Gettysburg Review

Ode To Gettysburg

Like the first shots that were fired upon Fort Sumter that began the Civil War,
the first shots of awe-inspiring music fire from Randy Edelman's score.
A montage of old-time photos of soldiers on the screen
during the opening credits before the opening scene.

General Lee sent a letter to Washington thinking a Confederate victory was at hand.
Little did he know that the army of the Potomac would reunite this land.
This land of states, this land of historical greats:
Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee,
each side a different dream or ideology.

The First Day

The North has the high ground for the first time in this war.
They suffered a defeat at Fredericksburg; time to even the score.

Colonel Chamberlain and his men feel like they died and went to hell
as they defend Little Round Pub from the terrifying rebel yell.
The rebel hordes keep coming. Ammunition is low.
"Bayonets!" yells Chamberlain, down the hill they go.

The bayonet charge makes the rebels turn and run.
Some are killed and captured. Today, the North has won.

The Second Day

Lee waves to his troops, sitting on his gray mare.
His men wave hats and cheer, the hope of victory in the air.

"Withdraw and redeploy," advises General Longstreet.
"No, we will not surrender," orders Lee. "We will not retreat.
Aim for the center. We will strike them there,"
as the blasts of Rebel cannons fill the morning air.

Marching lines of gray cross a field of green.
The biggest slaughter of the war that any gray has seen.
The Yanks put up a scrap, they put up quite a fight
as a firestorm of bullets drop the Rebs left and right.

"General Pickett, you must look to your division!" Robert E. Lee cried.
"General Lee, I have no division," General Pickett sighed.

The two men faced each other in silence.
Neither had more words to say.
For they new the South had lost the battle
on that fateful day.

See You In Hell, Johnny Reb

Tom Berenger plays General James Longstreet.
A beaver attacked his face, or maybe it's a fake beard.
In either case, the hair on his face looks kind of weird.

Martin Sheen plays General Robert E. Lee.
A gray varmint attacked his face, and another one attacked his head,
or maybe it's a fake gray beard and wig instead.

Stephen Lang plays General George E. Pickett.
His acting is good; it has some range.
After watching many dull actors, he was a nice change.

Cooper Huckabee plays Harrison,
an actor who turned into a scout.
A fine acting performance
beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Richard Jordan plays General Louis A. Armistead.
He did some good acting, especially when he was shot dead.

See You In Hell, Billy Yank

Jeff Daniels plays Colonel Joshua Laurence Chamberlain.
When he yelled "Bayonets," I never knew he could scream so loud.
He seems like such a laid-back guy;
his mother would be proud.

C. Thomas Howell plays Lt. Thomas D. Chamberlain.
He and Colonel Chamberlain are supposed to be brothers from Maine,
but he plays his part with a southern accent.
How totally insane.

Sam Elliott plays General John Buford
with a Texas drawl.
Another Yankee from the south.
Now don't that beat all?

Kevin Conway plays Sgt. Buster Kilrain.
He played a convincing Irishman
and did not drive me insane.

The Film

In spite of miscasting some of the actors,
this film does have a realistic spark.
For it was filmed on location
at the Gettysburg National Military Park.

The period costumes I saw on the screen
were mostly convincing in every scene.

If history is your appetite, you'll find this film edible.
The action, special effects and stunts are incredible.

Overall, in spite of the flaws,
in spite of the scars,
I like this film so much
I rate it five stars.

Directed by Ronald F. Maxwell
Release date: 1993
Runtime: 261 mins.
Rated: PG