Gods & Generals
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Movie Reviews of Gods & Generals
Movie Review: The DVD Was Fine With Me
Summary: 5 Stars
Divers of other reviews lament the double-sided DVD, but I'm a veteran of handling these enough that it isn't a gripe with me at all.
However, it is a minor gripe that the conclusion of one side pulls you out of the movie. With the Gods & Generals release, you're pulled out during the charge of the Irish Brigade, and the movie is cut kind of funny, so you aren't inserted right back when you flip to side B. This is a shame, because this is walking into the part of the movie where Joshua Chamberlain's role really shines.
Mary Fahl's 'Going Home' theme at the beginning should win over viewers right away. From there, through the fine instrumental scoring throughout, and even to Bob Dylan's melancholy whaling at the credits, this is a greatly scored film, scoring that could hold it's own with anything.
The central character is General Jackson. At times, it will seem more like a Jackson biopic than a movie where the Civil War is the subject. This make Stephen Lang unquestionably the star of the film. Contemporary audiences will definitely flinch at times at what may seem an absurdly melodramatic portrayal, but I can't honestly say there's any other way one could really inhabit the role of General Jackson. I certainly don't question his casting.
And I also don't question the casting of Robert Duvall as General Lee. He may be the only living actor with the gravitas for it, and he marked a vast improvement over Martin Sheen. Now, Sheen was fine in that TV series as President Bartlet, but there's the gravitas for playing presidents, and then there's a level for Robert E Lee. Duvall had the quality to inhabit the role. It was perhaps the strongest supporting role ever, with the possible exception of Gerald McRaney as Patton in the much overlooked 'Ike'.
I have a lot of enthusiasm for what I saw in this picture, but will admit going in not looking for a movie. I went in with the eye of an editor, and must agree with all the other reviews concerning pacing and whatnot. The craftsmanship is perfect, but this is a miniseries shoehorned into a movie. You'll love it if you make those allowances, and you too will find yourself daydreaming of cutting this into the perfect miniseries.
Movie Review: The best movie of the year....
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
Movie Review: The best historical film of all time
Summary: 5 Stars
Into the dark, dark world of political correctness and historical revisionism explodes this radiant masterpiece. The "its too loooong" whine says more about our pathetic attention spans than it does about the film. 19th century Americans were different. They were sentimental,romantic and devoutly religious. They counted many things more valuable than their own lives.
First of all, this is so much better that "Gettysburg" (which was really a B movie) that any comparisons to the contrary leave me wondering if there is ANOTHER Gettysburg out there I have not seen. The acting from Duval's Lee to Lang's Jackson is riveting. The painstaking attention to historical detail and overall cinematic skill makes this feel more like time travel than a movie.
What really infuriates the critics is the complete and total destruction of the anti-South construct that has been so emphatically propounded all these years. The South saw this as it was, another war of independence. The Republicans did not set out to abolish slavery, Congress affirmed the goal of the war in 1862 (by resolution) was to "preserve the union, not free the slave". Even a cursory study of the Emancipation Proclamation reveals it freed no one. A post mortem which includes a census review indicated 95% of the slaves were owned by just 5% of the population and 30% of free blacks living in the south were themselves slave owners.
Unfortunately this film was so savaged by the so-called open-minded and tolerant that it was DOA when it arrived in the movie houses. A shame. Together with "To Ride With the Devil", (an Ang Lee film about the border war) these films could introduce Americans to the most significant chapter of their own history with real history. Other than one comment made by Jackson (concerning "the Institute") just before the climatic charge at Chancellorsville this film is a dead ringer. It is time travel. Ignore everything you have ever heard, open your mind to brand new experience, give yourself a few hours to experience this and absorb it at its own pace. If you can do this Gods and Generals will permit you to actually visit the American Civil War.
Movie Review: Gods & Generals
Summary: 5 Stars
I do feel very excited about Gods & Generals. It was exactly the movie I wanted to see. It's showing of the Civil War and the various thoughts and ideas that were around in era were tremendous. I thought that all the major views of the politics at the time were represented and shown in an organized,thoughtful way within the story. The scene between the Martha the slave & General Hancock in the hospital over a dead Union soldier were a very strong announciation of her fight for freedom while being loyal to the absent family.
The scene between Jackson & his cook also showed a poignancy of the problem of being a slave who wants his freedom and would love to hear the words from his owner and the knowledge that if one keeps up in the same vein one is likely to get his owner mad and receive some retaliation.
I loved the family scenes even though the wives weren't happy to let their men go to war. Just like now-a-days, hunh.
I liked the through line of the young man staying in the South to fight for Jackson. Later on he got caught switching sides and paid for it with his life as Jackson had promised earlier on. According to my reading that happened alot on both sides. It's the small details that make a movie fun to watch. That was a big deal depicting man's responsibility for his actions.
The battle scenes were great. I especially liked the Irish scenes; although I have one quibble with the scene that shows Jackson alone when General Bee said that his brigade was standing there like a stone wall. Jackson would have argued about that as he did in life and in the movie that it was his men that were the stone wall.
Chamberlain & Buster must be real friends by now. They are able to convey so much in their scenes together. Also the slavery speech that Chamberlain lays on baby brother Tom.
Mr Maxwell I salute you on the wonderful job you did on this movie. I have been supporting and recommending it to all I see and sending email to the cineplexes to bring it back. They don't seem to have local numbers.
Movie Review: Ron Maxwell and Dennis Frye - Awesome Movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
After viewing the complete film, (I was priviledged to see some of the pre-directors cut footage), I must say - WELL DONE! The film had depth, multidimensional characters and not the usual love story plot that has been the "norm" for the latest historical releases.Steven Lang WAS "Stonewall" Jackson
Kali Rocha as Anna was incredible.
Jeff Daniels is a bit heavier but played Chamberlain to a "T"
Robert Duvall WAS Robert E. Lee
Senator Robert Byrd's "Amen" was quite impressive. It was also the only add lib part in the entire movie.
Bradley Schmehl was indeed an excellent horseman and filled out Jackson's entourage quite nicely
Ted Turner's cameo was good.
Shawn played Dr. Hunter Mcguire perfectly
Dennis Frye at Fredericksburg? Nailed his lines perfectly and looked the part.
The remianing actors, far too many for me to list in this review played convincing parts and never seemed to upstage the others in the shot.
Some of the digital effects, such as the far away shot of Fredericksburg and the Union Charge at Marye's Heights were not as sharp as I had wished but impressive none the less.
Harper's Ferry was truly transformed into Fredericksburg, and if you're not from the area you may not even notice.
The soldiers, both Union and Confederate were authentic and had a rugged harsh look to them. I never noticed watch tan lines or traditional hair cuts. Dennis Frye did an excellent job in going over the extras to ensure authenticity.
Without going on and on, I will end this with stating that the movie was very energetic, authentic, and kept my attention and that of my wife for the entire play time. (And my wife is NOT a Civil War buff, more a Civil War Widow.)
This movie is definately a keeper and I look forward to Ron's release of the the "Directors Cut" in a few months. In seeing how well the movie played out, I can only imagine what the entire movie will look like with the addition of Antietam and the sub plot of John Wilkes Booth.
Ron - A Job well done!