Gods and Generals (DVD, 2003)

I am a history buff and a collector, so I had great interest in the subject
and how it was presented. It was excellent, a well done movie.
A great companion to Gettysburg, with outstanding acting and costumes.
More films of this nature and quality should be made.

This movie follows the American Civil War from the early days in 1861
to the battle of Chancellorsville in 1863 - including the battles of
Manassas (Bull Run); Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville- and follows
the heros of the North and South who defended their nations honor. Robert
Duvall plays Gen. Robert E. Lee who leads the Confederates; Stephen Lang
plays Gen. Stonewall Jackson and Jeff Daniels plays Union Col. Joshua L.
Chamberlain, a Bowdoin College professor who fights for the North and leads
a regiment during the 3 battles. This is a very realistic 're-enactment'
of the actual battles and shows the Northern Armies attempt to end the
war fast - at Bull Run. The Confederate defense against a hopeless Union
attack in late 1862 - the pain of a winter campaign, and the suffering of
the cold camps during that winter. Possibly the greatest of all Southern
victories at Chancellorsville-but shows the loss of Stonewall Jackson-
Lee's 'Right Arm'. All done very nicely-and well directed by Ron Maxwell-
who prior to this had directed the TBS production of 'Gettysburg'. This
movie is a must for history students and devotees as well as collectors
of war movies and American History. If you like these types of movies,
you will certainly enjoy this one. Great for a nights entertainment for
these people.

I love civil war history and this is one of the few movies that actually portrays the truth of the reasoning behind the Southern States act of secession. I wore out the VHS and even went and visited the places in Virginia where some scenes were filmed. I got the DVD so my children could watch and I could fwd past some of the battle scenes until they are a little older. This movie does justice to the Christian character of many of the Southern leaders, common soldiers, and even slaves during this era.

Gettysburg was much better but Gods has good points too. I think too much time passed between movies and the actors aged too much. I also think they tried to cover too much information in the allotted time. It would have been smarter to do it as a miniseries.

I am an avid Civil War history buff as well as a serious reenactor so I might look at this movie a little differently from your average movie watcher. First, I think Ron Maxwell made a serious mistake by attempting to use some of the same actors for the same roles as he used in Gettysburg. Gods and Generals technically should have been the first movie made in the Shaara trilogy since it deals with the beginning of the Civil War but since The Killer Angels (the book the movie Gettysburg was based on) was written first in the 1970s that work actually predated Gods and Generals, which was not written until much later. I thought Jeff Daniels portrayal of Col. Joshua Chamberlain was exceptional in Gettysburg but in God and Generals when Daniels reprised that role he looked older, heavier, and basically uninterested and unmotivated. Why would he look this way? Because he actually is older and heavier in this film in a role that if anything he should have looked younger and more fit in than Gettysburg since he is portraying a more youthful Chamberlain in Gods and Generals. That is just one example but there are several others in the film as well. Also, how does one make a Civil War movie about the first two years of the war and completely omit the Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg) in 1862? That battle still earns the honor of being our nation's single bloodiest day in its history but yet it is not included at all in the movie! Terrible mistake! I understand it was filmed but it ended up on the cutting room floor in order to make the movie shorter in length! But yet they included way too much footage of the Battle of Fredericksburg, which just seemed to drag on and on. Also, on a technical note, when Robert E. Lee went to Washington, DC in 1861 to meet with Mr. Blair on President Lincoln's request to offer Lee generalship in the Union army, Lee would have actually appeared much younger than the gray-headed and bearded Lee that Robert Duvall portrayed. Maxwell decided to use the image of Lee that everyone is most familiar with but it is not historically accurate as Lee actually had brownish-red hair at the beginning of the war and it did not turn significantly gray until well into the war. On the positive side, the movie is beautifully filmed and the soundtrack, although not nearly as powerful and memorable as the music in Gettysburg, is for the most part well done. The high point of the movie for me is Stephen Lang's portrayal of General "Stonewall" Jackson. Lang had a small role in Gettysburg, playing General George Pickett but in Gods and Generals he completely dominates the movie. Jackson's character is complex to say the least (see James I. Robertson's monumental book "Stonewall Jackson"). Robertson's book was used extensively to accurately portray Jackson in this movie and Lang seemed as if he knew Jackson's spirit and personality completely. There can be little doubt that Lang took this challenge very seriously to recreate an American legend as faithfully correct as possible and he succeeds. I would have to rate Lang's role as Jackson as one of the best all-time performances of an actor portraying a historical figure. Robert Duvall or Martin Sheen as Lee? Personally, I would have liked to have seen Sheen brought back to reprise his role as Lee as he did a commendable job in Gettysburg but I understand he was unavailable or just not interested. In summary, a movie worth watching if for no other reason than Stephen Lang.

