Lazy and Sappy Look at The Civil War's Turning Point Battle

Rating: 4/10 (14 March 2014)

For a full decade or so I was what you'd call a "Civil War Buff." I formally and informally studied the 5-year ultra-bloody engagement. I've been to Antietam in Northern Maryland, the bloodiest single day of the war, Vicksburg, Mississippi, and, of course, Gettysburg (amongst other less significant sites). When I was at Antietam one of the eye-witness quotes was: "Bodies filled the entire field with every imaginable wound." I was so overwhelmed tears flowed from my eyes.
Why do I bring all this up? I just want you to know how INTO the Civil War I was (and still am, to a lesser degree), not just on an intellectual level, but an emotional one as well.
So in December 1993 my then-fiancÃ© and I went to the theater to see the over-four-hour-long "Gettysburg" with much interest. All I can say is it was VERY DIFFICULT to sit through this entire film in one sitting.
"Gettysburg" has a lot going for it: an all-star cast, including Tom Berenger (Longstreat), Martin Sheen (Robert E. Lee), Jeff Daniels (Chamberlain) and Sam Elliott (Buford); great authentic Gettysburg locations; good battle scenes; a commitment to historical accuracy; and thousands upon thousands of Civil War reenactors.
The subjects of the Civil War and Gettysburg are immensely interesting. You would think, therefore, that "Gettysburg" would be overflowing with life, but that's hardly the case. It takes FOREVER for things to get going. Plus there's an undeniably lazy and unexciting feel to the settings and dialogue when the forces aren't actually fighting. One has to REALLY CONCENTRATE to listen to and get through the interminable dialogue. Plus the mawkish melodrama factor is high.
Part I is highlighted by Chamberlain's defense of Little Round Top and his mad bayonet charge while Part II ends with the South's infamous Pickett's Charge. Both of these sequences are great and they give the viewer a good feel of what it must have really been like, which is one of the reasons I enjoy seeing historical films.
The score is only half good. You'll definitely hear spots of brilliance but way too often it's sickeningly ultra-"heroic" or melodramatic.
One aspect I liked was seeing the officers and soldiers pray while standing in line right before significant engagements. Yeah, it's hard to be an atheist when you're about to walk straight into friggin' cannon fire.
BOTTOM LINE: There's a lot to respect about "Gettysburg." It's a story about war and the men who engage in it, pure and simple. There's no female cast members, no forced romances. Unfortunately it's bloated, melodramatic and just plain lazy. Trust me, the REAL Gettysburg battle was anything BUT lazy and uninteresting. Still, if I concentrate hard to pay attention to the dialogue and non-action events in the film, I get a lot out of it. In other words, if you're braced for its shortcomings it's worth owning or renting. I'm glad I own it. But don't expect something great like, say, "Glory."
The battle of Gettysburg took place July 1-3, 1863 and was a huge victory for the North, the turning point of the war, in fact (along with Grant's simultaneous siege of Vicksburg). After the failure of Pickett's Charge, General Lee and his troops retreated back to their own territory. The war would go on for another two long years (almost) as the Confederates continued to put up an incredible and courageous fight, but the odds were against them. Gettysburg and Vicksburg were the seeds of their impending doom.
General Meade congratulated his men for driving the Confederate invaders from the North's turf. But President Lincoln was upset because he wanted Meade to DESTROY Lee's army, not allow them to safely retreat back to their Southern sanctuary. Lincoln groaned: " 'Drive the invader from our soil'? My God! is that all?"
Four months after the battle of Gettysburg, on November 19th, Lincoln came to the small town and gave his potent 'Gettysburg Address' to honor the fallen soldiers and motivate continued Northern commitment and victory. So many people died at Gettysburg they were STILL burying the dead (!!).
GRADE: C