Rating: 
Summary: Just Another One-Sided TV Movie with All Cliche's Intact.
Review: I didn't see this movie when NBC first ran it in '99, but I finally saw it yesterday. If you are merely interested in light, unbalanced entertainment, great. It's not horrible in that respect. If you are either riding the fence politically or a conservative, you will feel absolutely cheated by this era representational joke.
We've seen this too often: Daddy Hurlihy is a stern, willful, thick-headed conservative father, and his wife is mostly quiet and passive until he goes "too far." Their oldest son Brian (Jerry O'Connell) is their high school all-star football hero who decides to enlist in the service in 1962 "to make his parents proud." Oh, will he be sorry...blah, blah, blah.
Their second child Michael (Josh Hamilton) is a sickeningly annoying liberal activist/pacifist who the writers of this movie tried very hard to make the focal character. He's so sweet and anti-war, why, butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, and he has all the personality of a pet rock to boot.
Katie (Julia Stiles) is one of the only characters I felt any sympathy or compassion for as her father leaves her no choice but to run away and join a hippie community with the musician that got her pregnant. She really goes through hard times with the baby after it arrives, and you really feel for her as she resorts to desperate measures to keep herself and her little girl alive.
Not as much attention is paid to the story of the other family in their fight for civil rights. Leonard Roberts who played Emmett, the son of a preacher who gets killed during the King assassination riots, is a good actor, and deserved a far better and larger part than he was given. I don't know who played his father, but he's the only cast member beside Julia Stiles who impressed me.
The most annoying thing about this movie was the rediculous love triangle between Michael, Sarah Weinstock (Jordana Brewster), and Kenny (Jeremy Sisco). I was actually hoping she would end up with Kenny so I wouldn't have to hear one more Dylan lyric get quoted. Nowhere was a note of the decade's most influential band--the Beatles, of course--to be heard, but the movie boasted some great songs nonetheless.
This movie was missing plenty--mainly that of the conservative America I know so well because I grew up in it. They didn't show anything about that decade except how "noble" their anti-war cause was, but there were plenty of people who didn't run around quoting Dylan, jumping in front of army trains, or go to Woodstock. I also only know one Vietnam vet who wasn't well-adjusted, and he was a relative for a short time. That's what makes me laugh about this movie. This family did everything considered important by that generation, and I'm sure there were plenty of activists back then who didn't do as much in three years as these people did in three hours. And neo-conservative dad has a miraculous change of heart too. Trust me, I have yet to see that happen with most of them; they don't budge easily.
Overall, I'll give The 60's two stars. One for good music, one for two good actors, and minus three stars for such a shoddy, one-sided misrepresentation of an undeniably important era of twentieth century history.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good reflection of an era.
Review: I don't know why everyone was so hard on this movie. I thought it was very good--and I am only thirteen! I didn't even grow up in the sixties! My dad did, though, and he thought it was great. People who are reading the reviews, trust me. It is great, if you have any appreciation for a good film. The only bad thing, and this isn't very bad, was that it was really long. Please see this movie!
Rating:
Summary: Better than I expected.....
Review: I enjoyed this DVD a lot! I missed the miniiseries but had heard a lot about it, so I finally gave this a shot. It was great to watch a miniseries with no commercials too. It was a very fun and interesting telling of the 60s through the eyes of two families. The Caucasian family certainly gets a lot more attention than the African-American one, but all the same, it is interesting to see both sides. Although it is somewhat far-fetched that one family manages to be a part of all of the big events of the decade, it's fun nonetheless. The African American family endures rioting, opression, the civil rights movement and black panther movement, and finally community renewal. The white family manages to embody all of the idealisms of the time- Jerry O'Connell plays the patriotic Marine who signs up for 'Nam and comes back a young, scarred vet. Josh Hamilton plays the college-bound idealistic protestor, who is constantly fighting for one cause or another through marches and sit-ins. Julia Stiles plays the young teen dream who morphs from big hair and high school dances into hippie flower girl. The three members of the family grow apart and then back together for a happy ending. Give this a shot, it's lots of fun, and the music is great!
Rating:
Summary: Review of "The '60s"
Review: I enjoyed this DVD, although the acting was a bit cheezy and we didn't see anyone too famous (well, except Dylan, Mario Savio and the rest...) however it was quite enjoyable.For anyone born a bit too late (like myself) then I recommend watching it.
