Over-dramatic, over-patriotic film bogged by needless speeches

Rating: 1/10 (13 February 2002)

Gettysburg as a movie is less about the battle and more about the some 100,000 American soldiers (Union and Confederate) which took part of. What it tries to accomplish is to squeeze in every famous, and not so recognizable, name into the film with a bunch of zealous speeches including moments where they actually turn to you and EXPLAIN what they are doing as if we had absolutely no clue what the heck's going on. That is perhaps one of the biggest flaws. I don't want to hear them explain to me. I want to see it on the screen.
Speaking of speeches, too many for a war film. Sure, they want to show Gettysburg from the Union and the Confederate's side. Sure, they want to show that even though the two sides are in this extremely horrifying and bloody political war, they are still Americans at heart. They still love each other. I like to see that once. I don't like seeing and hearing it over and over again on the film.
Overall I gave it a 4, and only because I'm a sucker for war films... except maybe Pearl Harbor. If you want to watch a Civil War film, watch Glory instead. Dramatic and patriotic film that doesn't rely on speeches. Just valiant acts.