Gettysburg and Stories of Valor - Civil War Minutes III DVD Box Set

Rating:
Summary: Best one yet in the series by far
Review: Many thanks are owed to Bussler, Neville, Kraus, and everyone else who clearly worked very hard to bring this documentary to life. The most professional of the series so far, they are palpably coming into their own as filmmakers while retaining the love and care of amateurs (meant in the best, noble sense). Also very nice for the more educated Gettysburg scholar is the focus on some of the not-as-prominent people and places of interest, i.e. Col. Strong Vincent and Culp's Hill.

The only drawback is one that one hates to mention, but nonetheless it is what kept this from being a 5-star review. Acknowledging that Carradine is a history buff and an accomplished actor, his narration at times drives one to distraction. Emphasizing the last word or syllable, in the same way, of every sentence in the film makes it seem like work after a while. It's not so much that it's monotone, but more like tri-tone. But maybe it was just my mood or something else. It might be the kind of thing that would go unnoticed by most people, and I hope it is.

On the other hand, the alternate commentary is great. With the exception of the bawdy and juvenile ha-ha regarding John Burn's statue, and uncomfortable silence that follows it, the track is packed with still more information than the actual documentary. It lends credence to the filmmakers' assertion that hundreds of documentaries could be made about stories from this auspicious battle. Don't pass this feature up.



Rating:
Summary: In-Depth and Personal
Review: The best part about this film is that it offers both an overall recounting of the events of Gettysburg while going into detail about the lives and experiences of the people who lived it. It can be difficult to find a balance between the two, but Bussler has done it, and done it well. Highlights for me include the segments on prison life and the history of medicine and surgery. Many books and films about the period focus on the battles, but prison life and medicine certainly played an important role at the time and cannot be overlooked, as many films and books often do. The telling of the story of the Allegheny Arsenal explosion was also well-done, providing insight into an event that is not widely known. Keith Carradine's narration adds color and depth to the documentary and, as with all of Bussler's films, the sound is amazing.

Rating:
Summary: Best Civil War Minutes To Date!
Review: This DVD box set shows what can be done when you take the time to get the history right! I found the first DVD to be chock full of interesting episodes based around the Battle of Gettysburg. The 2nd DVD rounds out the set with stories of valor from throughout the Civil War - some of the episodes feature things this Civil War buff did not know! Be sure to check out the commentary tracks for added insight!