Gettysburg (1993) / Gods and Generals (2003)

[Arkitect76]

I was there about 2 years ago....wow, what an experience....and yes i was there at night as well....makes you think alot when you get there....and its very peaceful when youre around the large open fields....All respects to the soldiers that died there....man, I would not want to be there during those times...but i guess if you're fighting for a greater cause, you put everything else aside....

will definitely head back soon...

[Bunker]

Gods & Generals is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Not only is it incredibly and unnecessarily long, but the way the Southern generals are portrayed as god-loving, moral men made me want to gauge my eyes out. 4 hours of trite bullshit.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by Bunker

Gods & Generals is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Not only is it incredibly and unnecessarily long, but the way the Southern generals are portrayed as god-loving, moral men made me want to gauge my eyes out. 4 hours of trite bullshit.

Gods & Generals is a terrible film, but not because the whole damn thing is set up as some kind of Southern Confederate apologia -- it's awful because Maxwell is exposed as a fundamentally incompetent director. How the same man helmed Gettysburgh is beyond me...the DP of Gettysburgh, the actors, and the script must have saved it from his complete lack of imagination, because it is obvious now he received a lot of credit as the director of Gettysburgh that was completely and utterly undeserved.

Gods and Generals is pathetically awful - one day, I'm sure someone will make a stark and true film about the South leading up to the Civil War (other than Ken Burns' magnificent documentary) but brother, this effort aint anywhere close to the mark. We're talking borderline Ed Wood stuff here. It is a disaster.

Avoid.

[Crimson King]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

Gods & Generals is a terrible film, but not because the whole damn thing is set up as some kind of Southern Confederate apologia -- it's awful because Maxwell is exposed as a fundamentally incompetent director. How the same man helmed Gettysburgh is beyond me...the DP of Gettysburgh, the actors, and the script must have saved it from his complete lack of imagination, because it is obvious now he received a lot of credit as the director of Gettysburgh that was completely and utterly undeserved.

Gods and Generals is pathetically awful - one day, I'm sure someone will make a stark and true film about the South leading up to the Civil War (other than Ken Burns magnificent saga) but brother, this effort aint anywhere close to the mark. We're talking borderline Ed Wood stuff here. It is a disaster.

Avoid.

What's even more puzzling is that G&G got a blu release and Gettsyburg did'nt! Shame on you Warner Bros.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by BillyJack

What's even more puzzling is that G&G got a blu release and Gettsyburg did'nt! Shame on you Warner Bros.

Exactly - at least Gettysburgh has the inexorable pull and drama of the actual event to drag Maxwell over the finish line (and it has a wowser of a score by Edelman).

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

Gods & Generals is a terrible film, but not because the whole damn thing is set up as some kind of Southern Confederate apologia -- it's awful because Maxwell is exposed as a fundamentally incompetent director. How the same man helmed Gettysburgh is beyond me...the DP of Gettysburgh, the actors, and the script must have saved it from his complete lack of imagination, because it is obvious now he received a lot of credit as the director of Gettysburgh that was completely and utterly undeserved.

Gods and Generals is pathetically awful - one day, I'm sure someone will make a stark and true film about the South leading up to the Civil War (other than Ken Burns' magnificent documentary) but brother, this effort aint anywhere close to the mark. We're talking borderline Ed Wood stuff here. It is a disaster.

Avoid.

The difference in Gods & Generals and Gettysburg comes down to the books they are based on. Gettysburg is based on the book Killer Angles by Michael Shaara while Gods & Generals was written by his son Jeff Shaara. Now, IMHO Michael was a much better writer than his son Jeff. Jeff also wrote The Last Full Measure, which is what the third film will be based on.

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

Exactly - at least Gettysburgh has the inexorable pull and drama of the actual event to drag Maxwell over the finish line (and it has a wowser of a score by Edelman).

I agree. My copy of G&D does not get much attention. I know there are fans of the film. The only thing I enjoy is Stephen Lang's portrayal of Stonewall Jackson.

[Pirate King]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

Exactly - at least Gettysburgh has the inexorable pull and drama of the actual event to drag Maxwell over the finish line (and it has a wowser of a score by Edelman).

Edelman's score is indeed "wowser". One of the best scores ever written for a film. I would love to have Gettysburg on Blu-ray. It is an epic movie.... and to hear Edelman's score in lossless audio.... again... just "wowser" !

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

Gods & Generals is a terrible film, but not because the whole damn thing is set up as some kind of Southern Confederate apologia -- it's awful because Maxwell is exposed as a fundamentally incompetent director. How the same man helmed Gettysburgh is beyond me...the DP of Gettysburgh, the actors, and the script must have saved it from his complete lack of imagination, because it is obvious now he received a lot of credit as the director of Gettysburgh that was completely and utterly undeserved.

Gods and Generals is pathetically awful - one day, I'm sure someone will make a stark and true film about the South leading up to the Civil War (other than Ken Burns' magnificent documentary) but brother, this effort aint anywhere close to the mark. We're talking borderline Ed Wood stuff here. It is a disaster.

Avoid.

