Gods and Generals

Rating:
Summary: Best Movie Ever!
Review: Have any of you watched the new "Gods and Generals"? Our family went and watched it last week. What a wonderful movie. Finally a more correct picture of the 2nd war of independence. And believe it or not it was funded by Ted Turner! This video is filled with the strong Christian faith of the southerners (mostly the Virginians) and follows General Thomas Jackson "Stonewall". It is 3 hours and 43 min - but is is a MUST see for all Christian families. Here is one of my favorite quotes about the movie:

"The film-maker's relentless even-handedness removes whatever drama the story might have had by making every one of the characters endlessly honorable, devoted to God, home, and family, good to the slaves, and able to spout poetry or the Bible." --Nell Minow, Movie Mom

As you can see - this quote is not from someone who like it.

I dissagree with the drama part - I think it has plenty and is a great video for the whole family.

If you are interested in the civil war - or would like to be open please go see it! Even if you are a "Yankee" you will still find it is filled with Christianity.

Rating:
Summary: Great Civil War Movie
Review: People who wrote negitive reviews are wrong! This is an exellent and historically acurate film. It is based on the book Gods and Generals. The film is on DVD and you can watch it piece by piece. This film will give you a great understanding about the first part of the civil war, It is an exelent film.

Rating:
Summary: People don't understand good movies!!!!!
Review: Alright, two of the reviews I read were stupid. The civil war was so great because of their faith and there belief in god. They believed they could fight this war because of their belief in god. So in the movie the director did a great job of showing how much they prayed. The length was great because it is the most historically acurate movie made. Everything in the movie was documented. This movie was excellent because it shows the courage and determination of these men. Buy this on dvd and experience the greatest story ever told.

Rating:
Summary: The reality check for Franklin, Ma.....
Review: I consider myself a very big fan of the Civil War. I have visited battlefields in numerous states...I have read countless history books on the subject...I will this year be visiting Gettysburg, PA on my vacation for the 5th time. When Gettysburg the film came out I couldnt wait to see it, simply because there are not enough films made about the Civil War. I commend Ted Turner for his devotion to the subject. BUT, this film like Gettysburg lacks the flow from scene to scene...the battle scene's are also cut up or never finished. The endless speeches that Ron Maxwell seem's to think all characters need to have makes me want to nod off....they never make you care about the character. The most interesting person in God's and General's is Stonewall Jackson...this is for two reason's. One, because finally someone brought him to the screen and second, because Stephen Lang portrayed him. He does a wonderful job. I own Gettysburg the movie, and I will also own God's and General's when it comes out...not because they are a great piece of filmmaking but because it's the characters you want to know and see come alive.

Rating:
Summary: Long, but has many worthy moments
Review: While this film can get boring for those of us who do not hang on every little detail that has historical accuracy, it has enough touching moments to keep you watching. To begin with, the opening credits have what could be one of the most beautiful and touching songs ever written. A stunning ballad by the lovely Mary Fahl called "Going Home" melts your heart. It is sure to be an Academy Award nominee for best song (or at least it should be). One can only wonder what other gems are on Ms. Fahl's new cd "The Other Side of Time." And more of beautiful women ... the very attractive and under utilized young actress Mira Sorvino gives a compelling performance. It is a pity we don't see more of her on screen. Jeff Daniels is a class A actor and never disappoints, and of course, Robert Duvall is always superb. Stephen Lang is the star of the show. While we may get tired of the non-stop "God bothering", Lang is a wildly talented actor who gives an Oscar-worthy performance.

Rating:
Summary: Awful, awful movie
Review: Beards that resemble badgers on chins and way too much religion in this overbrown civil war epic. History buffs may like to watch but those who appreciate acting & writing should stay away. Ah, them happy slaves..oh, they overlooked that story! Too many re-enactors who cannot act or react & constantly look at the camera as they fall dead. Duvall great as Lee but hardly in the film. If I saw Stonewall Jackson character look up & pray to heaven one more time, I'da soiled my pants.