One of the main reasons I LOVE this movie is because my husband is one of the extra's during the Chancellorville Battle he is one of the men that are running to invade the Union Army that are asleep in their tents..

But The whole Movie so will done by Ron Maxwell.. The cast was full of unforgettable actors who brough theses war heros to life once again.. BRAVO to
Stephen Lang for his wonderful preformance of Stone Wall Jackson.. And Robert Duval's performance of Robert E. Lee.. They and many other wonderful actors really did theses hero's justice..

Plus just to give you SOME secrets.. The actor that betrays Commander Stewart
is the "REAL" Commander Stewarts Nephew.. ALL the soliders that you see in the battles and what not are "REAL" REENACTORS.. They do this all the time this is their hobby going out and betraying our History during the Civil War..

This is also a second part to a three part book series that was started by Jeff Shaara's father "MICHAEL SHAARA" who wrote "KILLER ANGELS" but many of you know this by another name "GETTYSBURG".. the Third installment to this series is called "THE LAST FULL MEASURE" this takes place after Gettysburg.

You will not be sorry.. Getting this Movie. weather your a history Buff, Civil war Buff, or love any of the many actors and actress you will want this in your library..

A superb depiction of the civil war.Not a depiction of someone else's interpretation of how history was. With myself of having lived among the battlefields of Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg, The Wilderness, and Chancellorsville, this movie is done in realistic/historical precise re-enacting. Quotes and actions by the real men in this movie were portrayed factual, for example: Stonewall Jackson's dying words, which were heard by his wife, doctor, cook and aide [documented proof] were repeated word for word in this movie. A lover of Civil War history would enjoy this movie tremedously. The battle scenes in Fredericksburg [town n sunken road ],Manassas and Chancellorsville are almost verbatum. Even the shooting of Stonewall Jackson and the dying of little Jane is depicted accurately. ENJOY! and if given a chance, visit the places depicted in this movie then watch the movie again.

Good movie, I bought it because I liked Gettysburg the movie. It wasn't quite as good as Gettysburg, but still it was a good movie about the Civil War.

Not being a history or a war buff, I never expected to enjoy this. I was surprised. I enjoyed this and through information included in the DVD, found out information that most of us don't know!

I owned Gettysburg several years ago but I thought this movie was far better. Maybe I should watch Gettysburg again... (I am a great fan of Tom Berenger but now I am a NEW fan of Stephen Lang!). Looking back I think Martin Sheen and Tom's acting in Gettysburg was a bit stilted but what do I know!. What do you think? Actually I loved them both and really want to know what happened to The Last Full Measure sequel. These are terrifically great movies for sincere History buffs. Really!!!
Thanks Cuz'n Ted for bringing this history to life! -- Cuz'n Mike

not as good as ghettysberg but it is good in its own way. historicaly accurate. good storyline, if i had seen it before the other i may think different.

This is and excellent movie for the civil war buff. It is historicly accurate and gives you a good insight into General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. The movie is a little longer than most people will like and it left out some pre Gettysburg battles that probably should have been included considering the length. The acting by Steven Lang and Robert Duvall is excellent. Lang nails the personna of Jackson perfectly. Over all it is a good move for it's type.

I got this as I heard it was an in depth film about the beginning of the Civil War. It is 3 1/2 hrs. long and much of it drags along. The movie is really a biography of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson and his thoughts and feelings about the war and religion. There is some stunning photography of the VA and WVA landscapes but I am still muddling over whether I liked this movie or not. My husband thought the acting was amateurish and kind of stilted. I might watch it again but not for some time to come.

