Heart in right place but far too ponderous

Rating: 5/10 (21 April 2009)

This film tries to portray why civil war between friends can break out and carry on through the bloodiest of times. It tries, but because Americans cannot see themselves as bad or in any negative light, the film comes to a dead halt, because no-one is to blame for so many deaths and injuries!!!! There are tons of speeches to explain cause and character, but it all becomes too ponderous and portentous, and will not look deeply enough into the soul of America. The South were not to blame because they fought for State's rights, and the North was not to blame because they belatedly were fighting to free the slaves and enforce a union. So who was to blame? The acting is stiff - these are American heroes, so no-one can look bad (the recent TV series 'John Adams' managed it). The battle scenes aren't bad, but it looks too much like a re-enactment - no body parts flying around and disintegrating so again the impact of death and war is softened. A great pity - good intentions and an opportunity to absolve the South drift away into lengthy stilted set pieces. And what About general Meade who barely merits an appearance? Ah well!