Gods and Generals

Rating:
Summary: Poetry and Prayer
Review: I loved Gettysburg...fantastic film. I own several movies about the Civil War, and have read several books. In other words, I had expected to love this film. Instead, what I find is the story line doesn't seem to flow well, and they keep interupting it with poetry and praying. How many prayers do I need to listen to about keeping them safe and that they return? I've only managed to watch half the film because I got so bored. I then put in Gettysburg (which is just as long...I do have a long attention span) and enjoyed every minute. This is from the same director...I wish he'd done the movie the same way. I think I will give it another try. But I'm also going to use a timer and figure out how much time they wasted on poetry and prayers.

Rating:
Summary: Another approach?
Review: I would love to see more movies like this. That's the trouble. I'm beginning to feel as if I'm being had. We're told that if we want to see The Last Full Measure filmed, we must support Gods and Generals. OK. I went to the theatre showing. I bought the soundtrack. (The one with the "exclusive" DVD included. Most of the "exclusive" DVD material is on the movie disk.) Now I have the movie DVD. (The one on the two-sided disk with the cheap cardboard packaging.) Do you think this might actually be all about maximizing profits?
I have a better idea. Make a good movie next time and you won't have to shake us down for nickels and dimes.
This movie isn't bad. I agree with other comments that it misses the mark--especially on Stonewall(Stephen Lang is a great actor though). It certainly isn't as good as Gettysburg. I would call it mediocre, although for some reason I think I'm enjoying the DVD more than I did the theatre showing. But Gods and Generals has it's value in providing at least a broadly accurate overview of an important period in history.

Rating:
Summary: Way under-rated
Review: I have read the Civil War Trilogy written by the Shaaras. What an incredible, and entertaining way, to teach history. To show that historic figures are human and to display this humanity in a way that many can relate, is a key part to GODS and GENERALS.

I believe this movie was one of the best Civil War movies I have seen. It ranks up there with GLORY. It's strange that while Ted Turner may be considered a nut by some, yet he continues to produce incredible historical epics.

I pray that the 3rd book of the Trilogy, THE LAST FULL MEASURE, is also brought to the cinema. It is movies like this that remind us of the cost of our freedom that many now take for granted.

Rating:
Summary: WHAT THEY FOUGHT FOR !
Review: This brilliant movie is one of a kind ! Although some battles were left out (particulary Antietam,Md.) this movie takes you right there to the bloody field of battle.

Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson is brought to live just like I would have imagined him and next to the relationship between Gen. Lee you also see other members of his staff (Pendleton, Pettigrew...)

It gives you a look why and for what these men fought for with such gallantry on both sides from their leaders to the ordinary soldier and the horror and sacrifice endured by soldiers and civilians alike; and the difficult situation the freed and nonfree slaves were in.

I can only recommend this wonderful movie to anybody who is interested in history, especially the War between the States.

Rating:
Summary: Historically brilliant but overly drawn out Civil War drama
Review: I notice that some have reviewed this movie as "They don't make them like this any more" and I can only say, thank goodness they don't! You are probably aware of the story (and if not, you should be) as this is a prequel to the very succesful, and equally lengthy Gettysburg. This movie has historical accuracy and period detail overload, and I did wonder whether the armies of extra's who played in the film (most of whom belong to the actual relevant regiment historical societies) had more fun watching this movie, than general viewers. I would have loved to give this movie a better rating, but I just can't - it's long, lumbering, drawn out and what little story there is gets lost in the spectacle of it all. Another popular criticism was that for a movie dealing with slavery to have only two small talking roles for black actors is also a bit of a joke. There are a few small saving graces however, not least the excellent sombre performance of Robert Duvall, and the DVD has some nice extra's, but on the whole it's a bladder testing exercise, and history lesson docudrama that would be just at home on the Discovery channel, as the big screen. A real shame

Rating:
Summary: Golden opportunity wasted
Review: I love Civil War history and crave Civil War movies that would have the look and feel of Patriot. There are so many great stories to tell. From start to finish this film seems corny with over the top melodramatics. I don't think they talked like that in the 1800's. Civil War letters and writings have a different feel than the way we talk today, but it still would have felt real. The film is all unnatural and I could not get my mind off it long enough to enjoy the story. The special effects were lame too. I wonder where the 80 million dollars they spent on the film went? After saying all that, I still recommend the DVD for the subject matter and some of the special features it has.

I have to give Ron Maxwell credit in the sense that it would have never been made if not for him. It is rare to see a Hollywood movie present characters reading the Bible and praying (bravo for that). For this and the subject matter, I like the film. I guess having G&G in this form is better than not having it at all. Unfortunately this attempt may hinder other civil War films from being made because if bombed at the box office.

I like Ron Maxwell, but I hope someone else directs "Last Full Measure," the next film in the trilogy, and gives it the look and feel of Patriot. Ron can still produce it, but let someone else direct. He bit off more than he could chew by writing , producing and directing. It was not the actors fault either, because everyone in the movie had the same over the top corny presentation that tainted the film.

