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 Here

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