Customer Reviews

The Rebels: Part 2 of the Kent Family Chronicles [VHS]

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John Jakes' "Kent Family Chronicles" novels have long been favorites of mine and it was because of that, that I decided to recently revisit the television adaptations of the first three novels in the series from the late 1970s. Of them, the adaptation of the first novel "The Bastard" was the best, being the most faithful translation of novel to screen with most of Jakes' dialogue left unchanged and only streamlined in spots. Unfortunately in volume two, "The Rebels" there are a number of drastic changes and departures from Jakes' novel and the end result is very unsatisfying. For one thing, in Jakes' novel Philip Kent and Judson Fletcher never meet! We are also given a totally different fate for Philip's wife Anne, and many characters who had returned from "The Bastard" in the novel, such as Alicia Amberly and Captain Will Caleb are nowhere to be found in this adaptation, robbing it of some of its depth. On top of that we get a too abrupt subplot invented for the film of Philip's father, James Amberly (Richard Basehart) coming to America and confronting his son, but what should have made for an interesting scene of drama is dispensed with too abruptly in an unsatisfying fashion. In the end, the changes are just too great to make a fan of the book appreciate the effort.

The one redeeming feature of "The Rebels" however that makes it worth seeing is William Daniels reprising his "1776" role as John Adams (in another touch of irony, Daniels played Cousin Sam Adams in "The Bastard"), and this time showing his depth as an actor by playing Adams closer to historical reality than the famous musical allowed.

i read the book first and saw the mini-series when i was first run and i think the movie does the book one better.in the book may things are different such as philip and judson flecher never meet and philip doesn't fight very much in the war. the book is pure soap and the movie is a rousing action filled story. it moves at a quick pace and it keeps you glued to the screen the whole time so give this movie a chance and i think you will be very happy with the time you spend with it.

i love john jakes kent family novels but i have to say the rebels was the least of the books.very little war happens in it and the two main people the novel follows never meet.
well the mini-series takes care of all of that and is a very good rousing adventure story with a great cast and the best sound track of any of the jakes mini-series. andrew stevens once again plays philip kent and is joined by a young don johnson as judson flecher. the action flows nicely in this one and the cast is great. do yourself a favor and check this one out.

See Review of The Bastard continuation of the best accounting of U.S. history Must see Should be required in school with a followup report or term paper of what was learned. Gives you an appreciation of what freedom we have (and take for granted)every Politician, whether Members of Congress, Senators, Federal and Supreme Court Justices, Presidents, and their appointees, and anyone working in Government should also be required to see this mini series (or read the books) the film is very enjoyable. Parents should also watch with their children