Flawed but a very worthwhile picture

Rating: Null/10 (24 February 2001)

It's difficult to attempt to make a historically accurate movie without turning it into a mini-series soap opera. I commend the producers of this movie for the work they did in re-creating the Battle of Gettysburg. When I visited the battlefield after seeing this movie I could really visualize things clearly. Whenever I read a civil war book and read about Lee and Longstreet, I see Sheen and Berenger now. I initially guffawed at Sheen doing a southern accent, but overall he did a fine job as General Lee. Berenger was excellent as Longstreet, and certainly his reservations about a direct assault on the 3rd day are part of the record, and emphasized in this film. The main flaw is the emphasis on certain parts of the battle, especially the amount of time spent on Chamberlain(Jeff Daniels). It was a pivotal stand that he made on Little Round Top without question, but in this movie there is scant mention of Cemetery and Culp's Hill, the Peach Orchard and Devil's Den, and other moments. I would have loved to see a 10 hour production spread over 4 nights in a mini-series format, but I understand how these things work, so Gettysburg is as good as it gets for now. Pickett's Charge was very well done, it displayed the 19th century grandeur of war, and also its horror. And yes, some of the people back then liked to make speeches and speak eloquently, that's why the Civil War has so much color. The speeches can get a bit schmaltzy and overblown, but ride with it, because the movie as a whole is a good one for those who enjoy this type of thing. No romantic sub-plots either, glory glory hallelujah!