Very moving movie

Rating: Null/10 (18 October 2004)

While working in the Gettysburg area for a short time. I rented the movie, went to the battlefield and then re-watched the movie. There are some historical inaccuracies, as can be expected, but as one who looks for realism, I found it in Gettysburg. There was quite of bit of the actual battle that was omitted, but the interaction of the characters and their perplexing situations presented to us, more than made up for it. It would be hard for any reasonable thinking person to imagine what it was like for life long friends like Reynolds, Hancock, and Armistead to find themselves facing each other in war as enemies. I thought the movie developed the characters brilliantly. Reynolds was the consummate soldier. Hancock was also brilliant soldier, but also had compassion towards his rebel friend. Armistead was a soldier but cherished the friends he had served with before.
The casting was amazing as I watched the credits and saw how similar the actors selected resembled their roles. In a movie like Gettysburg, one has to look past the superficial and look at the time in history and how the military conducted itself. The point being made to Chamberlain about the 20th Maine was the end of the Union line. They were the extreme flank. Up until this battle, the Union army had been beaten and if Lee had prevailed, that would have in all likelihood been the final victory the south needed for the north to sue for peace.
Looking at Gettysburg as a must win situation for the north places make the character interaction and the discussions between the various commanders all the more compelling. They understood the gravity of what could be won or lost. This movie is a must-see to show what a dark time in history and in personal lives it was.