Gods & Generals
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Movie Reviews of Gods & Generals
Movie Review: Action, Drama, Romance-an authentic tale of valor
Summary: 5 Stars
WOW. Until Gods and Generals I despaired to believe that anyone anywhere could somehow make a decent Civil War movie. The Vietnam War had its Platoon. The American Revolution had its Patriot (although it was no Brave Heart) and World War II had its Saving Private Ryan.
Yes, we've seen films such as Glory. Glory--great action scenes to be sure and Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington were amazing. Yet, it was one sided.
Who walked out of the theater after viewing Glory knew that two years before the black 54th Mass regiment was mustered in the north, there were free black volunteer units serving for the South, one including the 1st LA? (Not to mention the 90,000 other free African Americans who served and died in the Southern armies.
Glory was like...making a movie about the horrors of Nazi Germany without including the holocaust or a movie about the old west without including Native Americans. You shouldn't make a movie based on historical events if you plan to hack a truth in half. The 54th Mass had its 15 moments of fame...when will the 90,000 black soldiers of the South get theirs?
Blue & Gray and even Gettysburg was more fiction than historical. In the movie Gettysburg there is a scene of a runaway slave being liberated in the 20th Maine's camp. It never happened. However there are both testimonies and written accounts of free black Confederate soldiers in Gettysburg, one of which Lt. Colonel Fremantle (who was portrayed in the movie) had written about in his book after the Civil War.
Then came Gods and Generals. Based on the reviews I've seen, most people think the truth sucks. Stonewall Jackson, the great SOUTHERN general recruits and befriends a black citizen named Jim Lewis. Throughout the movie the Southern characters proclaim their cause is not slavery but independence. How many of you cringed when Lee's character quoted to Blair's character his understanding of the Northern cause stating, "I never thought I would see the day when the goverment would raise an army to invade its own country." Boy, this pissed off some PC pukes and some other views naive to true history.
It may piss them off even more to know that Jim Lewis was a real Confederate soldier. Or...that nearly every account written by a Confederate soldier on why he enlisted was to defend that state and secure its independence, just as the movie told. Who would question that the armies from the Northern states invaded the Southern states. Battle of Manassas,VIRGINIA. HELLO. Many of you may have had ancestors who had been POWs in Japan or Vietnam or Germany. Three of my ancestors were POWS in... Chicago, ILLINOIS.
Furthermore, every major speech in the movie spoken by Jackson's character was historically to the T.
My advice to the critics who shammed this movie--shut up. Gods and Generals was the most unique experience in your movie-viewing lives because you actually learned something.
Truth aside, I loved it! Where Gettysburg and Glory used women less than even as extras but more as props, Gods and Generals provided the screen with beautiful and talented women in leading and dramatic roles.
Where in the series', Blue & Gray or North & South the battle scenes looked as deadly and real as local cable wrestling, Gods and Generals provided us with three of the Civil War's most explosive battles that included thousands of actual CW reenactor extras, sound effects, and visual effects. I was blown away.
Lastly, where other CW movies centered on childhood history book poster boys, Gods and Generals blessed us with not only the most well known heroes of that time but also their deep, dark, and dramatic personal stories and emotions. Also featured were the unsung heroes. Again, remember Jim Lewis.
Even the sound track blew me away. The music lifts a spiritualness in your deepest core.
Gods and Generals is a lovely movie. Because of the movie's amazing historical backgrounds, battle scenes, and larger than life (but very alive) characters, I recommend it to everyone.
The images, the roles, and the story are powerful and beautiful. True story.
Movie Review: One of the greatest American Civil War films ever made.
Summary: 5 Stars
"Gods and Generals" is a prequel to the 1993 film "Gettysburg".
"Gods and Generals" is extremely detailed and very historically accurate. Ted Turner spent top dollar to make "Gods and Generals" as real as possible and he did an excellent job. Based off many American Civil War history books I've read and photos I've seen of life in the 1860's, I believe if you want to know what life was like in the United States of America during the 1860's, this is the ideal film to see. Even little details the average viewer may not even notice is included in the movie. The battle scenes, the instrumental soundtrack and the scenery is absolutely amazing.
I think that this is a great movie. My ONLY complaints about it is that we did not get to see things from the United States of America's point of view enough in my personal and humble opinion. i.e. How Northern Civilians reacted to the war and the men in blue preparing for it. Also, not all southern's wanted to secede from the country. Quite a few did not actually and I wish the movie could have focused on that issue some.
The film focus's on Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the Twentieth Maine for the most part when showing the audience the point of view of the Federal troops which I enjoyed a lot. I think one of the reasons why many rebels believed it would be a short war is because they knew quite a lot of them were real tough and rough outdoorsy guys and they thought Northern men were stuck up, rich boys from the big cities who didn't know how to fire a gun or knew anything about horses and other animals and therefore they wouldn't stand a chance against them. Little did they realize that many, many men up North were also gentlemen of nature too that came from the mountains, woods, swamps, and other rural areas and did know how to work a gun, knew quite a lot about horses and animals, as well as the outdoors and they hunted, fished, had farms, and lived off the land and were fighting in the war out of love for their country. I believe that is the case with many of the men in the Twentieth Maine and the film teaches people that.
