Gettysburg

Rating:
Summary: Grand and sweeping spectacle
Review: Don't let the length intimidate you. Don't be deterred by the fact that Ted Turner produced this for television. Yes, it was supposed to be a miniseries, but Turner and director Ronal F. Maxwell were so proud of their work and so confident of the accuracy of the retelling of Shaara's novel "The Killer Angels" and the actual Battle of Gettysburg that they released it in theatres instead. And this is one of those rare movies that was destined and deserved nothing less than the silver screen. A few names jump out at you right away: Martin Sheen in his most inspired and meaningful performance, just breathing life and artistry into the character of Robert E. Lee. Tom Berenger was never more perfectly cast than as the Alabamian James Longstreet. Honestly, perfect. Jeff Daniels was exciting and energetic as Joshua Chamberlain, a relative of mine, no kidding, and he is truly awe inspiring, the way he comes from no military background and leads his men in superb order, just as good as any of the career soldiers. And finally, special guest appearance by Sam Elliot. Special guest appearance??? Elliot's guest appearance as the underlauded and underappreciated John Buford was forceful and personal. Not only did Buford hold the ground for the approaching Union Army, but Elliot held down the film until Sheen, Berenger and Daniels took over the movie. The cinematography is beautiful, the locations are truly majestic. The score is wonderful, fusing the guitars in with a symphonic orchestra. The costumes and the way in which they were worn and preferred by different officers is very true to form. The performances are wonderful, full of intellegient reenactors who know what they're doing. Please, don't let the lenght intimidate you. You're not just learning about the battle here. The more important thing here is the commaradery felt between men on both sides and the men on the different sides, highlighted by the touching depcitions of pre-war friendship of Lo Armistead and Winfield Scott Hancock. Some fought for rights, others fought for mere pride, others fought because it seemed lke the right thing to do. But what you learn by the end of this movie is that the only thing they were fighting for, was each other.

Rating:
Summary: Great DVD version of a Great Film
Review: The special features on the DVD version make it worth buying again if you have already purchased the VHS release. If you don't already own it, what are you waiting for? The commentary track not only gives additional insight into the battle but the craft of filmmaking as well. Interviews with cast and crew highlight The Making of Gettysburg documentary also included in the DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Superb historical film
Review: I love war films, and this is one is outstanding...
First time I saw it was on TNT channel more than 5 years ago and I was hooked to it.
This is just not another historic film but also a point of view from the very participants of the battle. You get to see a Confederate general crying for a Union general who was like a brother for him, for instance...
Be aware that the film lasts 4 hours, but it'll take you more than that time to watch it completely...

Rating:
Summary: Lessons to be learned: Riveting history comes alive
Review: Gettysburg has a well-earned place in our national memory. This film does the basic story a great justice. I saw it first in the theater eight years ago and watch parts of the film over and over. Scenes and people are realistic. People fighting for their "rats" (a Northerners misunderstanding of the Southern pronunciation of "rights") offers an interpretation of the causes of the war.

For me, there are valuable illustrations of life today available in scenes from 'Gettysburg'.

When Lee disciplines Stuart for his absence, we see a perfectly executed reprimand. Leaders in business today can learn from Lee's excellent, effective use of punishment.

When Lee takes three minutes to tell Longstreet his vision for what we now refer to as "Pickett's Charge", we learn how a clear, simple vision can also be the recipe for disaster, even if Pickett and his charges came within minutes or feet of carrying the day.

Chamberlain's speech to the mutinous troops at the onset of the film offers lessons on the power of persuasive speaking. And, immediately preceding the speech, we see how Chamberlain leads by example, as he starts his morning.

Living just down the road a piece from Pennsylvania and the national battlefield, I can appreciate just how close Lee came to winning the battle, the day, and, perhaps, the war. This a a great lesson in history with scenes worth waching and appreciating today.

Rating:
Summary: best civil war movie i've evr seen!
Review: i saw the movie before i read the excellent novel,however, i was not disapppointed by either. martin sheen to me is absoutely perfect as gen.lee and tom berenger steals the show with a low key preformance gen. longstreet(although jeff daniels has his moments as col. chamberlian) for anyone not familair with the actual battle this film will bring you up to speed in one viewing and entertain at the same time. in my opinion it gives very balanced view of not only the battle itself but the complex issues that both sides delt with as soldiers and most importantly as men. one side is never portryed as completely right or completely wrong. however what is captured on film is altogether completely human. ecellent flim!! recommened!!!