Rating: 
Summary: Needed a more rounded script
Review: I finally bought this movie, impressed by it's sequel The 70's. Instead, I was unimpressed with the script which seemed too one dimensional for the times and the quality of NBC's work. The story chronicles the growth of an All-American family, the Herlihy's, and the unconnected condition of a young African American man named Emmett Taylor, and his struggle to both find himself and secure equal rights. Unlike it's predecessor, there is nothing to tie all of the four characters together and the story is comparatively weaker. The Wonder Years probably did cover this better. Another criticism of the movie involves the use of subheadings to tell the audience at what date they are going to be examining in depth for 30 minutes. They are a constant presence throughout the movie and actually detract at times because the appearance encourages viewers to take their attention off of the movie. This overuse assumes there actually is nobody who knows the basic biggie events of the 60's either through personal experience or second hand knowledge. This is not to say it is completely bereft of merit. Indeed, the anti-war and racial justice movements are appropriately recognized as the source of great conscience and morals in a time when youth were actually presumed to have less sense than their parents. Yet, the young people in the story line demonstrate tremendous courage and possibility. As a feminist, I liked how the film hinted at Sarah's Weinstock's (Jordanna Brewster) emerging feminist consciousness from continuous subordination in the 'liberated' New Left movement, but was disappointed that it did not show the emerging women's liberation movement (including the movement for liberalized contraception and legalized abortion)-since it did begin in the late 1960's. Although Sarah is as smart as any of her male colleagues, some of them did not wish to consider women as equal partners in social progress. While I believe part of the reason this character did not receive the same detail was her supporting status, it would have made for interesting plot development. Yes, Katie Herhliy's journey involved the double standard, a medical community pre-women's health movement, sexual exploitation and another click regarding female gender roles in the counterculture, but her character was a main character and she was given less time and script development compared to the men. Essentially, it seems as if she was invisible for most of the film. Overall however, I would recommend this movie only if people are interested in a conventional telling of the 1960's-complete with the omission of women's issues and gender specific concerns. People interested in a more rounded dramatization will not be happy.
Rating: 
Summary: What about the 80's
Review: I have both this movie and its counterpart, the 70's and I love them both. They are entertaining and informative and although some may say they are a little long to sit through in one sitting, they keep you intersted and the time flies. My only complaint is that they have not yet come out with "The 80's" I am axiously waiting!
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie!!!!! Loved it!!!
Review: I have seen this movie 4 times in 2 days! Well, one of the times I only watched the parts Julia Stiles was in. She is my favorite actress and I saw this movie because she was in it. Im very glad I saw it because it really tells a lot, the people in it really grow throughout the 10 years. I liked the parts with Katie and I think the when the people are crying and Katie is giving birth, is the best part. She screems she wants her mom. That ment a lot. I really enjoyed this movie, so go out and see it!!!! Also, see other movies with Julia Stiles, she is a really great actress!!!
Rating:
Summary: Where's The Commentary?
Review: I like this movie and already had it on video. I bought the DVD for the commentary, but it doesn't seem to be on there.
Rating:
Summary: Still talkin' about the 60's
Review: I liked this movie a lot, in spite of its superficiality and "comic book portrayal" of the decade. For sure, it's just a made-for-TV miniseries, not a "serious" movie, so lighten up and kick back, Dude. No serious movie would try to revisit so many events from this unique decade (well, maybe a Ken Burns docudrama ) or pretend that a single family was eye-witness to so much (well, maybe Forrest Gump). I mean, I had to laugh out loud at the scene where Brian, back from Nam and freaked on that bad old brown acid, meets up with hipster sister Katie Kommune in the bummer tent at Woodstock. If Wavy Gravy had just happened to walk by at that moment I think I would have died! But the soundtrack is very likeable (though I see they omitted the beautiful JA ballad "Comin' Back to Me" from the cd), all of the actors are actually pretty darn good, Julia Stiles is sooo fine, and Jordana Brewster does indeed have a nice tight end. So take it easy, all you young and old hippies. It was an amazing decade which, for good or bad, won't come round again anytime soon. Peace!
Rating:
Summary: Still talkin' about the 60's
Review: I liked this movie a lot, in spite of its superficiality and "comic book portrayal" of the decade. For sure, it's just a made-for-TV miniseries, not a "serious" movie, so lighten up and kick back, Dude. No serious movie would try to revisit so many events from this unique decade (well, maybe a Ken Burns docudrama ) or pretend that a single family was eye-witness to so much (well, maybe Forrest Gump). I mean, I had to laugh out loud at the scene where Brian, back from Nam and freaked on that bad old brown acid, meets up with hipster sister Katie Kommune in the bummer tent at Woodstock. If Wavy Gravy had just happened to walk by at that moment I think I would have died! But the soundtrack is very likeable (though I see they omitted the beautiful JA ballad "Comin' Back to Me" from the cd), all of the actors are actually pretty darn good, Julia Stiles is sooo fine, and Jordana Brewster does indeed have a nice tight end. So take it easy, all you young and old hippies. It was an amazing decade which, for good or bad, won't come round again anytime soon. Peace!
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