That is one of the many things history films are all about. Not just telling you what you already know, but teaching as well. By including Chamberlain and a storyline for the Union, Maxwell was able to teach an audience of mostly neo-rebels about a subject that they themselves would probably never bother to learn themselves because some of them may not be interested in the other side of things unless it supports what they already believe. If Chamberlain was not apart of this movie, it would have just been another Hollywood Neo-Reb film. I think it's good that this movie tried to be fair.
Since I first saw the film "Gettysburg" when I was a kid, I have been fascinated with Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. I also became a huge Jeff Daniels fan as a result of his performance as Chamberlain and I was happy to see him reunite with C. Thomas Howell and Kevin Conway in "Gods and Generals". I really loved that trio in "Gettysburg" and it was great seeing them together again.
I know many of the U.S. soldiers at that time cared more about preserving The United States of America, which very honorable, but I'm also glad Chamberlain was of the men who not only wanted to keep the country together, but also had a deep desire to end slavery. I'm sure this film attracted many people who are sympathetic towards the Confederacy. Hopefully all of those people were open-minded enough to learn more about the Northern side of things when Jeff Daniels was on screen and that they had a better understanding of why some Union soldiers were fighting in the war.
Movie Review: The Finest Film Ever Made About The American Civil War
Summary: 5 Stars
"Gods and Generals" easily surpasses it's predecessor "Gettysburg" and lays claim to the distinction of being the finest film ever made dealing with the Civil War. Although Ken Burns PBS documentary "The Civil War" is the gold standard for documentaries, "G&G" will capture the audience's attention and imagination from the very beginning to the final curtain like no other film has done before.Here are, IMHO, the "pros":
Outstanding cinematography
Authentic period sets
Impressive performances delivered by Stephen Lang (Jackson), Jeff Daniels (Chamberlain), Robert Duvall (R.E. Lee), Kevin Conway (Sgt. 'Buster' Kilrain), Sean Pratt (Dr. Hunter McGuire)
Outstanding special visual effects, including
Computer Generated Imagery
Sound editing
Superb soundtrack score by John Frizzell, including the hauntingly beautiful "Going Home" by Mary Fahl, and Appalachia echoing "Cross The Green Mountain" by Bob Dylan
Re-enactors demonstrated higher authenticity standards than in film "Gettysburg".
Now for the "cons":
Minor special effects shortcomings. (Ironically, as CGI becomes more frequently used in Cinema, and as viewing audiences become more and more sophisticated, CGI use becomes all the more obvious. However, this more of an industry wide criticism rather than a direct negative criticism of the movie itself.)
Deleted battles - Antietam/Sharpsburg (will be included in the Director's cut version when released)
Some deviation's from Jeff Shaara's book, albeit in retrospect, they do not detract from the overall storyline.
Overall:
Definitely destined to become a classic in it's own right. Powerful imagery grabbed me from the very beginning (which included the fluttering of many well known regimental flags) and continues throughout. The sequence at 1st Manassas where Jackson successfully shores up the faltering Confederate battle line imbues the film with the cacophony of sounds and confusion of battle (similar to Saving Private Ryan) and immerses the audience into the middle of the fray as a participant, rather than from the perspective of a "mere" spectator, and continues throughout the film.
The Battle of Fredricksburg, Marye's Height segment is faithfully recreated as the audience witnesses regiment after regiment being committed piecemeal fashion in the hopeless Federal endeavor. Stirringly poignant in this sequence is the Irish Brigade advancing up the heights only to be met by Cobb's 24th Georgia, also made up of mostly Irish immigrants. Also, the horrifying aftermath of Marye's Heights, in human terms, is conveyed with chilling effect.
Maxwell also does a superb job in combining the audio/visual elements for Jackson's flank march at Chancellorsville. By taking John Frizzell's "VMI Will Be Heard From Today" score and blending it with the visual swiftness of of the surging Rebel tide, Maxwell places the audience on the precipice of an irresistible wave about to crash into Oliver Howard's XI Corps.
Stephen Lang is outstanding as the fervently spiritual General Jackson, which in my opinion should earn him at least a "nod" from the Motion Picture Academy.
I could go on an on, but suffice it to say, you won't be disappointed. It appears the Civil War living history and reenacting community has their very own "Patriot" and "Saving Private Ryan" in "Gods and Generals".
Movie Review: They don't make movies like this anymore!
