Magnificent Civil War epic

Rating: 10/10 (20 June 2002)

Based on Michael Shaara's great novel "The Killer Angels", this is one of the most impressive movies about the American Civil War that I've ever seen. It is a shame that the theaters are unable to screen a movie of this length, otherwise this would have been up for numerous Oscars.

In one memorable scene after another, we are told the tale of the pivotal battle of the Civil War, where the Confederacy made huge tactical mistakes that turned the tide of the war against them. Particularly memorable is the scene where Colonel Chamberlain (Jeff Daniels) addresses a group of deserters, and through the conviction and passion of his argument, convinces them to re-enlist for the coming battle. Martin Sheen gives the performance of his career (so far) as General Robert E. Lee, portraying him as a gentleman, a warrior, and a patriot to his cause.
The reason this film is so powerful is that it doesn't take sides, as some Civil War movies tend to do. The Rebels aren't shown as a bunch of uneducated, slave-driving rednecks, but as people fighting for their personal liberty. That they kept slaves but fought for liberty is an irony not lost on the Rebels; one Confederate officer comments "We should have freed the slaves first, then fired on Fort Sumter." The Confederates weren't fighting for the right to keep slaves, they were fighting to remain free from a federal government that they felt was growing too powerful, and that message is made clear in this film.
Highly recommended; I give it 9/10.