Gettysburg / Gods and Generals Reviews

• Civil War History at it's best!

  
  By A2WD487DM2UDPE on 2006-11-04
  Both of these movies are based on the books by father and son historians Michael & Jeff Shaara. Gettysburg is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book "The Killer Angels". No school library should be without these two wonderful films and the related books. These movies were filmed using reinactors and are very realistic and very close to actual events. These films were made by Ted Turner and part of a trilogy. The third movie about the defeat of the Confederacy may or may not be completed (PLEASE Ted do the film!!). A fourth movie "Andersonville" is about the infamous southern prison camp (not for the squeamish!!).
  I cannot recommend these movies highly enough. They are GREAT films for every American to view at least once so that they understand how terrible the Civil War really was. Very entertaining and not to be missed.
  
  
  
  

• Worth it for Gettysburg alone

  
  By A220FJEQNGMSRN on 2008-01-15
  Ironies abound: while Gettysburg was made for television but ended up with a theatrical release, yet despite a $60m budget, a huge cast and being shot in 2.35:1 widescreen, Gods and Generals looks like it would have been more at home on TV. In some ways it's almost the most expensive home movie ever shot, with Ted Turner paying for this account of the early years of the American Civil War out of his own pocket. For the first hour it's almost as if the Union never existed, the film shown entirely from the Southern side, and with a very partisan view at that (all down to Yankee aggression, with Fort Sumpter conveniently dismissed in a single line). Too often lengthy quotations take the place of dialogue and even the better actors in the cast often seem ill at ease while the surprisingly weak daylight photography and poor CGi matte painting in early scenes giving it an air of storybook unreality. Indeed, Ronald Maxwell's approach at times seems pure D.W. Griffith, with a fondness for awkward tableaux and unconvincing sentiment (poor Mira Sorvino gets a couple of particularly painfully hearts-and-flowers scenes to deliver as a consolation prize for missing out on playing Joan of Arc when Maxwell's version was dropped in the wake of Luc Besson's film). There are a few moments here and there - an intimate scene between Stonewall Jackson and his wife confiding his doubts, a scene between Jeff Daniels and Kevin Conway's sergeant about friends on the other side - but as the over-ambitious film tries to cram too much history into its four hour running time (and still scenes filmed dealing with Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth and the Battle of Antietem didn't make the cut) the people just get lost.
  
  Thankfully, the second half rallies considerably as the film reaches the Battle of Fredericksburg and the 20th Maine's disastrous charge, and the contradictions in Stephen Lang's "Stonewall" Jackson, a deeply religious man yet one who advocated taking no prisoners, become more interesting despite the film's determination to turn him into across between Jesus Christ and a vengeful Old Testament prophet. Yet sadly the lasting impression is of a film that is too sprawling and unfocussed for its own good and one that not only either needed to be a lot longer or a lot shorter but also much better written. As for the somewhat nonsensical title, it's an abbreviation of the novel's Faith in Gods and Generals. Incidentally, be warned that the DVD has one of the worst side breaks ever. Some fairly decent DVD extras, but the lack of deleted scenes implies a director's cut may be in the offing some time in the future.
  
  
  Gettysburg is actually the second part in an intended trilogy that will now probably never be completed in the wake of the dismal box-office for the bloated Gods and Generals. Thankfully it gains more by having a smaller canvas, focussing on one single battle and largely on three actions - Buford's inspired initial defense on the first day, Little Round Top and Pickett's Charge - and by seeing the action from the viewpoint of both sides throughout. The characters are better drawn, the dialogue feels more natural and you get much more of a sense of what a human tragedy the war was. As a British observer on the Confederate side points out, it all boils down to "same people, different dreams."
  
  The problem with most epics devoted to single battles or campaigns (Waterloo, Zulu Dawn, The Battle of Neretva etc) is that without a single dominating personality they often get so bogged down with history or strategy that the human element gets lost, with a succession of stars acting almost like anonymous interchangeable sports commentators only there to explain what's going on for the layman. Gettysburg has its share of characters primarily there for exposition, but by narrowing its focus to a few of them and drawing on their own letters and memoirs it's able to give them a little more depth and personality. Martin Sheen's Lee's increasingly wrong-headed strategy as he consigns more and more men to pointless deaths with a homespun rationale that leads to horrifying casualties contrasts well with Tom Berenger's more cautious Longstreet gradually realising that the tide has turned against them while Jeff Daniels' awkward but sincere Lawrence Chamberlain gives a humane and decent voice to the Union's case. Richard Jordan is genuinely affecting in his last role - his final scene is even more moving with the knowledge that he really was dying at the time - and even George Lazenby even turns up briefly. As a result, there's more involvement in what's happening and more understanding of what's at stake on a personal level to both sides during the battle. Although shot as a TV miniseries before being released theatrically, it actually looks like a feature film, and one that manages to hold the interest over its four hour running time. It's such an impressive piece of work that you can't help but wonder why so many of the same people got it so wrong so often on Gods and Generals.
  
