Gods & Generals Review

[sean_harris]

CWT,

I went to the Indianapolis showing on Wed at the UA complex. I really am unsure of what to say about this movie after seeing it. Gettysburg is a cut below G&G that, I truly believe. However, I do not think this movie will have huge box office returns. I due believe it will due very well in DVD sales and on network TV. I think what we have here is another cult classic.

This is not a movie, but a journey. That, is were the problem will lie for most of the public. I would refer to it as something like "The Stand" something you watch on a Saturday afternoon in your home. We all realize it's nice to take a break and eat a snack. Hell, if you fall asleep you can always hit rewind!

Longstreet and Lee you ask, Well, you see them in rare glimpses on the screen. This is a story about Jackson. Longstreet plays as much of a role as AP Hill in this version. In fact, I think Hill has more lines and is in more scenes. That being said, Conway and Howell steal the show with the scenes they are in. Jeff, well, Jeff is J.L.C. only a little heavier, Hancock the same. Burnside reminded me of a thin Ron Jeremy for some reason! (LOL!) Also, we see the usuall cast of characters from Getty only a little older and wiser from the last 10 years.

This is not Getty, so if you go in thinking that, you will either be very happy or rudely awakened. As for people saying its choppy, yes, it is choppy in some parts. Roll with the punches you know the history and timeline. For those who dont they wont care anyway.

Finally, a Union army that actually gets dirty!! J.L.C. finally gets dirt on that pristine uniform before L.R.T. The guys look a lot more realistic in this flick compared to Getty. No chubby Rebs I could spot. Also, look to the Ist Brigade in training some are in old Revolutionary uniforms. (K, it may be war of 1812, but, you get the point) As for "comic relief" it is in the movie.

I have heard some say this is a very "Pro-Southern" movie, I really did not see it. We may follow Southern Characters however, I did not see the film as "Pro-Southern" I also did not see the film as "Pro-Slavery" if anything it brought into question the very issue of slavery.

I think what some are complaining about is the fact you could have black characters who cared for a family for years and really loved the family, but want to be free also. I guess this is not PC enough these days. Both Jackson and J.L.C. speak on the issue as well as a blach man. Between these three you see it is a complicated issue. Not black and white like we think today.

Battle scenes are better however, I wish they would have made the Stone Wall scenes more violent and with more men involved near the wall. I really though they lost something in sound quality during the Stone Wall scenes. Bull Run had stronger sounds of musket and cannon discharge. So after that, Fredericksburg was sort of a letdown for me. Shoot, it may have been the UA sound system.

I also thought they could have cut down on Fredericksburg, compacted it and gotten the same response from the crowd. They due make up for some of this in the night scenes. We also needed more Chancellorsville! I really was dissapointed when Lee showed up at the burning home! I have always thought of the men in celebration chanting Lee like in Getty. The type of shouting the Union would have heard on Stafford Heights. No such thing here! Well, maybe in the DVD!

All this being said I would give the movie a 3 out of 5 for Civil War buffs and a 2.5 for others. I really think the time and dialogue will turn off the younger crowd ( I really do not expect this to attract a younger crowd). Most people I saw at the movie were in the 40-50 age group. My problem is I cant get the darn movie out of my head! Well, seeing it on Friday also! tee hee!

I really think the DVD sales will be crucial to the making of LFM. I really want to see the other 2.5 hours left on the floor. I think it will only enhance the movie.

Guys, go see the movie yourselves and decide!

[sean_harris]

Ps
Jacksons wife, well, I'd charge a "Stone Wall" for her! lol! Would have liked to see more of her and Sandy Pendeltons girl! lol!

[jebstuartgirl]

Sean,

Exactly how much of JEB Stuart will we see in the movie?

[brian_swartz]

.I just read the review in our paper and G.A.G received a very poor review.Thats to bad .But on the other hand Gettysburg got bad reviews also when it was released.I feel G.A.G. like Gettysburg will not be in theaters for long. Ask any theater manager 3-4 hour movies loose money. Campared to movies that will have 2 showings in the same time frame.
On the other hand gettysburg made a killing when it was released on video.I feel safe to say G.A.G will do the same.
What NO CHUBBY REBS? So I guess we will not get another award winning performance from Santa Clause doing picket duty?
My not to be taken seriously opinion.
1. Sean I agree Mira Sorvino is a babeasuarus rex. But I have a sad feeling we are about to be swarmed with Fanny Chamberlain impressions this summer. The 5-6 Lincoln's at events could have some competition.
2. We may now have a new drum cadence being pounded in our ears for the next 8-9 years.
3. Folks refering to scenes in the movie rather than actual history when educating the public.
4. Our neighbors son will stash a big bag of popcorn with tons of salt on when he knows I will be there so I don't have over exert myself( It is great having connections).
5. I will run into some fellow reenactors who will be in uniform . They will do a double take when they see me in clean modern clothes.I will not be wearing my uniform for the same reason I don't wear Spock ears to Star Trek movies.In other words I simply want to sit back and enjoy the movie without attracting attention to myself. For those who choose to wear thier uniform go ahead enjoy yourself.
6. Kevin Conway! What can I say I like this guy.But I still get a big laugh when he played the drunk mailman in the Chevy Chase movie "Funny Farm". From what I understand his performance in G.A.G. is very good. and he gets to live.
7.We will get recruits from the movie the easy way. There are a couple of units in the area who have a habit of P.O.ing members within the first year.Most of those will knock on our doors anyway looking for another unit to join.
8.There will be a lot of people complaining about the lenth of the movie. Myself I don't mind a long movie if it is a good one.
9. Jeff Daniels I thought his performance in Gettysburg was OK.Yet I have a bad gut feeling that we will being seeing ads for Dumb and Dumber part 2 in a few months,which will blow my opinion of him again.
10.Steven Lange playing Jackson .I am looking forward to this the most.Since Gettysburg I seen him in other rolls .He really is not a bad actor. I want to see how he pulls off going from Pickett to Jackson.
Brian

[sean_harris]

Jebstuartgirl,

He shows up a lot more than in Getty however, I would say he gets about the same screen time as AP Hill and more than Longstreet. Their is one moment when he meets Jackson saying "We will charge the enemy and trot away afterwards!" Something to that effect. Was funny really.

I will not be buying "A Moss Creek Christmas" Starring the whole of the Confederate command singing Silent Night! Some parts are just to much even for me! Would have rather heard the Soggy Bottom Boys! Just the thought of Lee, Stuart,Jackson, and Longstreet doing "show tunes" leaves something to be desired!

[rallyround]

I'm going to see the movie with my unit tonight. I cannot wait to see for myself all the things that have been brought up here. As was said, this movie might not last long in theatres, but I hope it does well when the DVD is released. I think I am looking forward to seeing Stephen Lang the most. Anyone have anything nice to say about him?

[hoosier]

Rallyround, although I think you are probably looking for favorable comments on Lang's performance in Gods and Generals (which I won't see until Sunday), I can tell you a couple of nice things that were said about him by a licensed battlefield guide at Gettysburg who worked as an extra in that movie.

The guide said that, in his opinion, among the actors who played major roles in Gettysburg , Lang was one of the two nicest and easiest to get along with off the set (Martin Sheen was the other one). He also said that Lang was clearly the best horseman of any of the actors.

Interestingly, to do a truly accurate portrayal of Stonewall Jackson, Lang would probably have had to degrade his skills as a rider a little bit. Jackson had many admirable qualities, but from what I've read, superb horsemanship was not one of them.

[samgrant]

Hmmm........!