I love this movie! Usually I'm not a big history person, but this movie is great!

Visual Effects- 5-5
Costumes- 5-5
Acting- 4-5
Language- 2-5
Storyline- 4-5
Music- 4-5

Overall- 4-5

I bought Gods and Generals because it was recommended by a UDC member. My daughter's Academic Decathlon class will focus on the Civil War next year, and we wanted to begin researching the topic. As I understand it, this title will be shown in class next year along with its sequel, Gettysburg.

It's a long movie, but well acted (we like Robert Duvall) and remained true to the history of the day. Some of the scenes were a little gory, but so was that war. Attention to costume detail was also accurate.

I would recommend this movie to anyone interested in learning more about the Civil War and the people who were involved in it. It is clearly an excellent learning tool for the classroom as well.

only reason i give a good and not excellent is because if your following the trilogy...gods and generals should have come before gettysburg with "the last full measure " to finish the three.i wish they would make the movie allready before the actors get too old. im very into civil war films, i have g and d's on vid as well as dvd and the soundtrack, same goes for gettysburg which i think is outstanding, but the problem here is its kind of difficult watching god's and then watch gettysburg (which by history dates was before god's)with many of the actors in both films 10 yrs older and not notice, not to mention that stephen lang played pickett in gettysburg, then gets to meet himself in god's as jackson, and in my opinion, martin sheen made a better lee

Beautiful color, exacting attention to detail, great period piece. It is a must have companion piece to the movie "Gettysburg." and I am looking forward to the last movie in the trilogy "Last Full Measure."

That being said, for non-Civil War buffs, the movie is too long, and it contains way too many preachy speeches. The speeches are mostly historically accurate, but sound clunky to the modern ear. Jeff Daniels (Chamberlain) steals every scene he is in, as in "Gettysburg." I can't decide if Robert Duvall or Martin Sheen is a better Robert E. Lee.

The movie was very informative about some of the events that happened during the Civil War. I thought the movie was extremely long, around 4 hours, it should have been made into two DVDs. MY dad asked me to buy some movies for him and it sounded like one he might like.

I loved this movie, though it is not as generally appealing as "Gettysburg", every adult and every student in the 9th grade up should be required to see both! I bought it to send to a European friend who knows nothing about our war, but is very curious; this should really help explain who and where, and why. Lang gave a studied, sensitive portrayal of Jackson that was a gem. My ancestor was in the 9th LA "Fighting Tigers" and stood with him at the moment he was named Stonewall, so the Manassas battle had me digging for a tissue, which I used several times at moving moments. The man next to me openly cried, too. Why was it so much about the South was someone's comment. Well, the South dominated the war for the first two years, until Gettysburg, until the North could organize their superior resources and bring their overwhelming numbers against the better led Southern forces. I feel this movie is a necessary introduction to "Gettysburg", especially for someone who does not know every battle detail. This is definately not Hollywood's version of the war! I tip my bonnet to Ted Turner for going back and making this movie, knowing it would not have the huge financial payback of "Gettysburg", for wanting to leave an accurate history for future viewers while he could.

Perfect condition, and an amazing film. I'm very happy with my purchase and will buy from the sellers again.

The Likes: Directing is very good, as is the acting. It is done very authentically.
The Dislikes: It can become long and drawn-out at times. The music is very somber through out the whole movie, even the battles.

As was stated before - this movie is based on the book by Jeff Sharra.

The only complaint I had with it when I first saw the movie was the lack of antietum and then I went back and read the book only find that the book only casually mentiones antietum. So for a movie that sticks to the book I was impressed all around.

I watched the movie with the book at my side. I skip parts but over all it mirrored the Book (by the same title) very well.

I loved the acting and of course the use of reanacters to play the parts of the foot soldiers.

A real good movie to watch on a rainy day when you have nothing to do. It just keeps going and going.

MUSIC is awesome. Very intense and moving. To me apart from the acting the music is half the film or more.

We really enjoyed the movie. It really told the real truth of how the civil war was fought. As confederate civil war reenactors, we appreciate the use of reenactors as extras in the movie. It makes the battle scenes so realistic to have the men and women who do this all the time in the movie.