  Excellent extras on the double-sided DVD, but sadly none of the deleted scenes from the 270-minute laserdisc director's cut.
  
  

• One is Classic, the other terrible...

  
  By A2S82Z8GKY1ZEF on 2007-05-29
  While they are both very accurate and both likely a civil war enthusiast's dream, the former, "Gettysburg" is actually a terrific movie, paced and written and acted quite well (except for some rather bad adding by extras...its forgivable). Gettysburg is a must for everyone. It is important US history of obe of our country's defining battles, told in a very convincing human manner.
  
  The second movie included "Gods and Generals" comes from the same director, Ron Maxwell, off the novel written by "The Killer Angels" (Made into Gettysburg) son, Jeff Sharra. Unfortunately, this movie doesn't come close to what was shown possible in Gettysburg. In many instances, the movie is rendered almost unwatchable. While realistic almost to a fault, Maxwell sacrifices competent movie making for the sake of the hard core civil war enthusiasts. While the written word of the day was far more floaty and discriptive than today's writing by the masses, soldiers of day still had slang, and its hard to believe a second of the lofty impromtu speeches given by soldiers in the confusing of battle. This movie tends of be more a series of recorded speeches than providing any kind of vehicle to tell such an important story to the masses. The movie tanked at the box office and rightfully so...its an awful movie. And its a shame. Ted Turner (who financed both movies) subsequently lost faith in Ron Maxwell as a movie maker and sold off the rights to "The Last Full Measure" (the third book in the trilogy) for pennies on the dollar. Here's hoping a competent movie maker attempts the 3rd installment or Maxwell can make a return to his roots.
  
  

• The best on the Civil War

  
  By A2Z4KA3EFQWZOX on 2007-05-03
  These two films are the real thing, civil war movies at their best, in addition to great drama and acting taking ones' breath away. They cover the first three years of the Civil war including the battles of Bull Run, Fredricksberg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg(Antietem is not included).
  
  Gods and Generals follows the stories of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlin and Stonewall Jackson but is mostly the story of Stonewall Jackson and his leadership and religious beleifs. This is a wonderful folm shot on location with many reenactors and brilliant acting, a fair depiction of both sides and real poetry in the language.
  
  Gettysburg covers the three day battle that is seen as deciding the war and concentrates on Robert E. Lee, James Longstreet and Joshua L. Chamberlin and his main company. A brilliant film full of tragedy and love.
  
  Seth J. Frantzman
  
  
  
  

• Civil War Buffs

  
  By A1U5NGZH6YINPR on 2007-03-09
  My son's and I have recently moved to North Carolina and have an interest in the Civil War. These 2 movies are excellently done. The visual and audio effects are both tasteful and artful. One of my son's was studying the Civil War in High School and he enjoyed the movies very much. I would recommend either of these movies to any one, not just Civil War enthusiasts! Pop some pop corn and enjoy these movies with the whole family. However, I would want to watch them first before allowing young viewers to watch them. They are war movies, afterall.
  
  Mirl
  
  
• God and generals
  By A34WHK2N12GGJ7 on 2007-07-13
  I have seen just about every Civil war movie ever made. I have read extensivly on the subject.
  
  Gettysburg was very good however a few things were changed to make it more dramatic. But please understand this is still a very good movie.
  
  However God and generals was superb. While Martin Sheen plays Robert E Lee in Gettysburg doing a decent job, It is Robert Duval who plays the same in Gods and generals that steals the show. He was fantastic. Alot of actors who played in Gettysburg play the same men in Gods and generals.
  Such as Jeff Daniels who plays Col Chamberlain in both movies, doing a great job i might add.
  
  While Gettysburg is about just that Gettysburg...The 3 day battle that might have turned the war towards the north. It was a crushing defeat for the south. However the war still wages on for 2 years after Gettysburg.
  
  God and generals however covers the Civil war up to Gettysburg..
  
  Do yourself a favor and get these two movies...You will throughly enjoy them.
  
  
• Great Series and Historically Accurate!
  By A3KQTB9U03BQ4H on 2007-03-17
  I loved this series. As a Civil War reenactor, and a history/education major, I have to say that these movies are awesome. I would also reccomend The Last Full Measure. The only thing I can find that is NOT historically correct off the top of my head is that in real life Lee asked for time to decide between his country and his state. I also wish that they had covered what actually happened at the Wilderness better. The Wilderness caught on fire, and the soldiers who were wounded, but not killed, burned to death. This is a part of the battle that was completely left out of the movie.
  