Rating:
Summary: a couple exceptions to all the great reviews
Review: I agree with most all other reviewers regarding the movie itself.
Martin Sheen would not have been my choice for playing R.E. Lee, he seemed extremely uncomfortable during horseriding scenes-R.E. Lee was an excellent horseman. His performance was wooden at times. This part just didn't seem right for him.

My problem is the 5.0 sound, instead of 5.1. Although the channel separation is very good, an updated dts/digital dolby version would add even more realism to the battle scenes. Deleted scenes, added in a recent TV presentation, would also improve the movie. Here's hoping to a re-release.

Rating:
Summary: Gettysburg
Review: Great movie! If you have home theater so much the better. I saw the movie in the theater and this is just as good. The first half of the movie looks at the battle for Little Roundtop from the North's perspective. Th second half looks at Pickets Charge from the South's Perspective. This is where the stereo sound comes in. The cannonade before Pickets Charge is spectacular. It also has bonus of the Making of Getttysburg which gives an insight on how the movie was made. GREAT MOVIE One of my favorites

Rating:
Summary: One of the best movies ever made
Review: What is most remarkable about this movie is how closely it followed the real life story of the Battle of Gettysburg.

The movie tells the story of the battle to almost a fault (the only scene I take issue with is the scene where Jeb Stuart meets Lee)

The portrayal of Winfield Hancock is outstanding, and Brian Mallory should have won an Oscar for his supporting role. Mallory had Hancock's personality and battlefield magnetism down to an art in this movie.

Martin Sheen does an adequate job of portraying General Lee (even though Lee was much taller than is Sheen). Of course, Jeff Daniels gave an oustanding portrayal of Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, who's defense of Little Round Top literally saved our country.

Every person I have showed this movie to, agrees it is one of the best war movies ever made. Literally you feel as though you are on the battlefield as it was raging around you.

As a former Civil War re-enactor, the scenes were so realistic, Im shocked that no one was hurt making the movie.

This movie is more than worth the price listed.

To me, with the exception of Titanic, the best movie ever made.

Enjoy, and happy viewing

Rating:
Summary: Epic depiction and surprisingly accurate...
Review: "Gettysburg" is a monumental effort to depict the Civil War events of July 3-5,1863 in Pennsylvania and succeeds magnificently on all levels. Both from an historical and theatical perspective, this movie is a "must-see". On the historical side, this movie manages to portray the personalities with both historical accuracy and believability...one cannot help but like and admire the principals on both sides. Tom Berenger is magnificent as "Ol' Pete" Longstreet as is Jeff Daniels playing Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain...I had a little harder time accepting Martin Sheen as R.E. Lee. Although wonderfully acted, Sheen just did not fit my impressions of Lee (I probably have seen him too much on "West Wing"). The battle scenes, to me, were the best I've seen in movie form...both the 20th Maine's stand on Little Roundtop and Pickett's charge were amazingly portrayed and highly accurate...I could not find any historical in-acurracies in any of these scenes (I don't consider myself an expert in Civil War military tactics, however). From a theatrical perspective, this had all the high quality cinematography and direction that makes for epic films...both the battle scenes and the one-on-one personal encounters were wonderfully depicted. For anyone interested at all in the Civil War or anyone wanting to watch a classic movie, this is one to see. I highly recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: An Art Historian's Viewpoint
Review: This is such an excellent production and I've watched it several times. I particularly appreciate it as an Art Historian of American Art: I can't believe someone actually took the time to research paintings of the Civil War and the Revolution!

There are two scenes in particular that really impressed me:

--the death of Reynolds is a pieta scene taken right out of Benjamin West's "Death of Wolfe". (Notice how they manage to sneak in the Red uniformed soldiers to make this scene: absolutely brilliant!)

--when Tom Chamberlain talks to the three Reb prisoners, that is pose-for-pose an exact duplication of Winslow Homer's "Prisoners from the Front." Look it up and compare it!