Gods and Generals
Review by Clint Morris
 Though
many are still soothing their back ends in warm salty water
from having to sit down for such a long period of immobility,
Ronald Maxwell's Gettysburg was for the most part,
a very well received movie.
The five hour plus re-creation of one of [American] history's
most imperative moments was chiefly deemed a success not only
because of its tour de force cast, but its steep attention
to detail.
It would've been easy to fluff the truth in the name of entertainment,
but in this case, the film stuck to the facts. And appreciably
so.
Near ten years after the release of the film, [most of] the
cast and director return, for Gods and Generals, chronicling
the tumultuous days that led up to the events of the first
film.
Beginning in 1861, the prequel focuses on the rose of the
South's distinguished Confederate leaders, predominantly,
Robert E. Lee (Robert Duvall) and Thomas J. "Stonewall"
Jackson (Stephen Lang). And, in lesser extents, chronicles
the climb of power of Union boss, Lt. Col. Joshua Chamberlain
(Jeff Daniels).
Unfortunately, four or five lines are plenty to sum up the
events of the movie at hand. Although running, like the first,
dreadfully long, that's all this bloated follow-up has in
common with its predecessor.
Gone are the rousing, well-choreographed battle scenes of
the previous movie and in its place, a series of dreary, repetitive
speeches that seem to be no more than hackneyed piss and wind.
More importantly, absent altogether is that two-sided view
that was so present in Gettysburg. This time, emphasis
seems to be on the Virginians, forgetting almost all together
about the Mason-Dixie line. Oops...
Regardless of whether its fluff or fact, truth of the matter
is Gods and Generals plays more like the erroneous
dim cousin of the first film, rather than the intriguing history
lesson it could've been.
After-game footy speeches have more chance of keeping eyelids
up.
2 out of 5
Gods and Generals
Australian release: Sunday October 5th (Melbourne), Thursday
October 16th (Sydney)
Cast: Stephen Lang, Jeff Daniels, Robert Duvall, C. Thomas
Howell, William Sanderson, Jeremy London, Mira Sorvino.
Director: Ronald Maxwell.
Website: Click
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