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Gettysburg Customer Reviews (10 - 12 of 64 Reviews)

GREAT MOVIE
WONDERFUL MOVIE WITH GREAT BATTLE SCENES, LOTS OF DETAIL,AND HISTORIC SCENERY. LONG, BUT IT' S LIKE READING A GOOD BOOK.

Little Round Top
Gettysburg picks up the story of the civil war following "Gods and Generals". In "Gods and Generals" General Lee fights a defensive war in Mannasa, Fredrickburg, and Chancellorsville. In 1863, Gettysburg becomes "Good Land" for a fight. In the first day of fighting the Confederates push back Union. Lee felt time was not working in the favor had become determined too push forward. The war had been long, the men tried, the logistic lines threatened too be cut off, and Jeb Stuart not available or his whereabouts known. Without Stuart, Lee intelligence of enemy position was limited. Aware that Meade would fight the conclusion was clear, an offensive campaign.

Budford's calvery armed with new seven shot Spencer carbines met the Alabama at Chambersburg Pike and held up a good fight until John Reynolds arrived. Reynolds was killed in the battle and the Confederates gained control of the area. The first day of battle had high causualities, 8000 confederates and 9000 union.

Longstreet did not like the offensive charge and recommend a flanking maneuver around the union army and strike from behind. Lee wanted a direct attack, up and over. Longstreet attacked on Peach orchard and slowly pushed back the Union army. The union army fell back on cemetery ridge.

The battle used the lands topology too its advantage, the "Fish Hook formation". Coloniel Chamberlain must defend "Little Round Top". The 20th Maine was charge, do not give up this spot. "Now we will see how a professor fights".

Chamberlain will become one of the Unions most celebrated generals. The Grays had Jackson and the Union had "Chamberlain". Chamberlain is charged too defend Little Round Top, no retreat option, a vicious and determined fight not to yield the ridge; at stake was the battle of Gettysburg, if the confederates gain the land, left flanked the Union troops, and allowed the confederates too gain control of the fish hook (U formation).

Chamberlain's men were low on ammunition and he did not think they could maintain the spot much longer, so he order bayonet charge down the hill. As the main body of men swept down the hillside another group struck the confederates from the left flank confusing the confederate resistence and gave Chamberlain the victory. Hancock protects Culp Hill and cemetery ridge. Day two ends and the casualities are high, 9,000 on both sides.

The next day, Longstreet and Pickett would prepare too lead a charge with focused firepower, at the Union center. Before the charge Lee wanted to silence the Union Artillery, so he launched a massive artillery attack against the union line hoping to bombard their position. Most of the shells went long and the Union artillery remained intact. The infantry attack commenced and with most of the Union artillery intact, the results were devastating and within hours the battle was over. 50,000 casualities and carnage in three days. Lee would say early, "We must never become too familiar with war".

Interesting Interpretation
Gettysburg is a film that is really not meant for consumption by the general public. The length of the movie alone is over 4 hours. When I went to go see this movie in the theaters, there actually was an intermission. There are two ways to approach a critique of this movie. One is as a historical interpretation. The movie is based on the book "The Killer Angels", and the book is very accurate in the course and scope of the battle. For Civil War buffs, the book and movie are slanted towards Longstreets' recollection of the battle. In that vein, the movie fits in nicely into the historiography of modern Civil War studies. As a movie, the scope and cinematography have a very grand vision. Some...repeat some...of the acting could be construed as overdoing it and Longstreet's beard looks like it was ordered from "Beard Club For Men." Those are minor points however, and once the viewer gets past those parts, the main characters can more then hold their own. For a Civil War buff, like myself, the movie never felt like it was slowly paced. (Unlike the prequel "Gods and Generals" which was probably the most slowly paced movie in cinematic history.) Martin Sheen has taken criticism for his portrayal of Lee, but I tend to believe that he was excellent as the patriarchal, beloved and aging Southern general. From the viewpoint of the historian, Lee, in 1863 was convinced of his own invincibility and Sheen's acting brings this home. Jeff Daniels, one of the most flexible actors of our generation, plays the sometimes aloof ex-professor Chamberlein with ease. Overall, Gettysburg is just one interpretation of this momentous battle, with excellent acting on both sides.

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