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[whytemyke]

I'm sitting here watching the movie from the early 90's called Gettysburg. And everytime I watch it, it just floors me with how amazing this movie really is. It gets a bit long at times, but i don't understand why more people don't consider it one of the best war movies ever. I mean, tick for tack, it's an incredibly accurate description of the American Civil War. I'd actually take this over Glory for my favorite Civil War movie. Glory may have a better 'story', but this film is just phenomenal in regards to telling the facts.

If you pick up or rent the DVD, you have to watch out for the Battle of Little Round Top, with Jeff Daniels as Col. Lawrence Chamberlain. I mean, you wanna talk about a career-defining role for an actor? It will floor most people, since a lot of people only see him as these uppity one-dimensional actors, or as the guy from Dumb and Dumber. But once you hear him yell "BAYONETS!!" before their charge? Amazing... the music and pacing and everything is just so great.

Anyone else like this movie or am I the only one here?

 

[Brian Fellows]

I love it. My brother is a big Civil War nut and got me to watch it. Its too damned bad I didnt see this movie before visiting the battle site. Shit the guide was talking about would have made alot more sense.

Too bad gods and Generals sucked so bad.

 

[MC Safety]

If you liked the movie, I heartily recommend "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara. It's a wonderful novel. His son Jeff wrote the bookend stories "Gods and Generals" and "The Last Full Measure," and it's pretty remarkable that these two books are almost as good as "Angels."

Jeff Shaara, by the way, went on to write books about the American Revolution, The Mexican War, and World War I. These, too, come highly recommended.

 

[whytemyke]

the only thing that was wrong with Gods and Generals was that it was sooo looongggg. I mean, the theater I saw it at had an intermission!

There were some really awesome parts to the movie, but also there were some drawn out parts. I have it on DVD and it's a good way to kill an afternoon or evening. Not nearly as good as Gettysburg, but whatever. The weakest part about Gods and Generals is that the guy they have playing Stonewall Jackson is the same guy they had playing Pickett in Gettysburg. Kinda lame. I like Stephen Lang as much as the next guy, but he's not the end-all of movies... you can afford to cast another random guy as Jackson.

I guess there's still plans on making The Last Full Measure into a movie, too... Turner wanted to make all three into movies and I doubt that Gods and Generals will deter him. Low numbers seldom deter a millionaire who's doing movies to build his legacy.

 

[Brian Fellows]

Listening to Stonewall Jackson talk to the air for like an hour and 15 minutes put me to sleep.