Terrific Civil War film from a "different" standpoint...

Rating: Null/10 (20 February 2004)

Terrific Civil War film is one of the finest of all time. Edward Swick ("The Last Samurai") manages to show us the rather unknown story of the African-Americans who fought during the segregation of the north and south. Roger Ebert complained that Hollywood was unable to let a black narrator handle the story, but from an unprejudiced standpoint, I rather like seeing the story through Matthew Broderick's officer's eyes--because it's a parallel to us. We, as the people who were unaware of the story and hardship of these people, might not relate as well if we had seen the story through the eyes of another individual.
I hope someone else agrees with me.
All in all, this is a fine Civil War film and one of the best war films of all time. More powerful than "Saving Private Ryan" and more historically accurate than some of the other "based on a true story" movies you'll find out there.
(My all-time favorite war film is still "Platoon," though.)
5/5 stars.

John Ulmer