Gods and Generals

Rating:
Summary: Read the book
Review: I have been reading about the Civil War for over 40 years and have been a reenactor / living historian for over 10 years. I really looked forward to seeing this movie. Having seen it, I now encourage others not to. It is very boring and many of the "stars" overacted, especially the overdone scenes with General Thomas Jackson. These were so bad that in all the years I have been going to the movies I have never been so happy to see someone die on screen. It was also interesting to see not what was shown on screen but what was left out. Almost makes me think the screen writers had a message they wanted to get across.

Rating:
Summary: Editing Can't Win A War But It Might Improve This Movie
Review: In the film "Gettysburg" Colonel Joshua Chamberlain (Jeff Daniels) utters "there's nothing so much like a god on earth as a general on a battlefield." Based on Jeff Shaara's novel of the same title "Gods and Generals" is the prequel to "Gettysburg," which itself was based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, "The Killer Angels," written by Shaara's father, Michael.

Directed and adapted for the screen by Ron Maxwell (as was its predecessor) "Gods and Generals" presents the first two years of the American Civil War as the Army of the Potomac and the Army of Northern Virginia struggle against each other in the battles of First Bull Run, Fredricksburg and Chancelorsville.

Much has been made of the film's historical accuracy but, little of the gore and carnage of war can been seen in its sanitized battle scenes filled with smoke, explosions, and men falling to the ground. Though the battle scenes themselves are expertly choreographed, hardly any thought seems to have gone into the cinematography of these scenes as they lack imagination in their framing and execution. Yet, I found the battle scenes alone worth the price of admission.

I cannot say the same for Maxwell's bloated screenplay which is filled with flowery dialogue, long-winded speeches, and droning soliloquies. Yes, citizens of the nineteenth century spoke differently than we do today, but the dialogue is so jarring to the modern ear that it is nearly impossible for an audience to maintain a willingness to suspend its disbelief.

The narrative in Mr. Shaara's novel is nearly equally split between four major characters: Colonel Joshua Chamberlain and General Winfield Scott Hancock on the side of the Union and Generals Robert E. Lee and Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson on the Confederate side, while Mr. Maxwell's adaptation can nearly be considered as a Stonewall Jackson bio-pic with the other characters merely as supporting players. Shaara's book maintains a balance of viewpoints of both North and South but, Maxwell's film tilts the majority of screen time to the Confederate side.

Stephen Lang does an admirable job as the highly religious Stonewall Jackson. Indeed, the film's shining glory is that Maxwell's screenplay and Lang's performance come closest to capturing the man that Jonathan Jackson was in reality as anything yet set forth on film. Though it is hard to separate Lang from his earlier portrayal of General George Picket in "Gettysburg." Jeff Daniels competently reprises his role as Chamberlain, though he lacks screen time and is saddled with reciting Lucanus' "The Crossing of the Rubicon" as he watches elements the Union Army crossing the Rappahanock River into Fredericksburg, Virginia. The films greatest disappointment was Robert Duvall in his lackluster performance as General Robert E. Lee.

Randy Edelman's sentimental score is adequate to the task at hand, and though pleasurable to listen to it does not rise to meet the challenge of the material presented. Mary Fahl's contribution, "Going Home," played over the opening credits of windblown battle flags, in a movie which the director well knows is going to come in at 3 ½ hours, should have fallen to the cutting room floor, though I love every note of it. And Bob Dylan is as raspy as ever in his "Cross the Green Mountain" played over the end credits.

Is "Gods and Generals" the greatest movie ever made about the American Civil War? No. Is it the most accurate movie about the Civil War? Quite possibly. But accuracy could not save this movie. Editing could. Edit the screenplay. Edit the dialogue and speeches. Edit the opening credits. Edit. Edit. Edit.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointed Shaara Fan
Review: I had been eagerly awaiting this film since I finished reading "Gods and Generals" several years ago. Maybe I should crack open that book again, but, as I recall, this movie has little resemblance to the book. The movie is filled with cheesy civilian scenes, long, boring, and irrelevant speeches, and confusing plot connections. Because of my background in Civil War history I was able to follow the plot, but those who don't know a lot about the war would be thoroughly confused and misled (especially concerning the causes of the war and the institution of slavery). The movie gave hardly any time to General Hancock (who played a huge role in Shaara's book). That was a major disappointment.
I must commend Stephen Lang's performance as Stonewall Jackson. I think he single-handedly kept this movie afloat.
I have a hard time believing that this is the work of the same Ron Maxwell who directed such a masterpiece as "Gettysburg." ESPECIALLY since "Gettysburg" followed the plotline of "The Killer Angels" so carefully. I have no idea why Maxwell deviated so much from Jeff Shaara's "Gods and Generals." He had a wonderful screenplay in hand and failed to use it.
I do recommend this movie to any Stonewall Jackson fan. Maxwell and Lang at least do justice to Jackson. As for the rest of the movie...I can only hope that "The Last Full Measure" will not be so disappointing.

Rating:
Summary: Worst of the Worst
Review: If you like movies, if you're interested in the Civil War, if you want to spend 4 happy hours... avoid this film like the plague. Even Robert Duvall turns in a sub-standard performance. The costumes, dialogue, fakey battles, and slavery-glorifying plot are pathetic. This is a wicked bad waste of time.

