Epic TV does not translate to the big screen

Rating: Null/10 (2 August 2002)

Gettysburg was an ambitious project to say the least, but the finished product lacks depth (replaced by length) and fails to break free of the fictional constraints imposed by the novel the screenplay was adapted from. This was an epic television production which is sadly lacking as a theatrical release. The cinematography fails to create tension so much as tedium (I think Pickett's charge could have been filmed better, with less overhead shots, showing the flank etc. It has the effect of minimalizing the movement. Also, only ONE scene, filmed from in front of the troops, gives the effect of a rolling mass, a juggernaut closing ranks as its torn by shell) It may be fine for the constraints of the small screen, but just wasn't as effective on the big one. Regardless, as a TV movie it stands head and shoulders above the majority, and Ron Maxwells' ambition has been proven correct by the wide popular acceptance of his film, despite its gaping cinematic and historical errors. The biggest drawback to this flick is its source material. Its screenplay was adapted from "the Killer Angels." While this novel has been lauded as a great work, it is in the end only FICTION. It suffers most from creating caricatures rather than characters. Author Shaara linked a series of historical anecdotes to a bunch of necessarily inaccurate personal "thumbnail" sketches, Oh yeah, and a big battle, and POOF: instand Drama! The movie suffers from adopting too many of these 2-D paperback personas: Sullen Longstreet, Otherworldly Lee, Wildcat Pickett, Gentle Poet Warrior Chamberlain etc. Again, caricatures rather than characters, although many of the talented actors at work do give life to the lies. Add the overtly simplistic, and outrageously lengthy dialogues and the roar of our greatest battle becomes a tragic groan! I just have the feeling Maxwell could have conveyed some of the inner turmoil through a few well done closeups, body language, you know, ACTING; but he had to fill time to make this a MINI-SERIES, and the end result is just that. Gettysburg; the TV Show. In closing, I would like to say that despite my criticisms I appreciate the efforts made to make this film. I even enjoy watching it now and again, well, only the action scenes anyway (I grew bored with the FICTIONAL dialogues and scenes: when will they learn truth IS more intiresting than fiction in historical films?) Sure most of the reenactors are too old, but they are the ones with enough free time to participate in such projects. I also appreciate the dedication of Ron Maxwell and others to tell this story, even if it isn't truthful as history.