Director has 4 more hours on cutting room floor. Please, please do not release them on DVD!

Rating:
Summary: This Is No "Gettysburg!"
Review: I have read Jeff Shaara's book twice, and thoroughly enjoy his writing. I have seen "Gettysburg" often, and think Ron Maxwell's direction is masterful. I have been to countless Civil War battlefields, and have three degrees in history. All of this adds up to why I was very disappointed in "Gods and Generals."

Mr. Maxwell was so consumed with making an accurate protrayal of events in the earlier part of the Civil War that he forgot that he was directing a film. And that is why the drama of this conflict is so sadly lacking. I honestly believe that the director believed the hype of Civil War buffs (and I am one of them) when they idolized "Gettysburg."

Continuity is lacking. Some of the incredible drama surrounding the First Bull Run is missing. Northern civilians really believed that this would be a very short war, so short that they could have a picnic while this battle ensued. This is missing.

The brilliance of Stonewall Jackson's end around maneuver at Chancellorsville is muddled. A few maps of explanation would have helped. Instead, we have a bunch of soldiers running without any understanding of what was occurring. Luckily I know the battle, so I knew what was happening. My wife had no idea, nor did many people around us.

The major characters that Jeff Shaara flushed out in his excellent historical drama are given short shrift. Little is seen of Hancock. Most is devoted to Jackson, yet we have very little character study. Why did Jackson behave as he did? You will not find out in this film. And that is a fatal error in any novel or film.

And slavery is treated as a some silly little divertisement. Whether or not you agree that slavery was a major cause of the War, it certainly played a huge role in events leading up to the War. You would not know it from this film. You would think all slaves were treated as part of the family. There is no notion of some of the inhumanity.

And the speeches! Mr. Maxwell, this is a film not a play! I just hope you have not destroyed any chance of Shaara's "Last Full Measure" making it to the screen.

I would recommend reading some of the historian's critiques in Civil War magazines. As a group, they were also disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Painfully long Turner ego trip
Review: I saw this in the theater, and my undstanding is the DVD is even longer. There were a few less historical gaffes than Gettysburg, and the facial hair was much better, but there was just far too much movie here. The level of detail in battle was perhaps OK for one battle, but was far too much for all the battles shown. I think Jackson's death scene was done in real time... it went on forever.
Much of the detail was for insiders; the little details about Jackson, while perhaps missing the boat on his overall personality. Then there's the continuation of the Legend of Saint Joshua, in His Own Words. There was just too much "here's a pointless detail that reenactors will appreciate" while trying to mislabel fiction as history. As for the reenactors, of which I am one, many walked out on this turkey. I stayed to the bitter end, and my back regretted it for days.
Amazing in this movie is Ted Turner's arrogance. While hours past reasonable, the scene with Turner's cameo as a Confederate officer was left in. Actually it was one of the better scenes with a musical number, apparently a portrayal of Harry McCarthy, that I though was well done. Then there is the announcment that this is the second installment of Turner's epic Civil War Trilogy... I am guessing he thinks he is George Lucas. Like Lucas, ego gets in the way and spoils the product. I for one do not need the final installment.
The one advantage of seeing this on DVD is that one could spread the viewing over several days, which may make it more enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: The best movie of the year....
Review: I will first reveal to you that I'm a huge fan of gargantuan epics and sweeping romances like "Gone With the Wind", "Barry Lyndon", "Giant", and "Havana". Although, "Gods & Generals" is not a romance, emotions I've never seen so passionately portrayed before on the screen are bountiful in the most glorious picture I've seen in years.

