Gods and Generals (2003)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Ronald F. Maxwell

Writers (WGA):

Jeff Shaara (book)
Ronald F. Maxwell (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 February 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | History | War

Tagline:

The nations heart was touched by....

Plot:

Gods and Generals follows the rise and fall of legendary war hero "Stonewall Jackson". The prequel to the 1993 hit Gettysburg. |

Plot Keywords:

Stonewall Jackson | General | Confederacy | Amputation | Slavery

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Jeff Daniels	...	Lt. Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain
Mark Aldrich	...	Adjutant
Stephen Lang	...	Lt. Gen. Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson
George Allen	...	Confederate Officer
Robert Duvall	...	Gen. Robert E. Lee
Keith Allison	...	Capt. James J. White
Mira Sorvino	...	Fanny Chamberlain
Royce D. Applegate	...	Brig. Gen. James Kemper (as Royce Applegate)
Kevin Conway	...	Sgt. Buster Kilrain
C. Thomas Howell	...	Sgt. Thomas Chamberlain
Matt Letscher	...	Col. Adelbert Ames
Mac Butler	...	Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker
Frankie Faison	...	Jim Lewis
Robert Byrd	...	Confederate General (as Robert C. Byrd)
Jeremy London	...	Capt. Alexander 'Sandie' Pendleton

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sustained battle sequences.

Runtime:

231 min | Sweden:209 min (TV version) | Canada:218 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #39490) | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Denmark:11 | Germany:12 | UK:12A | Canada:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Antietam Battlefield, Sharpsburg, Maryland, USA

Company:

Turner Pictures (I)

Trivia:

Some of the re-enactors used as extras for the film portrayed both Union and Confederate soldiers. Therefore, during some scenes, the same soldiers can be seen shooting at themselves.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The text in the bottom of the screen calls Brigadier General Thomas R.R. Cobb's unit 'Irish Regiment', while Cobb commanded the 'Irish Brigade'.

Quotes:

Irish soldier: Is that to be General Meagher's position then?
Irish soldier: He's takin' the privilege of an officer; defendin' the rear.
3rd Irish soldier: He's got a lame knee for pity's sake.
Irish soldier: Fair enough. Somebody's got to keep General Burnside company.

Movie Connections:

Spin off Gods and Generals (2003) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Going Home

Great non-P.C. film

Great Civil War film that DOES NOT WHITEWASH slavery. One of the best things about this film is that it does not follow the PC slime that is so prevalent in society. Don't take my word for it but this movie followed the lives of these people with great attention to historic detail. I think the biggest mistake that people make when watching something like this is that they are thinking with 21st century minds. When you see this you have to understand that this country, both northern and southern states, was very different. I've read other reviews for this and have noticed that people have'nt read their history. This movie accurately shows the events leading up to the war. Yes slavery was a cause, but not THE cause. Most of these people like Lee and Jackson loved the Union Army and were not seccesionists. Lee himself said "I believe that seccesion is unconstitutional and I believe that slavery is an immoral and political evil in any society". These men were fighting for their homes and what they believed in. When you watch the film, try and keep that in mind and don't listen to these doorknobs who claim that everybody in the northern states were all righteous and pure and wanted to liberate the black slaves in the south and that all southerners were racist traitors, dry that out and you could fertilize Central Park in New York. You be the judge, but honestly if history and the Civil War are not your thing then don't see the movie. However for those who love history and have an open mind then this is the movie for you. The acting is top notch, most noteably Stephen Lang as Stonewall Jackson. Also Jeff Daniels and Robert Duvall as General Lee. The costumes and sets were very believeable and historically accurate. The sound and special effects were well done, and it gives you the feel that you are there in 1863. Wonderful classic 9/10 stars.