A magnificent and sobering movie about the realities of war

Rating: 10/10 (28 April 2001)

War is not fun. War is deadly and painful. This is a movie that dramatically brings that point home. More than 50,000 men died at Gettysburg. The awesomeness of that number hits the viewer head-on in this well done movie, and the emotion raised by that fact will surprise you as you suddenly grasp the magnitude of what actually took place. You cannot watch this movie and come away untouched by it.
Filmed just a few miles from the actual battlefield sites at Gettysburg, more than 5,000 re-enacters were enlisted to ensure the historic accuracy of the costumes, and to try to convey the magnitude of the numbers of men engaged in this horrific battle. The actual number of troops present numbered somewhere closer to 150-179 thousand, taken altogether, though not all were actually engaged.
You know from the moment the opening credits start to roll off your screen that this is going to be a powerful film experience. The musical score alone will take you to heights seldom experienced in the Hollywood of today. It's too bad I'll never see this one on the large screen. What a magnificent experience that would be.