Gettysburg

Rating:
Summary: Gettysburg
Review: I own this video on laser disc(s). The movie follows the book (Killer Angels) very well. The book (novel) is must reading for any history buff. The DVD version of Gettysburg on one disc will improve viewing pleasure. The movie itself is a well produced with excellent acting by a great cast. The "Making of Gettysburg" is nearly as interesting as the movie itself. This movie is the best depiction of a historical event that I have witnessed.

Rating:
Summary: Reliving The Past -- Looking To The Future
Review: The movie Gettysburg, in my opinion, may be one of the best ever made. Personally, I have seen it no less than 100 times, and with it's 12/5/00 release on DVD, it is sure to become even more popular than ever. It's gripping, touching, and realistic views of the people involved, and the battles themselves, serve to bring us closer to those who fought for their beliefs 137 years ago. Director Ron Maxwell is currently making plans to film the prequel and sequel to Gettysburg, based on the books "Gods and Generals" and "The Last Full Measure," by Jeff Shaara (son of the late Michael Shaara, author of "The Killer Angels"). These promise to be just as phenomenal as Gettysburg. The books are a triumph, and the movies are sure to succeed.

Rating:
Summary: A.P. Hill
Review: For those of you looking for A.P. Hill in this movie, you'll have to look fast. He's in one of the early Confederate march scenes, standing on the side of the road talking to a mounted officer. He's wearing his notorious red battle shirt. And then we never see him again. Still a great movie.

Rating:
Summary: Gettysburg
Review: Although based on the novel The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, the story follows the facts of the Battle almost to the letter. This movie inspired me to visit the Gettysburg National Hitoric Site. I have been back twice and will go back again and it is amazing to witness the actual sites and recognize them from the movie. This movie shows how close the Union came to losing the war as well as why certain mistakes led to the war continuing for 2 more gruelling years. Do not be swayed by the length of this movie at approx. 4 hours as there is enough intrigue and action to keep you riveted to the screen to the last. The only reason I can tell that this was considered a novel instead of an actual historic record is the dialogue and the fact that it tries to delve into what General Lee and the other characters were actually thinking during the 3 day battle.

Rating:
Summary: High Tide of the Confederacy
Review: The greatest battle ever fought on American soil has never been better filmed. So many fine actors contribute to the success of this film. Realistic battle scenes, well almost; not quite realistic as Saving Private Ryan. The only criticism I have it is a little overlong and tends to drag in places. Still, the final scenes of General Pickett's charge are superb!

Rating:
Summary: Historical Film making at its best....
Review: I am a re-enactor and know some people who participated as re-enacting extras in this movie...they all agree that the film makers spent a lot of time to get this on right. Besides being a great movie, it is fairly historically accurate for being based on a fiction book by Michael Shaara. I hope this movie will soon be available for DVD, so help me by voting that this movie should go DVD.

Rating:
Summary: Numerous problems, but still addictive
Review: There are numerous problems with this movie, but I still have watched it 50 times and never get sick of it. Despite some of the near-fatal flaws with the film, it still is riveting in sections and is always an emotional viewing experience.

What are the some of the problems? First, the make-up department needs to have their heads examined with the plethora of terribly cheap, fake beards in the movie. Longstreet's beard, in particular, looks like a rabid Chia pet on steroids. The real James Longstreet never had a beard that approached the ample levels of this beard. Tom Chamberlain's chin whiskers are also very phony looking, as is Sheen's beard as Robert E. Lee. Jeff Daniels' mustache, as JL Chamberlain, bears a great resemblance to Yosemite Sam. You may think this criticism is trivial, but the movie would have been strengthened considerably by a decent make-up department. They also need to remove the wedding rings on the major actors. The only Civil War general who wore a wedding ring was Ulysses S. Grant and he wasn't at Gettysburg.

Another weakness is the sheer length of the movie. Where was the editor? There are many scenes which beg to be cut: all of the scenes with British Colonel Freemantle are superfluous, as is the later scenes with Confederate spy Harrison. Lee's dressing down of Stuart and Trimble are also overly long. A good hour needs to be lopped off the film.

The uniforms of the major participants are also laughable. Even after a day's battle, there is never a scratch, splotch or blood stain on any garment. This is unrealistic. The lack of carnage and blood in all the battles is also unrealistic.

Another criticism is the age and weight of the reenactors in the film. Most seem to be in their 40's and almost all are 100 pounds too heavy to be accurate in their bit roles. The average Confederate soldier at Gettysburg was 20 years old and weighed 140 pounds, some of these extra's are Orson Welles look alikes!

But... and this is a *big* "but..." Jeff Daniels performance as Chamberlain is outstanding, he carries the first half of the film. The scene at Little Round Top is superlative and moving. Tom Berenger as Longstreet carries the second half of the movie, even with his grotesque Chia-pet fake beard. Berenger is thoughful and excellent in his role. Martin Sheen makes a ridiculous and too-short Robert E. Lee and his accent is hardly that of a Patrician Virginian, more like a Georgia dirt farmer.

The two highlights of the movie are the Little Round Top and Pickett's charge scenes, both are magnificent. If you want accurate civil war history, this is an uneven treatment, but if you want an entertaining introduction into the American civil war, this is it.

Rating:
Summary: Soulful and Powerful
Review: I have seen this film muliple times and it never ceases to move me. It is not a "war movie". It isn't as much about the battle as the men who fought it. Tired cliche it may be--but in this film they really do come to life. I found myself riveted--pulled in. My favorite portrayals are those of the exuberant George Pickett, and Martin Sheen's so soulful Lee. And the powerful musical score just crowns everything--it stays with you long after the movie's over. I recommend it highly.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing!
Review: I watched this video for the first time in November or December of '99. We were going over the Civil War in my American History class, and I thought that watching the movie Gettysburg might give me a little insight and help me get a better grade on the test that was coming up. The whole thing just blew me away. It's one of the best movies I've ever seen. I even told my teacher that it would be all right to show to her five-year-old son because hey: no guts and hardly any blood. I recommend this to everyone, even if they have no interest in the subject.

Rating:
Summary: "We should'a gone around to the right..."
Review: Buffalo Hood's lines as he lies in a soup of blood after the repulse at the Devil's Den rings in my mind, along with many other well-delivered and written lines. This movie was the reason I got interested in the Civil War, period. I've since read all the Shaara books and am now trying to get through Shelby Foote's massive tomes. Why watch this movie? Great script, great cast, great music. It's not about maps and tactics, it's about why 50+K men died in a single battle and how they faced it.