Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Brilliant - simply brilliant
The archtypical battle of the Civil War is well-portrayed in this adaptation of Michael Shaara's "The Killer Angels". Like the book, and to its credit, the film is more about the men than the battle.The first half of the film focuses primarily on Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain and the actions of the 20th Maine at Little Round Top. This professor-turned-soldier, superbly played by Jeff Daniels, was perhaps the finest embodiment of the American ideal of the citizen soldier - not born to war, but prepared to pick up the sword when necessary. Thoughtful, yet decisive; compassionate, but resolute. The second half of the film deals with the final day of battle - Pickett's Charge. Generals Lee (Martin Sheen) and Longstreet (Tom Beringer) are examined - Lee's firm (though, in this case, flawed) generalship, and Longstreet's internal struggle between doing his duty or following an order that might (and did) cost hundreds of lives. Throughout the film, other noteworthy performances are to be found as well. Sam Elliot is inspiring as General Buford, Union hero of the first day of battle. Sergeant "Buster" Kilain, played by Kevin Conway, well demonstrates the sort of "ordinary courage" that many people today (myself included) find so extraordinary. But perhaps the single best performance in the film is that of the late Richard Jordan in the role of Confederate General Lewis Armistead - his last film role. The story of Armistead and his friend, Union General Hancock, is the entire Civil War writ small - brother against brother, friend against friend. Armistead's filial affection for Hancock is examined, and his courage under fire and inspiring leadership show well during the scenes of Pickett's Charge. Most interestingly, none of the characters comes off as a *bad* person - everyone is a good guy, everyone is a sympathetic character. Previous reviews notwithstanding, the men who fought the Civil War were often deeply religious, and this is well portrayed [unlike so many films these days which tend to mock people of faith (particularly Christians)]. To me, this goodness only heightens the tragedy of America's bloodiest war. But... The movie isn't just about people, but events as well. The re-creations of the elements of the overall battle are superbly done, thanks in no small part to the thousands of Civil War reenactors who participated (gratis) in the making of this film. The combat at Little Round Top is accurate (within the bounds of filmmaking), but most impressive was the entire Pickett's Charge sequence - thousands and thousands of men walking the same ground as did those men who marched to their fates in 1863; it nearly brought a tear to my eye to see it. There are not enough superlatives to describe this film. It is utterly magnificent. This was and is my favorite film. Buy it.
Rating: - Amazing, moving...BRILLIANT!!
How many times have you read a book and loved it, that you go to see the movie and love it as well? Not often, generally it's the other way around. To Kill a Mockingbird comes to mind. I so love Harper Lee's book, yet the film version catches my heart in the same way. Gettysburg gets on that short list.Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize Winning "Killer Angels" took the pivotal 3-day battle of the Civil War - Gettysburg and gave you the pathos, the sheer frustration, the anger of a battle that slaughter so many. He gave you Lee, who did not want to fight there, a General who time and again defied all battlefield codes of do not divide your forces in the face of the enemy, who proved a defencive army could defeat a superior offence thrust. He was forced to fight where he did not want - in an offencive battle (same mistake that cost William Wallace Falkirk!). For the first, Lee was forced fight with the loss of Jackson; with Stuart bent of rubbing the face of his father-in-law and the whole union army in the fact he could right around them, leaving Lee open with no screening, no intelligence as to where the Union army was; to one general who could not follow his orders; to Longstreet 'his old warhorse' who followed them to the letter sending men into a suicidal charge knowing he was sending them to their death. Martin Sheen brings this Lee alive, so it's amazing to learn he was the 4th choice for the role. Tom Berringer is brilliant as Longstreet, with wonderful performances by Sam Elliot a Brig. Gen. John Buford, Jeff Daniels as Col Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, the mesmerising Kevin Conway as Sgt. 'Buster' Kilrain his long suffering aid, John Diehl (Miami Vice) giving the impassioned speech as representatives of Maine soldier who just want to go home, William Morgan Sheppard as Maj. Gen. Isaac R. Trimble, Stephen Lang (Manhunter) as Pickett and most especially the dying Richard Jordon as Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Armistead. His speech to Longstreet is just so painful on two levels. I have always loved Jordon's work watching him from being introduced in films to this his final role. He was a brilliant actor, one I so miss, and his genius shines in his final hour, just as it was Armistead's final hour. It just does not get any more poignant than that. Also, there are neat cameos of Ken Burns as Hancock's aid and Ted Turner (the film's money-bank)as Col. Waller T. Patton (uncredited). Gods and General is the prequel to this, written by Shaara's song Jeff. Ronald F. Maxwell is the director of both films, with Jeff Daniels reprising his role as Chamberlain, as well are C. Thomas Howell as his "don't call me Lawrence" brother and Kevin Conway as his Sergeant. Stephan Lang is in this film as well, but not as Pickett, but playing Stonewall Jackson - Bill Campbell will play Pickett. Robert Duvall, the incomparable as Lee (wonder if he was 1,2 or 3 choice for Gettysburg??) and Bruce Boxleitner (????) taking over a Longstreet (I shall withhold opinions on that casting change). In this wide-screen format, you get the full experience. Stunning realisation of Shaara's masterpiece.
Rating: - Epic depiction and surprisingly accurate...
"Gettysburg" is a monumental effort to depict the Civil War events of July 3-5,1863 in Pennsylvania and succeeds magnificently on all levels. Both from an historical and theatical perspective, this movie is a "must-see". On the historical side, this movie manages to portray the personalities with both historical accuracy and believability...one cannot help but like and admire the principals on both sides. Tom Berenger is magnificent as "Ol' Pete" Longstreet as is Jeff Daniels playing Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain...I had a little harder time accepting Martin Sheen as R.E. Lee. Although wonderfully acted, Sheen just did not fit my impressions of Lee (I probably have seen him too much on "West Wing"). The battle scenes, to me, were the best I've seen in movie form...both the 20th Maine's stand on Little Roundtop and Pickett's charge were amazingly portrayed and highly accurate...I could not find any historical in-acurracies in any of these scenes (I don't consider myself an expert in Civil War military tactics, however). From a theatrical perspective, this had all the high quality cinematography and direction that makes for epic films...both the battle scenes and the one-on-one personal encounters were wonderfully depicted. For anyone interested at all in the Civil War or anyone wanting to watch a classic movie, this is one to see. I highly recommend it!
|
