Review of Gods and Generals (2003) by Jonathan W — 09 Jul 2007

Although it isn't nearly as good as Gettysburg, I have to say it is a movie that really can touch you. The key mistake that didn't make this a better movie was that it wasn't true to the book by Jeff Shaara as Gettysburg was to The Killer Angels.

The acting by some in the movie wasn't great. Stephen Lang gave a good performance but wasn't the right person to portray Jackson. Lang is much too upbeat and happy to play the solemn Jackson.

Jeff Daniels who was amazing in Gettysburg but in this all he did was recite poetry and make dumb speeches about how slavery is immoral. Robert Duvall is underused in the film. Although he looks a lot like Robert E.

Lee (and according to him related) he doesn't play him like a Old Virginia gentleman but more like a well dressed redneck. Martin Sheen had more of Lee's personality in Gettysburg. Brian Mallon who plays Winfield Scott Hancock (also in Gettyburg) is almost totally eliminated from the movie whereas in the book he is a major character.

The biggest disapointment was not only that he took out nearly 2 years from the book that was in he beginning but didn't feature three battles featured in the book: Williamsburg, Second Manassas, and Antietam.

But the biggest mistake was adding the civilians during the Battle of Fredricksburg and shortly after. Although the Reverend Tucker Lacy and the little girl Jane were both characters in the book the rest of the family weren't.

But the battle sequences are amazingly done especially Fredricksburg and they're very accurate. I hope someone finds financing for The Last Full Measure and that Ron Maxwell doesn't write the screenplay.

I still have to say it is one of my favorite movies because it's one of my favorite books.