Gods and Generals is terrible because it covers way to much, the scope of the film is horrendously designed. Gettysburg covers a 4 day time span, G&G covers 2 years. I was most disappointed in Stephen Langs portrayal of Stonewall then anything in that movie. Stonewalls charge immortalized him, with the confederate troops, sadly it did not receive the full measure it should have. The battle of Fredricksburg did not have the impact it should have either. That battle should have been immortal, played out in full to the end of Gettysburg where the union soldiers were chanting it over and over. That is the kind of emotional impact the movie lacked.

[Jhouston]

Originally Posted by Blu-ray Fanatic

I wish Gods and Generals and Gettysburg would get a theatrical remake. They should add more blood and gore, violence, disturbing war images, better picture, CGI, acting, and make it a 2-3 hour film. DTS-HD MA will also be included for the strong action scenes.

+1

I found both of these had too much of a "ABC Mini Series" type feel to them! Not enough of the horror of war.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by R3P0

Gods and Generals is terrible because it covers way to much, the scope of the film is horrendously designed. Gettysburg covers a 4 day time span, G&G covers 2 years. I was most disappointed in Stephen Langs portrayal of Stonewall then anything in that movie. Stonewalls charge immortalized him, with the confederate troops, sadly it did not receive the full measure it should have. The battle of Fredricksburg did not have the impact it should have either. That battle should have been immortal, played out in full to the end of Gettysburg where the union soldiers were chanting it over and over. That is the kind of emotional impact the movie lacked.

Absolutely -- as I said, Maxwell was exposed as a director with no imagination.

I remember being profoundly annoyed by his staging of the battle of Little Round Top, when Chamberlain ordered fixed bayonets and then ordered his left flank to come "swinging" around like the gate of a fence, thus flanking and routing the much-stronger Confederates charging up the hill to crush the Union positions. World history changed that day. And how does Maxwell shoot it? Do we get an OVERHEAD SHOT THAT SHOWS THE UNION ARMY "SWINGING" DOWN THE HILL?

No.

Chamberlain orders the fixed bayonets, describes what he wants to do, and the director doesn't show the tactic, just lateral tracking shots and POV and OTS from both sides. I couldn't believe the missed opportunity, but still gave Maxwell the benefit of the doubt. After seeing Gods and Generals...no, he's just incompetent, with no imagination. I've never said that about any professional, working director, but in this case, it's true. Hope he enjoyed the ride.

[Ernest Rister]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

The difference in Gods & Generals and Gettysburg comes down to the books they are based on. Gettysburg is based on the book Killer Angles by Michael Shaara

Which won the Pulitzer. Yes, I know. Maxwell received undue credit for Gettysburgh, and Gods and Generals exposed him as a bit of a fraud.

Jeff also wrote The Last Full Measure, which is what the third film will be based on.

There won't be a third film.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by Ernest Rister

Which won the Pulitzer. Yes, I know. Maxwell received undue credit for Gettysburgh, and Gods and Generals exposed him as a bit of a fraud.



There won't be a third film.

You never know. Maxwell has enough money and connections that he could make it if he wanted to. It will probably never happen, but here's to hoping.

[Jeff B]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

You never know. Maxwell has enough money and connections that he could make it if he wanted to. It will probably never happen, but here's to hoping.

I hope there is a third film too.

[yojoeski]

http://www.jeffshaara.com/movie_info.asp

Don't know how much stock to put into this, but this seems to at least confirm a release in some fashion of the extended cut of G&G in May. If/when this gets a blu-ray release, I will likely buy it because I actually enjoy the movie. No, it's nowhere near Gettysburg and frankly, I hope this means Gettysburg will finally get its due.

BTW, to my knowledge, it's not Ronald Maxwell's money or connections that would be the biggest factor in making the third film. That falls more to Ted Turner than to anyone else. He was the finances of the first two and it's totally his call on whether the third one gets made. Being he is a Civil War buff, I wish if nothing else he'd make the last film just to have the complete trilogy covering the entire Civil War, regardless of whether or not it makes a huge profit. Let's face it, the guy can afford it.

[kemcha]

I don't care too much for Gods and Generals but I've been waiting for Gettysburg to be released.

[ChuckT43]

I liked both films and will buy both. A third would be most welcome.

[yojoeski]

Apparently both films are up for pre-order in Germany and with these being Warner titles, I imagine an announcement in the US isn't far off and Warner doesn't have a history of releasing titles overseas but not in the US as far as I know.

If/when the US announcement comes, I can only think of April 12 as a truly appropriate release date. It's on a Tuesday and it will be the 150th anniversary of the attack on Fort Sumter and the official start of the Civil War.

[Walts Ghost]

Originally Posted by yojoeski

Apparently both films are up for pre-order in Germany and with these being Warner titles, I imagine an announcement in the US isn't far off and Warner doesn't have a history of releasing titles overseas but not in the US as far as I know.

If/when the US announcement comes, I can only think of April 12 as a truly appropriate release date. It's on a Tuesday and it will be the 150th anniversary of the attack on Fort Sumter and the official start of the Civil War.

Unfortunately they do. The Goonies, Lethal Weapon, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are a few I can name off the top of my head that were released in Europe before they were/have been released here.

I really want to get these on blu too.

[Nighteyes]

Originally Posted by yojoeski

Apparently both films are up for pre-order in Germany

One question though, Amazon.de says Gods and Generals - Extended Cut? Does an extended cut even exist? The only one I'm aware of is the 219min one, which is both on the DVDs and the existing US Blu-ray, right?