  
• Great value for over eight hours of Civil War cinema!
  By A3OT6IQ0YHGDCB on 2008-07-08
  Since many of you reading this are likely familiar with the movies themselves, or the stories therein, I will refrain from repeating them here (as so many other reviewers have already done). Allow me, though, to comment on the nature of the discs themselves and a brief summary of the content therein.
  
  First of all, this is an amazing value for the price. Not only do you get "Gettysburg," which runs over 4 hours in length, but you also receive "Gods & Generals," which is an additional three-and-a-half hours. When combined with the special features (interviews, documentaries, etc.), you have well over eight hours of Civil War film in one slender DVD case!
  
  (Since it has both discs in one normal case, it will not take up any additional room on your shelf. Additionally, the construction of said case will prevent the discs from sliding about and scratching on each other. I have yet to have any problems with either disc in removing or replacing it from it's holder, as well).
  
  Regarding the content, let me say first that the special features on both discs are impressive. There are no deleted scenes that I recall, but there are some great documentaries, maps, interviews, and bios for each movie.
  
  As far as the movies themselves, "Gettysburg" is by far the better film. There are some amazing performances on both sides of the blue and gray, particularly Richard Jordan's last role, Stephen Lang, Jeff Daniels, Tom Berenger, Martin Sheen, C. Thomas Howell, Kevin Conway, and Sam Elliot. In fact, it's hard to point out any poor performances at all. (Fuqua's makeup wasn't extraordinarily convincing, but otherwise, not a bad J.E.B. Stuart). What I also appreciated greatly was the equal treatment that each side is given. While we are introduced to more Confederate personalities than Union, there is equal screen time given to both sides. As the main dramatic thrust comes from the Confederates (climaxing with Pickett's Charge near the end of the film), it is understandable why more would be known and shown from their standpoint. Still, Maxwell treats both sides fairly and with equal emotion. The recreation down to the finest detail was exemplary and a standard by which all historical films should follow.
  
  I disagree with the decrying that is done over "Gods & Generals," though, but I have to concede a few points. Perhaps most noticeable is the fact that instead of one battle, G&G spans two years almost and several key battles. Instead of focusing on a singular moment (as in "Gettysburg"), the film tries too hard to squeeze that much history into a slightly shorter timeframe. Additionally, the movie definitely has a certain Confederate slant to it. In some action sequences, the Union losses are exaggerated to comparative invincibility on the Confederate side. (This was somewhat true at Fredericksburg, though, and that particular battle is quite fair to history). There is certainly also much more Confederate content, as the Union side is almost treated as a background player. Granted, the story mainly revolves around Stonewall Jackson and his career in the war, but even major players like Lee are nearly glossed over, despite strong performances (including Robert Duvall's as the aforementioned Lee). Considering the tide of the war, as well as the timeline to that point, though, this is somewhat forgivable. There is the same attention to detail and accuracy that made "Gettysburg" so great, but it is nearly lost to the overwhelming slant that the film contains. (Supposedly, the final book in the Shaara trilogy, "The Last Full Measure," takes on the Union side more so than this film, but it remains to be seen whether or not that will ever be made). I would like to add, though, that the opening sequence alone is worth picking up this film. Mary Fahl's haunting and moving song "Going Home" is set against a backdrop of various flags of regiments from both sides of the conflict. Though this equality in treatment is not carried through the film, the sequence itself is spellbinding and emotionally charged. As I said, the opening credits alone are worth viewing.
  
  Overall, I highly recommend this dual collection. The main reason why I could not give this review five stars was for the shortcomings of "Gods & Generals." Still, that should not hamper your purchase of this amazing collection. For a very slight increase in price (at last check), you can own both films with a grand total of over eight hours of footage (likely more than nine with all of the various extras). Not only is this a tremendous bargain, but they are wonderful films as well. "Gettysburg" will long stand as the far better movie, as "Gods & Generals" might have attempted to overachieve, but they are wonderful as educational tools and standards for military history cinema that will not soon fade away.
  
  
• Great Buy
  By A5EN6CZGJON1Y on 2007-12-25
  Classic and amazing movies that you shouldn't go without seeing! Combining these two DVD's was an amazing idea! Arrived extremely fast!
  
  
• Gettysburg
  By AUEYPGVGPPPY9 on 2008-01-07
  AWESOME movie. After visiting Gettysburg this past summer, it was very interesting to learn even more details about this terrible battle. Would highly recommend it.
  
  

• Glory
• Lincoln and Lee at Antietam: The Cost of Freedom
• Andersonville
• Gettysburg (Widescreen Edition)
• The Killer Angels