Outstanding!

Rating: 9/10 (14 May 1999)

One of the first memories I have of Glory is the opening battle. The Union soldiers march slowly toward the Confederates. As they get closer, cannon fire rains down on them. Men go flying through the air and dust and smoke start to cloud the sky. Artillery rounds rip through the air and scatter the ranks. As the soldiers get closer, the Confederates open fire with their rifles and more fall. Soon the entire field is in chaos as men look for cover and begin to retreat. Matthew Broderick displays stoic bravery under this hellacious fire. A cannon round explodes and blows apart the officer's head that was standing in front of him. Men crawl away, with limbs missing and the field is littered with bodies.
Never before has the Civil War been shown so realisticly. The costumes, the weapons, and the way armies fought are accurate. The performances are first rate too. Matthew Broderick, Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington shine. Equal credit goes to Andre Braugher and Cary Elwes. The final assault the 54 takes on is at the same time remarkable and sad. They are marching into a slaughterhouse, and they know it.
Glory is a film of strong performances, great cinematography, bloody battles, and a fine story of men who fought for freedom.