Summary: 5 Stars
...The fact is that "Gods and Generals", which covers the first two years of the war and is the prequel to "Gettysburg", is a great movie. It is painstakingly accurate, wonderfully filmed and scripted, and the acting was suburb. Stephen Lang deserves an Oscar for his brilliant portrayal of Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson. Robert Duvall is also excellent as Gen. Robert E. Lee. Jeff Daniels, who played Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in "Gettysburg", reprises his role in G&G, as do other actors from "Gettysburg".If you're expecting something like "Saving Private Ryan", you'll be disappointed. It's not that kind of a movie. "Gods and Generals" is part documentary, part drama, with the right mix of both to make it both highly entertaining and historically intriguing. As you listen to the characters, you almost believe that they're from the period and places in which the story is set.
What stuck in the craw of the critics is that this movie didn't present the Confederates as fire-breathing, racist, slavery-defending apes, and the Federals as saintly freedom-fighters. It would be simplistic and wrong to characterize the war as a struggle between good and evil. The vast majority of the Confederate soldiers didn't own slaves and didn't fight for the right to keep slaves. A lot of the Union soldiers, probably most, weren't fighting to free the slaves. There were flawed men on both sides of the war, as well as deeply moral men.
You can debate all you want about how much slavery was an issue in the Civil War, but as to this movie, all points of view were well represented through the characters: Lt. Col. Chamberlain of the 20th Maine, a professor-turned-soldier who was sympathetic to the plight of the black slaves; Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, a man of outstanding military service in the Federal army prior to the Civil War and a most beloved commander, who chose to defend his home state of Virginia against what he saw as an unlawful invasion by the North; Gen. Stonewall Jackson, a fearless and deeply religious man, devoted husband and a brilliant military tactician who loved the Union, but was fiercely loyal to Virginia; Martha, the house slave, who bravely turns away looting Union soldiers from her masters' home during the seige in Fredericksburg, but later takes in the Union's wounded, and who yearns to be free; Jim Lewis, Gen. Jackson's black cook, who prays that one day all of this family will be free. Unforgettable characters, all of them.
If you are uncomfortable with religious overtones and poetic dialogue (sorry, but that's how people were back the), don't buy this DVD. If you don't care at all about American history, skip this one. If you can't watch any historical movie without the filter of 21st century values or political correctness, this movie isn't for you. If you have a short attention span, forget it. This movie clocks in at about 3:37.
If you are interested in the Civil War, or just curious and want to learn about it, if you're tired of all the [stuff] coming out of Hollywood these days, and you're willing to let a movie make you think for a change, if you can put your 21st century frame of mind on hold, I think you'll enjoy this DVD. No matter what the critics are saying, "Gods and Generals" will stand the test of time.
Movie Review: You Are There
Summary: 5 Stars
As I have stated in previous reviews that I've written, I despise political correctness in every sense of the word. And when it comes to historical epic movies, I feel there is absolutely NO PLACE for political correctness. That being said, Gods and Generals is not only pretty much HISTORICALLY CORRECT but is totally engulfing to watch, from the southern 19th century language usage (including many original quotes from the period such as the last words spoken by General Jackson as he lay dying) to the way the characters interacted with each other to the war itself. The camera angles played a major role in the feel of this movie as well. The way the whole flick played out gave me the feeling that I was right there, in the company of the major players of that awful war. It was nice, also, to see a Civil War movie that spoke of the reasoning behind the war itself - states rights. Now, no president in his right mind, whether it be Lincoln or, if by some twist of fate, Jefferson Davis, would allow any states to secede. As much as I understand why those states wanted to secede, as president, I would have done whatever I could to prevent that from happening. Was the way Lincoln handled it correct? Well, hindsight is 20/20 and that discussion has been played out for over 150 years. We know the route Lincoln did take - right or wrong - to keep the union as one, and this Gods and Generals shows how the beginning of this situation played out, at least from the southern point of view. A little more of the northern perspective would have been nice. Oh well, maybe in the extended DVD version.
Unfortunately, too many people take all of these Hollywood historical movies as fact, and, since that town is run by politically correct liberals who would rather change history to fit the way THEY feel it SHOULD have been, rather than the way it actually was, the majority of movie watchers usually do not get a good part of the truth. And that's a shame and a crime. Gods and Generals is the exception, which is a breath of fresh air. As Jeff Shaara, author of the original book this movie is based, stated in a recent interview (from the Gods and Generals magazine), "Hollywood has a dismal record of portraying history. Historical films have one purpose - to make money - and it seems they have two means of realizing that. One, tell a story the studio thinks the audience wants to see, and thus tilt the story to whatever political correctness is in vogue. The second purpose is to allow one particular big time actor the chance to do 'cool things' on the screen. Though many of these films are entertaining, the one thing missing is any responsibility to give the audience the truth about the event being portrayed."
Do not let the length scare you off. From beginning to end, I was held to my seat, greatly anticipating the next scene. Matter of fact, I saw it twice in one weekend - once with my wife and once with my two eldest sons - and I'm ready to see it again!
Gods and Generals, Gettysburg, and the third part to be released next year (whose name escapes me) should be required viewing for all history students in school history class. Historical viewing at its best.
I am anxiously awaiting for the DVD of this to be released.