A must see for civil war and history buffs alike

Rating: Null/10 (1 November 2009)

If you are a Civil War buff or a history buff in general, Glory is a must see film for you. While historically accurate regarding the 54th Massachusetts regiment, the true story of the first all black regiment of the Civil War, the movie also tugs upon the under tow of prejudices that permeated this volatile period in our history and the efforts of average men who gave so much overcome them.
Glory is the story of the 54th Massachusetts: the runaway slaves from the south, the educated black men of the north, and the freed blacks who all volunteered together to fight in the unit, along with the man who volunteered to train and lead them into battle. Matthew Broderick stars as Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, the Boston Brahman selected by the State's governor, at the behest of his father and other abolitionist, to lead the north's first all black regiment.
The story follows the initial formation of the regiment through its initial training outside Boston, to their first significant battle against the confederate strong hold at Fort Wagner along the Atlantic Ocean on James Island, South Carolina, where causalities are heavy and many pay the ultimate price for freedom. We soon learn the personal motivations of the runaway slaves and freed men who join up to fight for their freedom, and along the way develop a personal connection with each of the main characters such as Colonel Shaw, who comes of age as a man, grows into a true leader of men and develops a strong respect and belief in his men as men, and not as colored soldiers. We meet Sergeant-Major John Rawlins (Morgan Freeman), a wise runaway slave who becomes the father figure and informal leader for the regiment. And we also meet Private Trip (Denzel Washington), a runaway slave with an attitude towards authority and few, if any, interpersonal skills. The men, despite their many differences, eventually, as so often happens as a result of military training and the hardships thereof, soon form a tight dependence and bond amongst themselves.
Many civil war enthusiasts would argue that the battle scenes from the movie Gettysburg are perhaps the most realistic civil war scenes done to this point in film. I would argue that the battle scenes from Glory are every bit as realistic. To this end, the director has paid great attention to detail, both in portraying the horrors of war during that period as well as in his detail to the period dress used for the actors (who by the way are superb across the board) in conjunction with just the right amount and types of battle sounds and music, all blended to give the viewer a sense of suspense and of being on the field of battle.
Glory is a powerful movie. It touches on more than just the Civil War; it touches on the human side, and personal sacrifices people of all colors made in keeping our Union together and defeating once and for all the ugly institution of slavery within our country. A great storyline, coupled with fabulous acting and strong realism built into the film by the director all converge to create a must see film for everyone, but especially for students of the Civil War.