I think I have the right to voice my opinion because I went to the movie, bought the very lame video game and I have bought the DVD. I just wish this golden opportunity would have given me more for my money.

Rating:
Summary: Nowhere near as good as 'Gettysburg'
Review: If you are a serious student of the Civil War, and not just a reenactor, this movie will deeply disappoint you. One other reviewer pointed out all the fat soldiers in this thing, and it's true. Civil War soldiers were emaciated. What of accuracy? The movie is also trite in favor of Confederates, and that seems to have everyone buzzing that it's fairminded. Wha? The actor who plays Stonewall certainly gives it his ALL. But the part is written for a high school production, and that's how he comes off. Poor Jeff Daniels looks chubby and old; whereas he was perfect and BRILLIANT as Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in 'Gettysburg.' He looks embarassed as he recites the incredibly long monologue he must utter with his men standing, frozen, waiting for him to shut up, behind him. Oh what a disappointment this movie is. Mira Sorvino also has a long monologue, and although she is a good actress, gosh, the bit seems so unnatural. People just don't, and never did, talk the way they do in this film. They keep quoting long, dopey passages to one another. And I mean long. How did this movie get made? And please, Hollywood, find some realistic looking beards! :( I guess the person to sternly question about this would be the director. But with all the time and expense required to make such a film, you'd think SOMEONE would have done a bit of homework. As one hopeful human to another, all I can say is: SAVE YOUR MONEY. Or if it's burning a hole in your pocket, then spend it on Killer Angels, the book; Gettysburg, the movie; Black Flower, the book; Confederates in the Attic, the book. Don't encourage the mediocrity brigade by renting or buying this thing.

Rating:
Summary: Just Dreadful
Review: They should have just called it "The Stonewall Jackson Show". It dragged through more melodrama off the battlefield than a soap opera. I never really got the idea this was a war. Too many self-serving speeches, not enough conversation about readying everyone for each of the battles. Stonewall Jackson was the next best thing to insane during a battle. Why have him sitting in parlors talking about lemonade. He had lemons delivered to him in the field, and sucked on them incessantly, so why didn't they just show that? After seeing the magnificent "Gettysburg" to be shown this piece of garbage was a shame. The music was uninspired and had no apparent repeated theme throughout, or if it did, it wasn't good enough to hold up through the movie like the themes in "Gettysburg." Robert Duvall looked like his teeth were coming loose inside his mouth every time he spoke, and he lacked the southern polite softness underneath his toughness that Martin Sheen had. And, Duvall's was nothing more than a throw-away role. What a waste of a good actor. Jeff Daniels was overweight and somewhat uninspired by this role, although the Battle of Frederickburg came closer to portraying the real battle. I bought this DVD based on the fact that the film was made by the same people who made "Gettysburg". When The Last Full Measure is made, I'll rent it first.

Rating:
Summary: Good movie with an interesting point of view
Review: I am a legitimate historian (not just self proclaimed). Gods and Generals was still better than "Gone With the Wind", "Glory", etc. I know I am risking my credibility, but I liked the movie. Yes, it was not as accurate as I would have liked. No, Jackson wasn't that one dimensional. Yes, it was a lot more complicated than it appeared to be in the movie (the war, the politics, etc). I was entertained. There are times when historians and Civil War buffs alike must toss aside the historical accuracy anger and enjoy something. Other than a re-enactment, that is as close to the real thing I will ever get. There is just something about seeing it all bigger than life on the big screen (and little screen with the DVD).

It is a long long epic and one must realize this before watching the movie. If you don't have the attention span to watch a 4 hour movie, then this is not your film. The DVD offers the short attention span individual to start and stop at will. This DVD version is a very good work with behind the scenes footage and music videos. However, if you are serious about your "Gods and Generals" fix, hold out for the six hour version. That one will have the Battle of Sharpsburg, John Wilkes Booth, and Abraham Lincoln (in addition to other footage not seen in the movie release).

"Gettysburg" is a movie about an event and the people involved. "Gods and Generals" is about the people (Jackson, Lee, Hancock, and Chamerlain) and the events around them. Remember, this is a film based off a historical FICTION. Although very accurate (for a hollywood film) there are hollywoodized parts.

Too many historians and buffs dislike it, because they were expected to. Well, not I. I've written works and have spent many many hours researching both for fun and requirement. And, consarn it, I like it. The movie (as did Gettysburg) pulled in a lot of non-historians into this genre. That is important. Was it the best movie of all time? Nope. Was it the worst? God no. Sometime during all our chest beating and quotation citing we must remember...it's just a movie.

Rating:
Summary: I wish I had mowed the grass!
Review: There's 4 excruciating hours I'll never get back. Most of what I wanted to say was covered by a previous reviewer, I'll add that Ted Turner's cameo drew an unexpected burst of laughter. It smacks of the same self ingratiating eliteism that eminates from John Glen's trip to space in exchange for de-railing the Thompson hearings.

With acting so forced, it looked like the process caused actual pain to the actors with speaking parts, I can't figure out how William Shatner missed this one.

Don't walk, run.