Rating: 
Summary: As good as a prequel can be. (Six stars for the reenactors!)
Review: War is Hell. I agree.
But if we have to learn about it to do not repeat it, then better get informed. One of the best ways is through films like this, actually it feels more like a documentary then a "proper" film (as one tends to look at them), for that I ain't complaining, I just love it as it is.
I can understand people who will prefer watching again "Gone with the wind", the acting is more professional, the fictional novel is as good as it gets and the film is magnificent (even if I still consider it a ladies film...), but for an American Civil War Historic Film "Gods and Generals", "Gettysburg", "Glory" and "The Horse Soldiers" are probably the best.
I could not watch it in one go, but apreciated it nevertheless, it's true some of the actors look "older" then in "Gettysburg" but that's a minor point, I think "Stonewall Jackson" is fairly portrayed (quite a trick mind...) and the first part of the war too. The battle scenes are really very very good and the uniforms and "feel" is like seeing Troiani's best pictures start to move, as I have said six stars for the reenactors (the fight at Henry House Hill part, the attacks on Marye's Heights, and the flank attack at Chancellorsville are SUPERB).
I do not beleive humanity has a long memory, we all tend to be rather short tempered in a way, and the predator in us comes to the surface quite often as it is... that's why we have to overcame this tendency learning how dreadful war is, even if magnificent (You see, Lee was right as Sherman with no doubt...)
I posposed reading "The last full measure" until I saw this one, I do not know at this point if will be a good subject as the war tended to became more and more like a prelude of trench warfare, and casualties became horrific... and after all we all know how it ends don't we?...
AFTER SEEING FOR MYSELF RECOMMENDED. (AND THE SOUNDTRACK TOO).
Rating: 
Summary: Boring attempt to poeticize the confederacy
Review: This movie is a tiresome, pompous, boring, and ridiculous attempt to poeticize the confederacy. Other than modern confederate diehards, no sane viewer will want to slog through this morass. To get an idea of how unanimously critics have panned this film, visit rottentomatoes.com I'm sorry I wasted money and time watching Gods and Generals. I hung in there as long as I could, waiting for a balanced view of the Civil War to develop. Save yourselves the agony.
Rating: 
Summary: Gods An Generals A TOTALLY UNDER RATED FILM!!
Review: Gods and Generals is a [darn] GOOD FILM Period end of Story! This movie does not pander to the typical Hollywood audience who is just looking for mindless action, dumbed down dialogue or gratuitous sex. This movie rises FAR above that [explicit language]. This movie honestly and VERY ACTURATELY portrays 19th Century American's in their purest form. The one thing you need to keep in mind is that American Culture during the 19th Century was completely different than what we are used to today! Yes, people were ALOT more religious than they are today, YES, WEATHER YOU WANT TO BELIEVE IT OR NOT. BLACKS WERE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CONFEDERATE ARMY AND SOUTHERN SOCIETY, NOT JUST AS SLAVES. AND YES for all you revisionists out there who may not like to hear this the Confederacy fought to preserve their way of life NOT JUST TO PRESERVE SLAVERY. It's in the historical record and is very tastefully handled in this film. Yes, the movie does have its flaws but if you have the patience and intelligence to see beyond them for what this film is you will grow to appreciate it the more you see it. Quite simple it's a story about ordinary people and their response to an extraordinary event. It is just an absolute disgrace that this movie was so badly received by ... mainstream critics (EBERT AND ROPER and the like) who did not even give this film a chance. They immediately dismissed it as being a bad movie because the movie focuses on a subject of honest and true history. If you are looking for mindless entertainment and get bored easily then this movie is not for you. If you can appreciate the sacrifices and stories of those who have gone before us and that have helped to forge this nation into what it is today, then definitely get this one. I TRULY LOVE THIS MOVIE!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Civil War movie without all the Hollywood hoopla
Review: Ron Maxwell has done it again! Another great Civil War epic with lots of truth to the storyline. True Civil War buffs will find this movie to their liking while the general movie audience may find it not exciting enough, but the battle scenes are as good as any Hollywood can dish out
It holds passion, compassion, respect for God and country which is lacking in Hollywood these days. This movie inspired my 10 yr old daughter to become interested in the Civil War and Stonewall Jackson in particular, and thats an accomplishment in itself.
As for the acting,Stephen Lang did an outstanding job as Stonewall. Robert Duvall captured Robert E.Lee as no other actor ever has. I sure hope he plays this part in the third and final movie. All the surrounding cast were believable as well. This movie went deeper than just the horrors of war of that time, it brought out that these people were ordinary folks with feelings and emotions, not just names in history books.
I can sum it up like this: Tues. July 15 this DVD went on sale at our local Best Buy. They had 50 copies that sold out that same day. Same for our local Target store. On Fri. July 18 I went back to FINALLY get my copy. A salesman at Best Buy said this had been their #1 selling item for the week. I say take that Ebert & Roeper.
Ron Maxwell, Ted Turner, Jeff Sharra and all the many numerous others who made this picture possible...BRAVO, BRAVO!!
Rating:
Summary: The Vacant Chair
Review: The director's. And my seat, for sure. What a BORE! This movie is SO BORING it would make Tarkovsky yawn! Blame what you want: biased reviewers, politically-correct moguls, unChristian liberals, Civil War revisionists or Adam Sandler morons. Even if you're right the fact remains that this is one overlong, underwriten, pointless boring movie. You may praise its accuracy; that it tries to re-create the way people talked in those times or that it evokes the pace of the novelist's prose. It may very well be the case but that does not amount to a good movie. Only good storytelling does, and this movie has none. Set your hopes elsewhere: If you like history lessons, read some books. If you like long movies, try LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, BARRY LYNDON, KAGEMUSHA, THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY or GONE WITH THE WIND. Those are great movies, historically accurate or not. If you like accurate good Civil War movies, see GLORY. If you like long, accurate, good Civil War movies that reflect the South's perspective at the time, see BIRTH OF A NATION. ...at least, that's what many southern Civil War veterans thought of it after its release, back in 1915!
