Wick's Review

Summary - Very Good 3.5

The Civil War’s decisive battle can get extensively aired over nearly 4½ hours, and does in Gettysburg. The real battle lasted three days in July of 1863, say 36 hours actually fighting. The movie covers fully an eighth of that. Stamina is required, a long plane ride ideal.

Consider it a feast of historical fascination for American patriots, history buffs and war movie fans.

A literal cast of thousands contributes to its realism. So do the first rate actors who star as Union and Confederate officers: Martin Sheen, Stephen Lang and Jeff Daniels among them.

Gettysburg stands alone as a movie and a battle, yet is ideally watched after its prequel Gods and Generals. Let’s hope the planned third movie in the trilogy gets made someday. Covering the war’s conclusion, it will complete a remarkable gift to our exceptional nation from patron Ted Turner, a great American.

Acting - Very Good 3.5

Blues

• Sam Elliott as Brig. Gen. John Buford, one hell of a Union General. One hell of a fine General!
• Jeff Daniels as Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, one of the greatest men America has ever produced. Details at G & G.
• C. Thomas Howell as Lt. Thomas D. Chamberlain, his dim brother, also a hero from the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment.
• Kevin Conway as Sgt. ‘Buster’ Kilrain, Col. Chamberlain’s right-hand NCO, who said he’d never served under a better commander than Joshua Chamberlain.
• Brian Mallon as Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, Gettysburg hero. Mallon looks like a Pennsylvania Hancock.

Grays

• Tom Berenger as Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, one of the foremost Confederate generals of the American Civil War and the principal subordinate to General Robert E. Lee, who called him his “Old War Horse,” per Wikipedia
• Martin Sheen as Gen. Robert E. Lee, one of the foremost Generals the United States ever produced, per Viewguide.
• Stephen Lang as Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett, he of the doomed charge. Lang the Great plays Stonewall Jackson in G & G. What is it with the Southern Generals? He always seemed a Yankee.

Film - Very Good 3.5

Round Top, Big & Little become familiar, including Chamberlain’s defense of Little Round Top. Legendary.

Edge - Risqué 1.9

Hell on Earth. Believe it brother.

Reality - Natural 1.0

Thousands of Civil War reenactors from hundreds of groups participated in the movie’s production. Veneratio Populi.

1 Comment

• BrianSez Jul 22, 2011 10:44PM

  Regarding Wick’s Review
  Spot-on review Wick – I too am waiting for part 3. Maybe I’ll get lucky with a long plane ride as well…

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