Truly great war film

Rating: 8/10 (23 February 2001)

This is a wonderful way for people not familiar with the U.S. Civil War to familiarise themselves with this history. There is great playing from all the actors, notably Broderick, Washington, and Freeman, the last in an early role. The score by James Horner is well up to his usual standard and the battle scenes are exceptionally well staged. This touches on an often ignored part of history; the role that minority races played in the building of our great nations. This educates and informs, but above all, entertains. Great movie.