Rating:
Summary: Unless you live the Civil War 24/7 this isn't for you
Review: This has to be the largest dissapointment of the year. After waiting an exceptionally long time (10 years) from Gettysburg we revist the prequel and for 4 hours listen to speech after speech after speech about people's personal views on the war. There is dialogue that unless you've read several books on the battles or generals that you won't understand plus someone felt like they had to bring back as much as the original cast as they could so you see everyone stuffed into poor excuses for uniforms trying to play generals they have no business playing. The guy playing Hancock looks very bloated and in lack of a neck. One of the biggest dissapointments in the movie was Robert Duvall. Usually a pleasure to watch, was stiff and looked like he was going to have a heart attack at any moment. Bruce Boxlightner(sp?) was a poor excuse for a general Longstreet. You miss Sheen and Beringer. If you buy or rent this film, there are some reasons to sit through it. 1. The battle scenes are done extremely well and the dull thud sounds during the evenings at Fredricksburg are chilling. 2. I had my doubts about Stephen Lang, put he put's forward a good performance as does Jeff Daniels. 3. Finally, there is a touching scene of people leaving there families going off to war. All in all you can fast forward through about 3+ hours of this. One can only hope the producers relook at what they did with Gettysburg prior to making another film. Probably the worst film I've seen in some time.
Rating:
Summary: Read the Book and See the Movie for the Whole Story
Review: GODS AND GENERALS is a wonderful piece of American filmmaking on a difficult subject. However, those who have both read Jeff Shaara's novel and seen the movie come away with a much more complete picture of the events and the people of the Civil War. Most of the negative reviews I've read here focus on two points -that the film is too biased towards the South, and that the dialogue is boring.
The first complaint is why I recommend reading the novel. The book recounts the stories of four men - Lee & Jackson from the South, Hancock & Chamberlain from the North. If Ron Maxwell had covered all four of these stories in the detail they all deserve he would have a 12 hour movie on his hands. Instead he chose one facet to focus on, and it happened to be Stonewall Jackson. I guess too many people just can't get their heads around the idea that not every Confederate was a whip-toting Simon LeGree - or the fact that a Black Virginian might feel compelled to defend his home from invasion.
To the complaint that the film was boring - maybe those who feel this way would have liked it better if Maxwell could have gotten Vin Diesel in it and hired Limp Bizkit to do the soundtrack. The movie is thought-provoking, requires the attention of the viewer, and is beautifully shot. However, if you read the book too you'll enjoy the whole experience much more.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant! A cinematic masterpiece!
Review: This film is a cinematic masterpiece and is a rare jewel given that Hollywood has been so apt to produce such unredeeming films these past few years. Actor Stephen Lang gives an inspiring and remarkable performance as General Thomas J. Jackson. If he doesn't get an Oscar, it only proves the poor taste of the Hollywood wine-and-cheese set. Fittingly, Stonewall Jackson becomes the focal character of this film, which covers the earlier years of the War Between the States up to the time of his tragic death. This movie has drawn criticism chiefly from the amoral minority who scoff at the pious portrayals of Christian faith, chilvary and nobility in a time when character counted for something. The reviews are quite polarized obviously- critics are chiefly limousine liberals, those who loathe southern culture and people smug enough to believe the 1988 film 'Glory' captured the essence of the war and the historicity of the Union cause. Also, I'm kind of tired of hearing how it is too southern in its perspective, which probably comes because the southerners were winning the battles during the time. (I'm not going to scoff at 'Gettysburg' as being "too northern" merely because the Union takes the upper hand.) Anyway, Ron Maxwell has outdone himself with this film... it is quite a step up from Gettysburg; for the chief reason that the casting is better, the script is good and the cinematography is nothing short of a masterpiece. There were some historical discrepencies like the two Irish brigades clashing. The soundtrack is beautiful.
Rating:
Summary: Film Should have been Titled "Calvin and Jackson"
Review: The domination by the character of "Stonewall" Jackson and his, in the film at least, utter devotion to the predestination taught by Calvin leaves the film with no other major characters of interest. Having read the book I'd hoped for visual insight into other generals in the book who were involved in the early Civil War; but they are essentially omitted. Too bad; I believe that the war ended long after the death of Thomas Jackson and even when Jackson was alive many others, including several very interesting generals were also involved. Others seem to have become transparent; Jackson, only Jackson, is protrayed with any depth here. This may be the first DVD I return for a refund.
Rating:
Summary: Beware "# out of #" thought this review helpful"...
Review: People who haven't seen the film and are debating whether to buy the DVD from the reviews should beware using the "_ out of ___ thought this review was helpful" rating as a benchmark. I have read message boards concerning the movie that show that pro-movie, pro-confederacy types are exhorting people to deliberately sign on to this page and rate as "helpful" those reviews that are favorable about the movie and the whole "the south was fighting for state's rights not slavery" point of view the film adopts and "unhelpful" those reviews that criticize the film and its one-sided portrayal of the conflict, politics, etc. One comment literally was "we're up to 125 on ____ review; let's keep signing on so it's number 1." I guess how the reviews are placed is based on this rating so, a word to the wise, keep scrolling down through the reviews and reading all of them, favorable and unfavorable, before you make your decision.
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