Rating: Summary: Superb DVD! Review: This is one of the best tape-to-DVD transfers that I have yet seen. The audio and video are glorious in their new digital encoding. If you have a great home theatre system, you will undoubtedly enjoy the effects. If you are even slightly interested in the subject matter of this film, you MUST get this movie. The film does a good job of acurrately protraying the events which took place in the battle. Of particular note about this DVD is the load of special features which are packed onto the disc. Of course, there is the obligatory "Making Of" featurette, which is good by itself. However, also included is a wonderful 1955 documentary about the battle, as well as battlefield maps and interviews with the leading members of the cast. You will enjoy this DVD!
Rating: Summary: Great Epic Feature, but General Lee Looked Confused... Review: ...and that is my biggest problem with this movie, hence only two stars. Unlike the Movie produced by Turner, General Lee was far from confused about his invasion of the North in 1863. And while he did rely heavily on Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry for his intelligence and to screen the main Army's movements, Turner made it look as though Stuart's absence was one of the main reasons for the Confederate defeat...which certainly wasn't the case. And Lee wasn't without Cavalry, as Gen. Fitzhugh Lee's cavalry was on hand. Another problem I had was this movie also made Longstreet look more brilliant and even-headed than Lee. While Longstreet was an able commander, especially at the Corps and Division level, he was no Lee. I enjoyed the story line and the focus on the first day's actions with Maj. General John Buford holding Seminary Ridge against overwhelming odds. I also enjoyed Jeff Daniels' portrayal of Joshua Chamberlain, and his speech prior to the action on Little Round Top. And Pickett's Charge made me weep. But, my Southern Pride (I was born in Tennessee and raised in Kentucky) was stung by the confused and indecisive prortrayal of Lee by Martin Sheen (someone seemed to forget that General Lee was over six feet tall and rather angular, Sheen being considerably shorter and less angular...). General Lee certainly did have a reason for invading the North and wasn't as confused as portrayed in this film. Besides General Lee's portrayal, a very Historically accurate film, and good entertainment.
Rating: Summary: PC Berg Review: This DVD has good action scenes and is faithful to the novel, the Killer Angels, upon which it is based. Gettysberg, however, is too long (four hours?), suffers from cheap costumes, including beards that almost fall off the actors, and a gross distortion of the racial elements of history.
That is, if this movie had machine guns used in the battle scenes, everyone would be outraged. Yet, during the Civil War, a war in which race certainly played an important part, all of the actors call black people "darkies." No, I don't want to hear foul language throughout the film. But I would have preferred to have no black actors in the film, then to have a film where they were all treated so wholesomely. In my view, it was almost as bad as having those machine guns in place.
Finally, even without these flaws, I think the acting in the movie was quite bad. I didn't find Chamberlein to be very inspiring which, based on his history, I think he was. I didn't like! Sheen's portrayal of General Lee. I didn't like Pickett. So, for me, this movie was bad all around. I know others love this film. I can't understand why.
Rating: Summary: An important and excellent movie Review: There aren't nearly as many films devoted to the American Civil War as there should be. Gettysburg, the best of the bunch, is just amazing. That's all, amazing. I can't think of any other word more suitable.
Rating: Summary: A Very Faithful Adaptation of Shaara's Novel! Review: "Gettysburg" brings one of the best Civil War novels ever written to colorful life. This is a movie about a battle, no doubt about it, and the filmakers have avoided trying to appeal to the widest range of people. Those looking for period romance should look elsewhere. Gettysburg was the pivotal battle in the Eastern theatre of the Civil War, with the Federal army winning the only clear-cut victory they were to achieve after Malvern Hill. The movie follows five main characters:Union Brigadier General John Buford, Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain of the Union 20th Maine, rebel Brigadier General Lewis Armistead, rebel Lieutenant General James Longstreet, and rebel General Robert E. Lee. Through these men the story of the Battle of Gettysburg is told. The filming is well done, but as the movie was orginally intended for release as a TV miniseries, the resolution is low. Reenactors were used to depict the two mighty armies who clashed in Pennsylania in July, 1863. They know their hobby: uniforms are meticulously accurate and the view of army life in camp and upon the field of glory feels right. That said, some of the reenactors are pretty overweight, and the Confederates especially lack that "lean and hungry" look that period sources describe. Several key portions of the battle are covered in depth. The first day is probably the best done: Buford's skillful defense of the high ground to the south of Gettysburg, the rout of the Union right, and the death of General Reynolds are all shown, and the viewer feels the ebb and flow of the fight. The second day focuses on the action at Little Round Top, and that is all. This appraoch works well in the movie, but the climactic fight around the Peach Orchard, the Wheat Field, and Culp's Hill is overlooked. The third day gives up the chance to show us the clash of sabers as Custer charges Stuart's tired troopers and Kilpatrick sacrifices his men in a series of headlong charges against Confederate infantry. Instead, the movie makers choose to focus on Pickett's charge. It is VERY well done. Long lines of rebel infantry advance on the angle, and the enormity of their defeat is readily apparent. The performances are all top-notch. Martin Sheen's Lee is not quite the charismatic leader of men that the real Lee was, but his agonizing over decisions and simple faith in God will help viewers to identify with the great man. John Buford is played extremely well by veteran Western actor Sam Elliot. But the best performances are turned in by Tom Berenger as Longstreet and Jeff Daniels as Chamberlain. Look for Ted Turner, playing a rebel officer, to get shot down during Pickett's charge, and Civil War filmmaker Ken Burns, as a Federal staff officer begging General Hancock to seek cover during the Confederate bombardment.
Rating: Summary: Excellent Adeptation Review: I was a big fan of Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels, the book this movie was based on, and I was impressed with the movie. It was faithful to the book, to its credit, and the acting is also good. It also has a very realistic feel, you feel you are right there in the action. The characters are very well developed. It is a bit long, but it is a brilliant film.
Rating: Summary: Gettysburg on DVD Review: Gettysburg is one of my all time favorite movies, but not on DVD. Too many scenes have been edited out of the video tape version. If you want to see the best and most complete Gettysburg get the video.
Rating: Summary: very good Review: i thought this was well done...but the only reason i give it 4 stars is that i saw it only once, back in 1994, and i saw it after i saw Glory, which i guess was a bad mistake because that ending in Glory was so powerful that the whole time i was watching Gettysburg, i was bored, except the attack on little round top. it was well done though.
Rating: Summary: Good Theater, Fictional, but Good Review: Look, there is so little out there for Civil War buffs that this one rates high just on its production alone. But don't be confused about its historical accuracy. The Killer Angels, the book on which this movie is based, is a fictional recounting of the battle. Sure, it weaves in enough fact that it keeps it interesting, but I fear people will watch this film then think they have a clear understanding of the battle. It's great entertainment, but if you're interested in having a knowledge of the battle that goes beyond the elementary, this movie is not the place to gather your facts. Gettysburg is definitely worth the time and money. Just keep it in perspective.
Rating: Summary: Great Movie, Experienced problem with DVD Review: I can't add anything more to what other alrady said except I was glad it came out on DVD. Only I have experienced a problem and wondered if anyone else had a similar problem. On the third day of the battle where Armistead gives his speech on "Ole Virginnie" the movie freezes for just a second as if I paused it. Has anyone else experienced this?
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