A sweeping epic charting the early years of the Civil War and how campaigns unfolded from Manassas to the Battle of Fredericksburg, this prequel to the film Gettysburg explores the motivations of the combatants and examines the lives of those who waited at home.
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Southern (White) Supremacy propagandaDec 21, 2008 I was born and raised in what people call the 'South'. My elementary school classes had both the flag of the USA and the flag of the CSA. So naturally, I wanted to be proud of who I was...a Southerner. As such, I wanted to like these kinds of movies (and books, essays, etc.), but when I actually studied real history, I just didn't like the South. Don't get me wrong...I don't think the South is any worse than 'northern' states. But I just know how the supposed great Southern leaders acted before the War of Northern Aggression (at least, I get the war's name right). Before that war, most of the Souther leaders were in complete cahoots with the very same leaders they fought. Working together both were quite 'aggressive' themselves in their younger days...just ask the Mexicans why they feel California is their land.
I suspect them of staging the war for profit...really it is all that they really knew how to do. Also, they ran in circles with other wealthy types who knew how to really profit from war...international banking types. Lincoln, who barely got elected, nearly screwed up that plan by printing his own money to fund the war instead of borrowing it...which is what the banks expected him to do...well, we all know what happened to Lincoln.
Anyway, I don't have very much sympathy for either northern or southern leaders. And I surely don't believe in their sincerity. The masses who killed each other in the WoNA? Well, the masses have proved themselves to be cowards and idiots.
Goods ANd Generals from Amazon!Dec 01, 2008 I had my ususal above excellent experience with Amazon. I ordered on a Friday and received on Tuesday. Is this fantastic service or what? But then, I am Amazon's biggest fan!
1 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Forget Plan 9Sep 14, 2008 This is the worst movie I have ever seen in my life. It takes itself very seriously, and is just dull from start to finish. There is a 5-10 minute sequence at one point where you just watch people marching. No dialogue, nothing, just marching.
Other movies are bad, and you can laugh at them. Watching this one is like being in prison.
3 of 5 found the following review helpful:
UgghhhhAug 26, 2008 First, let me say that I've read every novel ever written by Jeff Shaara and have loved every one. Having said that, I think this is one of the worst Civil War movies I've ever seen. It was dull, over-acted, and the screenplay was horrible -- filled with flowery speaches, no real character development, no real-life conversations. I can understand why all these "South will rise again" folks like it -- it's pro-confederacy, hardly mentions the word "slavery", and makes it look like all the southern slaves just loved their "masters". That's OK though, as all films are made with some bias. It's mostly just a rotten script.
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Fantastic movie...Aug 25, 2008 It may be that some reviewers who complain about the length are just too 'antzy' to sit through this 'prequal' movie. I found it a fascinating portrait of General 'Stonewall' Jackson during the early years of the civil war, and to some lesser extent his relationship with General Lee. This movie was not intended to be a 'fair and balanced' depiction of the years 1861-1863 for both North and South; it is about stunning victories of the South due in no small part to the generalship of General Thomas Jackson. Although there is some view from the Northern perspective in the battles depicted, it is really a movie about Jackson and how pivital he was to the early Confederate victories.
Joshua Chamberlain and the 20th Maine Regiment is given some lengthy treatment at the Battle of Fedricksburg in great part due to the pivotal role the 20th Maine would play later in the eventual defeat of Lee at Gettysburg and is featured in this movie's sequal "Gettysburg". It was a good attempt at continuity between the two movies.
The 'commentary' on both "G and G" discs is also excellent and very informative with a good discussion of the events surrounding Stonewall Jackson's accidental shooting by his own men during the Battle of Chancellorsville. It is interesting to speculate about the outcome of the war had Jackson survived. Lee was a stratigic genius and Jackson was his tactical genius. When informed of Jacksons injuries, Lee reportedly said "General Jackson has lost his left arm, I have lost my right arm." There was no one to step up and fill the tactial void left by Jackson's death.
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