Rating:
Summary: God, is this a Bad Movie
Review: Awful, awful, awful. Awful script bleats on for four hours, big ol' fake beards (Jeb Stuart's beard is so bad that you'll want to rewind to take another look). Lots and lots of praying, so we know Stonewall was a good god-fearin' fella. Lots of really bad "southern" accents. This is just a BAD movie. Bad like a puppy that needs a whack with a newspaper. I'm wracking my brain to think of something positive to say about it... well, at least I didn't die while it was on.

Rating:
Summary: Really Bad
Review: Really bad acting and an even worse script. This might be historically accurate, but this is probably the worst movie that I have ever seen about the Civil War. I would have rated this 0 stars, but that was not an option. I am a really big fan of Robert Duval's, but even he could not overcome the horrible script. I did watch this until the end, but the pain was unbearable. If you want to see a great Civil War movie, watch Glory, Gone With The Wind or Band of Angels.....not Gods and Generals.

Rating:
Summary: Very Good
Review: This movie is very good. Not quite as good as Gettysburg. The whole prequel thing is usually not very good. Stephen Lang plays Jackson in this movie and he does a very good job. The only thing about it is he played Pickett in Gettysburg. I just couldn't get this out of my mind. Pickett and Jackson are complete opposite if you know anything about their lives.

Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected
Review: I guess what amazed me most was the genteelness that pervaded during the early stages of the Civil War; I'll call it B.G. (Before Grant). The Confederate south hadn't suffered from the invasions of Sherman and Grant, and Sheridan hadn't burned out the Virginia Shenandoah Valley. Lee was a hero and Jackson was the archangel Stonewall. There was, too my mind, an almost surreal atmosphere surrounding the initial stages of this terrible conflict. Picnics to the battlefields, war and glory, honor and all of the other attributes associated with this period. Twenty First century thought would never look at war in such a positive light. A few bad days of bloodlettings during the civil war probably changed the soldier's attitudes. Not to mention the American's who personally experienced the horror and destruction. Early in the Civil War the mindset was different and this film brings it out, piously. I liked Turner's Gettysburg better. As is true to form with both these films the accuracy of the gear displayed great attention to detail, employing re-enactors for both Army's and civilian lent credibility to the historical representations.
The dialog seemed a bit stiff and awkward at times. Surprisingly, I thought Martin Sheene did a better Lee (Gettysburg) than Robert Duvall (Gods and Generals).

Rating:
Summary: Stirring Civil War Epic!
Review: Gods and Generals is one of the best Civil War movies ever made. Stephen Lang's portrayal of Stonewall Jackson was on target for it's authenticity! Robert Duvall was a perfect choice as General Lee. (Thank God for that, Martin Sheen was terrible in Gettysburg).

I liked the film's opening with Mary Fahl's "Going Home" with the various state battle flags. It's a shame that "Gods and Generals" didn't come out before the half-baked "Gettysburg."

Ted Turner certainly put more of his heart into "Gods." Look for Turner's cameo appearance at the film's mid-point. I believe the film would have been better if more details would have given to events leading up to the war from both sides. That I guess would have added at least another hour of footage.

From the film, I enjoyed finally seeing overdue justice given to Stonewall Jackson. Having read extensively on Jackson's life and military campaigns, I always believed a movie about him would be great project. "Gods" brings a deeply personal sketch of Jackson's Christian character as a devoted husband, soldier, and servant of the Lord. Unfortunately, contemporary film viewers may find "Gods" difficult to identify with.

I enjoyed the film's portrayal of Lee and Jackson's strategic military planning for Chancellorsville. All of the battle sequences are first rate and historically accurate

This film is a must see for any Civic War Buffs!

Rating:
Summary: Positively Marvelous!
Review: My family and I have been anticipating this DVD for months, and we got so caught up in it that we posted lookouts to watch out for the UPS truck. After two days of killing anticipation it finally arrived, and I was not disappointed. This movie is a masterpiece! (To put it lightly!)

Stephen Lang was great as Stonewall, although despite his appearances, he sounds exactly like Pickett. Hmm, what a coincidence! :) Actually, they are both played by the same man, but in different movies.

The best part of the movie is the battle of Fredricksburg, which was done very well. Even though I knew that the Federals would lose, I was rather hoping that maybe, just maybe, they would win. They deserved to win.

Usually when I watch a Civil War movie I root for the side that they focus on, but this movie was different. They portrayed both sides with such feeling that one part of me wanted the Rebels to win, and another part of me wanted them to lose.

My greatest disappointment is with Lawrence Chamberlain. Sorry to spoil it, but he does not look his age. I know it's been 10 years since they made "Gettysburg" but I was kind of hoping that he would look the same. I think they'll do him better justice in "The last full Measure." He'll probably look more his age there.

To be honest, 'Gettysburg's' soundtrack is much better, but God's and General's isn't that bad. 'Going Home' is pretty good, but Bob Dillan-whose raspy voice sounds like he has a bad cold-sings 'Across the Green Mountains'.

One more qualm I had with this movie: not enough Chamberlain. He's my favorite character, and if the movie is anything like the book, "The Last full Measure" should show him a lot more.

This movie was great. As much as I like this version, I can't wait till we get the 6-hour version next year. I hope other people liked this movie as much as I did, and I am eagerly anticipating "The Last full Measure".