real one. He acted like he was dumb, and Ted Kennedy was not a stupid man. Loved the actress who played Joan! Looked the part and acted it. Glad they did not gloss over the Mary Jo Kopechne tragedy and spent time on it. It looked like Caroline Kennedy's role was an afterthought. I remember those growing-up years, and her hair and shape of her nose were so much a part of her appearance, I wish they would have held out for someone who looked more like her. She looked only like an actress playing a part. Joe Sr. after his stroke looked like he was acting. He was not thin enough (or made to look thin enough). He looked like they were making a movie and as soon as the scene was in the can he was going to jump up and go to a chowder house. I remember Rose Kennedy in those years, too. She used to do The Mike Douglas Show and was visible to a degree, her and her large hats. They could have softened her up a little showing maybe just one small scene, that many of us remember. Publicly she was a national treasure! The actor who played Alexander Onassis looked so much like him! That was great. I'm glad a movie showing the Kennedy family pretty much to the conclusion of "Camelot" was finally done. I would think others may come out in the future, each trying to outdo the others. But this was the first and deserves recognition for that.

Great movie, I think it is a must see ~

The story is as well-known and as old as time, but this rendition of it was brilliantly done, a sensitive treatment of the personal tragedies of this legendary family. Matthew Perry was particularly good as Ted Kennedy.

I really enjoyed the first "Kennedys" and I was happy to see a lot of the people in the first one were in the cast of this one. Diana Hardcastle is brilliant as Rose, and I believe Katie Holmes has done a great job of portraying Jackie Kennedy, better than anyone else I have seen. I'll have to say that I didn't enjoy this as much as the first series. I think that the subject matter just wasn't as interesting. They didn't cut Ted Kennedy any slack, he came off pretty much as a sociopath, as he probably was. They did cut John and Robert Kennedy slack in the first one, they mentioned things and quickly changed the subject. Not so with Ted. Strange family, the Kennedys. Their public faces were much different than their private ones. This is worth a watch just to see Diana Hardcastle play Rose again.

Everyone needs to remember that there is a good bit of fiction heavily mingled with facts. The dialogue, of course, is conjecture. But an example of potential fiction would be whether Ari really had a secret room in the Paris apartment that served as a shrine to Jackie (I can only describe the display as a cross between an overboard high school crush and a serial killer obsession!). For me, that was a bit far fetched. I tend to think she was more of a trophy, like one of his tankers, rather than someone he put on a pedestal. He was known to be crude and brutish, so something as juvenile and sappy as a room full of pictures and articles tacked all over the walls feels incongruous. I will say that Alexander Siddig did a good job in the role and made Mr. Onassis feel a little less troll-like.After Camelot focuses primarily on Jackie's ongoing relationship with the Kennedy family; Rose, Ted, Joan and Ethel. Jackie's attitude vacillates between "I'm done with them" and "they're my family, I have to go."But there are some serious potholes in the story! Caroline vanishes altogether after 1968; Ari's death is glossed over; Jackie's work to save Grand Central Station is missing; Caroline's wedding is no where to be seen nor are the subsequent grandchildren (all whom were born before Jackie passed away). Lastly, poor Maurice Templesman is no where to be seen! These are just a few missing items. The writers chose to zero in on her relationship with John Jr. and his struggles. That's fine, but those of us who know the history feel ... I don't know, cheated in some way, maybe?I give high marks to Diana Hardcastle as Rose Kennedy, she did a great job. Katie Holmes was okay; Matthew Perry tried hard, but good grief, talk about miscasting!The first series was markedly better and I think that was due mainly to a stronger cast and story; this one is barely stitched together. Regardless, BOTH mini series are heavy on taking the story line from the gossipy side. Just once, I'd like to see something that was more balanced.The pacing was dreadfully slow and I found myself hitting fast forward more than once. I'm pretty sure I condensed the four episodes into two.

a+

Fun series for anyone who enjoys dramatized history. Great price.

Perfect!