Stop with all this reverence!!!! a low budget movie if ever there was one.

Rating: Null/10 (31 July 2002)

Gettysburg was not very good. Why does everyone think it was so great? You may fancy yourself a student of the Civil War but don't surrender your objectivity and engage in sylogistic logic for the sake of self preservation and symmetry. I love the Civil War, "Gettysburg" is about the Civil War, Therfore I love "Gettysburg"!!! That's idiotic logic. It is a weak film on so many levels. The least of which is it's length which so many people seem to focus on as their 'token' criticsicm. Civil War reenactors (who I'm sure love!!! this mediocre movie) are fat, old, and out of shape to have any credibility as Civil War soldiers. Sorry folks but that's the awful truth!!!! I'm sure the producers thought they were getting a great deal. No extras would need to be hired (and paid) no extensive wardrobe Dept. would be needed. These reenactors bring all of their own stuff. But they are a bunch of clumsy, grey-haired, lard butts!!! I've never seen grey-haired privates and corporals in period photos. Civil War soldiers were young men who were not so well fed. I won't even bring up their lack of acting skills and awful melodramatic death scenes. I'm sure most of these ended up on the editing room floor but unfortunatley a few found their way into the final movie. Cheese cheese cheese!!! Reenactors, contrary to what one might think, ruined this movie!!!! The studios reliance on them was a mistake. If you hire extras you can impliment some quality control over who you get, you can use good advisors to outfit and train them accordingly. If you get some good looking reenactors (which there are many) then fine, by all means use them!!!! but don't rely exclusivley on these fat clowns, which that hobby unfortunatly seems to attract. Additionaly the script was bad, the actors hardley gave inspired performances (except Jeff Daniels), the soundtrack was decent but poorley used and placed within the movie, awful editing, and battle scenes that were by no means frightening. I think John Wayne's "The Alamo" had more frightening battle scenes. Put aside your reverence for all things Civil War and admit it. "Gettysburg" is not a very good movie. Stop feeling so afraid to say so.