"Gods & Generals" relays the facts and tribulations that lead up to Gettysburg and is more than successful in doing so. Humanizing the generals is most apparent in General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson played by Stephen Lang. In all three key battle scenes he has the ability to remain calm as bullets pass him by. His secret? His devotion to God and his Christian religion. Jackson doesn't waste his time and when he has a free moment, he's usually praying to God. This is how he stays so calm; he understands that his life is in God's hands. If it's his time to go, then it's his time to go. This strength in character is charming and as is his relationship with a five year old girl whom he meets at a quiet Christmas party. This subplot (my personal favorite) is so emotionally driven, it's hard not to feel as though you've met these people once before, as they seem so real and genuine. When tragedy strikes, its oddly welcomed as it advances Jackson's emotional development. All in all, "Gods & Generals", with its beautiful imagery and haunting score, including the gorgeous masterpiece theme "Going Home" performed by Mary Fahl, is a vast and most extraordinary cinematic epic that is nothing short of beautiful.

When the four hours are up and the credits role to reveal Bob Dylan's original ballad "'Cross the Green Mountains", you'll want to take out the DVD and put it back into the player and watch it again. I know I did. This coming December, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" is coming out, no matter how well its done it will be unable to surpass the majestic grandeur of "Gods & Generals", it is most surely the best film of the year 2003, and even quite possibly the new decade. Rumor has it, in the near future, maybe two years from now, the complete film will come to DVD. The complete five and a half hour version. :) I pray every night for it.

Rating:
Summary: Would have worked better as a TV Mini-Series
Review: The prequel to the movie "Gettysburg", "Gods and Generals" deals with the period between the start of the American Civil War and the Battle of Gettysburg. Like it's predecessor, "Gods and Generals" isn't destined to be a box-office hit and is more likely to see more success in video release. It's too long; when I went to see this movies, the theater had placed an intermission in it.

While "Gettysburg" was a great movie, and the book "Gods and Generals" by the son of "The Killer Angels" author Mike Sharra was excellent, this movie falls short. This is probably the first movie I've ever been to where I felt like walking out before it was completed. The problem lies with the period of time "Gods and Generals" is set. Unlike "Gettysburg" and "The Killer Angels", which covers a period of four to five days, the book "Gods and Generals" covers a span of five *years*; from several days before John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry in 1859 to the days leading to the Battle of Gettysburg. This is where the movie failed to deliver.

Because of the span of years, and the already insane length of the movie, several key events in Civil War history are skipped. The movie features the Battles of First Manassas (or Bull Run), Fredricksburg, and Chancellorsville. As a result, John Brown's raid, the Pennisula campaign and Seven Days, Second Manassas (Bull Run), and Antietam are left out. The result is a movie with more holes in it than Swiss cheese. Also, in writing the book, Jeff Shaara gave a more even handed version of the events during the period before Gettysburg. Through Hancock, we see the frustration of the Union troops as they encounter one inept commander after another. The movie, however, focuses on General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson almost primarily; Generals Lee and Hancock are pushed to almost supporting characters in a complex story. I do not include Col. Chamberlain in that comparison, as he wasn't seen that much in the book, either (Fredricksburg being the only exception).

That's not to say the actors didn't do a good job with what they had. Stephen Lang, originally the ill-fated Pickett in "Gettysburg", does a fabulous job as the eccentric Stonewall. Robert Duvall does a somewhat better job than Martin Sheen as Robert E. Lee; I only say that because I think Lee was underused in this movie. Jeff Daniels once again shows why he is perfect for the role of Chamberlain. And with several actors reprising their roles from "Gettysburg", it does make the movie worthwhile to see.

However, the actors cannot take away the fact that this was a movie that would have been better off as a TV Mini-Series. Whoever convinced Ted Turner that this would do well as a feature film should have his or her head checked. As a mini series, this could have been broken up into several parts, allowing the writers and director to expand the story. The parts could have gone like this:

Part 1: Harper's Ferry and First Manassas
Part 2: The Rise of Robert E. Lee as General of the Army of Northern Virginia; the Peninsula Campaign and the Seven Days
Part 3: Second Manassas and Anteitam.
Part 4: Fredricksburg, Chancellorsville, and the days before Gettysburg.

As such, we are left to wait for the video release and hope Turner and Maxwell can redeem this movie that way. And perhaps the lessons learned from this experience will help save "The Last Full Measure" from a similar fate. I only give this move 3 stars, as there are no half stars. Actual rating: 2 and 1/2 stars