Gods and Generals (2003, DVD)

I did not heed the warnings from the local entertainment review on Gods and Generals, I ignored the wearied cries of those that braved this movie before me, and I am paying the price today, still disturbed and disappointed. I am not the typical movie reviewer. I am an armchair critic that rarely gets the luxury of seeing a movie that hasn't been released on DVD. I took solace in my jumbo bucket of buttery popcorn and supersize coke last night, while I sat through my night out at the actual movie theater, watching what was supposed to be the greatest Civil War movie of all time.

Gods and Generals appeared to have the makings of a great epic. Robert Duvall and Stephen Lang tried. As General Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, respectively, they at least convinced me that the movie had something to do with their roles in the Civil War. I give them credit for being able to get through some of the more stilted lines, without walking off the set. Mira Sorvino was in the movie for about one scene. The characters inbetween sort of floated in and out. Some died, some just disappeared in the Shenandoah Valley. I did recognize two actors from HBO's Oz, but they left with the Irish Brigade. C.Thomas Howell, the Outsider from my teens, appeared for a minute, and then left for battle. In all of this character mix, there was no real character storyline to follow. The movie spent more time in the battlefield, and not enough letting us know who was fighting the war.

On that note, I was thouroughly at a loss, wondering where they kept their slaves in the South. I do understand that this was written from a Southern perspective, but I was dismayed that the only portrait of slavery shown clearly was the family that lived in Fredricksburg, dressed up and running the house while the family fled town for awhile. There was the cook that accompanied Stonewall Jackson, but he was only permitted a few minutes to speak on slavery. And I do know that the Civil War was about much more than that, but Gone With the Wind at least showed that slavery was an issue.

The battle scenes are supposed to be accurate. I can accept that. The problem is that I felt like one battle blended into the next. Almost like the same scene being replayed in the movie. This is where less might have been more. Gods and Generals is not "Dances With Wolves" or "Braveheart." Both of those movies drew me in for the characters and storyline first, and the action to support the story.

For a better understanding of the Civil War, you will find no answers in this epic. There are dates and locations of battles to follow, flags from every regiment, and bits about historical figures, but there are no history guides to actually interpret this information for you. You may have to be a history buff to appreciate some of the accuracy, because the plot will leave everyone else wondering.

If you do see this movie, it is in spite of those that have come before you with warnings. At best, wait until the video release. It will be more fun counting the number of times someone says, "Hail Casear!" You can wonder why they keep showing a woman playing piano, or why the doctor had to be in the same bloody apron in every scene, or why those beards catch fuzz. Just imagine the possibilities...in your own home and not at the cost of a wasted show ticket.

Please see the reviews of the real movie buffs for more detailed information.