Gettysburg

Rating:
Summary: most excellent movie
Review: Gettysburg is the best historical movie I have seen. Highly riviting, could not take my eyes off screen.. Actors and reenactors excellent.... First time I have seen movie, will buy it now so I can watch over again... Will be looking for other movies of same quality on gettysburg.....

Rating:
Summary: If you only see one Civil War Movie, see this one.
Review: I am the proud owner of both editions of Gettysburg, the theatrical release and most recently the Collector's Edition. My honest opinion? Though the collector's edition did explain things a few things a little better, most of the cut scenes I found unecessary and a bit cumbersome, but if you don't know any background on the characters or the battle, it could be quite helpful. I adore this movie. I must have seen it at least 15 times. Its epic-like drama is emotional, real and passionate. My sister who deplores any and all types of war movies loves this movie. She was stunned at how very good it was. It is a human movie. It does the best, I think, in showing the agony of the "brother against brother" aspect of the war. All in all, I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Essential for Southern families
Review: Now that the extended family is virtually extinct, films like Gettysburg can fill the void left by vanished oral tradtion in the South. I learned about the War Between the States from my great grandmother and grandmother. My own children don't live close enough to their grandparents to see them more than a few days a year. How then, to convey to them the richness of their Southern heritage in todays sterile, video game environment. Gettysburg is a good tool for doing so. It is a measured, even handed approach to the history of the war itself , as well as the battle. The film does not demonize the South or Southerns, and makes the point that slavery was not of paramount importance to the common soldiers of either side. It shows the courage and heroism of the soldiers who fought this war, and enhances the natural pride Southerns feel in their ancestors. At a time when national education standards are clearly promulgated to obviate any sense of regional heritage, and to teach the young only a government approved version of history, a film like Gettysburg is priceless. Your money will be well spent.

Rating:
Summary: Oh, come now; read history, not fiction.
Review: I admit that "Gettysburg" is beautiful and a worthwhile addition to the canon. That said, It is a creature of both Lost Cause and Yankee mythology. The story of the battle at Gettysburg cannot be told without A. P. Hill, and he is almost totally absent from this film. The real battle was on the Second Day, and we see none of it. God bless old Virginny, its hearths and its sweethearts, but this was not their battle and the parts of it they had, they didn't do very well. The movie, like the book, is good entertainment that gives a fairly realistic look at the War for Southern Independence, but it damn well ain't history. BTW, I had four ancestors there - wearing gray.

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite movies, BUT......
Review: I cannot do justice to this film in a simple review. Jeff Daniels was absolutely superb. He should have received an Oscar nomination (I have always thought that this film was overlooked by Hollywood becasue it started out as a TV movie...gasp). Sam Elliott also was noteworthy, and I could never understand some of the negativity surrounding Sheen's performance as Lee. I thought he turned in a competent performance in a tough role. MY ex girl friend knew absolutely nothing about the Civil War until we watched this together and she was completely ENTHRALLED!!

Now for the negative. First of all, the added footage adds nothing to the film, and second, guess where they make the cut between the two tapes?? They make it right in the middle of Chamberlin's speech before ordering the bayonet charge!!!! I could not believe it!!The dramatic high point of the film and then you have to change tapes!!!! I have always wanted to meet the functionary who made this decision. So get the theatrical release in letterbox and avoid the collector's edition like it had living anthrax spores!!!!

Rating:
Summary: A very good movie !!
Review: Having Studied the Civil War for over 35 years, this movie does a very good job of catching the essence of this incredible conflict. While I too struggle with the lack of coverage of the fighting at the Wheatfield and the Peach Orchard, and almost no mention of Culps Hill, I realize that if you had to add that part of the battle into the movie we are talking a movie of over 8 hours. So thanks to all involved with it. You caught the courage, resolve and the heart rending stories of these people. Thanks for putting flesh on historical though ordinary people. If you want to read a great historical look at this battle, read Glenn Tuckers book Gettysburg, the Hide Tide...

Rating:
Summary: A TRULY AMAZING AND HEART-RENCHING EPIC MOVIE- I LOVED IT!!!
Review: I thought I would say something about this amazing Movie thatwas made in 1993. I have seen the Movie 3 times already, and eachtime, I find something I didn't see before. I thought the acting by the late Actor Richard Jordan, who portrayed at Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistad was very moving indeed. I have since learnt that he had passed away just 3 months after making this Movie, and he was not well at the time of making it. Apparently, he died of an Inoperable Brain Tumor in August 30 1993, so he never got to see the review of this magnificant Film!! I am seriosuly thinking of purchasing the "Collector's Edition of Gettysburg", as I have also read some of the comments regarding this item, and think it well worth while to have. I think this Film "Gettysburg", was both an emotional and heartrenching , and it makes one ponder of what these brave men did in their time! I also correspond with a Penfriend for the last 10 years who lives in Florida, and is also very interested in the Civil War, he has told me so much, and also have read books here in Australia about the Civil War! IN MY VIEW, WE SHOULD ALL BE PROUD OF THESE BRAVE MEN, BOTH UNION AND CONFEDERATE.!!

Rating:
Summary: Not perfect, but very, very good.
Review: I watch this movie every few months and even my daughters gather round. They say schools should show movies like this cause they "aren't so boring". A little heavy on music and the such, but this is also what draws in those beyond the hard core civil war buffs and gives the human perspective. I only wish we had 10 more vidoes like this on civil war material.

Rating:
Summary: "Gettysburg" is great, but it could have been better...
Review: Yes, there are great special effects. And yes, it is very accurate - EXCEPT... Robert E. Lee is, just like he was portrayed in "The Killer Angels" (which I think is NOT as great a book as I would think would win such honors) a WIMP who is short, fat, and unsure of himself. All the other actors were very superb. However, I would add, that it did seem a bit over-sentimentalized. Meaning, it added LOTS of extra drama with the music and camera views... which is great, but a bit overdone. Life isn't like that. While you've got to put situations and people in the spotlight as necessary, I think they overdid it just a bit, making it kind of slow at times. Overall, great - but I think it could have been better.

Rating:
Summary: Hill was there
Review: I am no expert, but I KNOW that AP Hill appears in the movie. He greets Lee and company in Cashtown, outside Gettysburg. He is outfitted in his signature red shirt. Look for him.

Also, I believe -- again I'm not an expert -- that it is Divisons in Hill's Corp. that are involved in the attack on Day One.

An Alabama Regiment in Hood's Division attacks Little Roundtop on Day two. This is clearly depicted in the movie. It's not just Virginians.

A great movie.