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Gods and Generals
Stars:
Jeff Daniels, Stephen Lang, Robert Duvall, Mira Sorvino, Kevin Conway, C. Thomas
Howell, Frankie Faison, W. Morgan Sheppard, Bruce Boxleitner, Bill Campbell, and
William Sanderson
Writer:
Ronald E. Maxwell
Based
On The Book By: Jeffrey M. Shaara
Director:
Robert E. Maxwell
Feature
length: 219 minutes
Extras:
Commentary With Writer/Director Robert E. Maxwell and Historical Advisors Col.
Keith Gibson, and James L. Robertson Jr., All-New Introduction By Executive
Producer Ted Turner, Featurettes, Music Videos, and the Theatrical Trailer
DVD-ROM
Extras: Original Website Links
Languages:
English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and French and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Snap Case
Chapter
Stops: 52
Sound:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Year
of Theatrical Release: 2003/DVD Release: 2003
Theatrical
Distributor: Warner Brothers Pictures
Home
Video Distributor: Warner Home Video
MPAA
Rating: PG-13
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
Approximately
ten years after media mogul Ted Turner and Writer and Director Ronald E. Maxwell
bough Jeffrey M. Shaara’s book “Gettysburg” to the big screen, Turner and
Maxwell teamed up again to bring the fascinating prequel book to the big screen
entitled “Gods And Generals.” “Gods And Generals” and “Gettysburg”
are the first two parts in a trilogy of Civil War novels with the third book
“Last Full Measure” due to be produced eventually. I just hope that that I
won’t have to wait until 2013 to see the third book dramatized on the big or
small screen.
I
am not an American Civil War buff or historian, but I do like films that present
dramatic events in a historical context and as Ted Turner puts it in his
videotaped introduction included on this DVD, I like a film that educates as
well as entertains and that is exactly what “Gods And Generals” does. As I
watched this film on DVD I wondered to myself if the New York critics who
reviewed it on the big screen saw the same film I was watching at home. Now
granted it is much more comfortable to screen any movie at home than at a
theater, but even at 3 hours and 39 minutes, I was amazed at how much I became
involved with the characters and the film’s epic scope. On DVD “Gods And
Generals” is presented on a DVD-18 with the first 112 minutes on one side and
the concluding 106 minutes on the other side and I watched both sides back to
back without pausing once and found the film ran quite fluidly throughout. The
fact is it did not feel like 3 hours and 39 minutes for me when I was watching
“Gods And Generals” and I was shocked it was already close to dinner by the
time the film’s credits finished rolling. As a reviewer I can tell you all
without reservation that I have seen movies less than 90 minutes long that felt
like days were passing by while I was trying to get through it. So for me, the
best test of a film, especially on home video is it’s ability to keep my
attention without pausing it to go to the bathroom, go to the store, or even
take a nap, and “Gods And Generals” passed this test with flying colors.
Say
whatever you want about Mr. Turner, I think it is great that he can get a film
like this and “Gettysburg” as well as hopefully “Last Full Measure” made
even if he finances it out of his own pocket. I mean George Lucas is doing the
same thing with his “Star Wars” prequel trilogy and there are a few obvious
nods to the American Civil War with his “Galactic Civil War” and “The
Clone Wars” just as “Gods And Generals” aspires to the mythic Greco-Roman
tragedies of antiquity and in my opinion it succeeds in doing so. The crux of
the film is focused upon the character of General “Stonewall” Jackson
(Stephen Lang), who leads the Confederate army to legendary victory in the early
days of the war only to be a victim of his own hubris at Chancellorsville. Lang
appeared in “Gettysburg,” but he played a different historical figure in
that film. Here we see Jackson portrayed as a complicated man with a strong
sense of spirituality along the lines of Old Testament point of view of God. His
campaigns are ambitious, calculated, and audacious and he also follows the code
of the black flag in battle, which means that all Union soldiers who encountered
his army in battle would face death. He did not take any non-civilian prisoners.
A Union physician caught may be held to assist in the treatment of his wounded,
but afterwards they were allowed to go with strict orders to his troops that
they were not to be harmed in any way. This and his desire to have child and
subsequent fear of losing one after the birth of his daughter shows us a man who
is both a military genius and a family man. Lang gives a moving performance as
“General Jackson” and one that I hope will garner him some critical
recognition as an Actor.
I
have to say that I am not sure who is the better “Robert E. Lee.” I loved
Martin Sheen’s portrayal in “Gettysburg.” He gave the film a sense of
honor and humility through his performance. Robert Duvall plays “General
Lee” in “Gods And Generals” and there is no denying he does a terrific job
as a man torn between deciding whether to follow his loyalty toward his home,
which he sees as the commonwealth of Virginia and his oath to serve the
President of the United States. The creation of a Confederate Army is made to
appear as a reaction to the threat of invasion by enforcing Union troops, which
for Southerners who were just a generation or two away from fighting England for
independence from tyranny, must have seemed like a direct threat to their
American Dream and the ideals they fought and died for. The film even suggests
through historical figures that though agricultural economy of the south was
based on slavery, that system was doomed one way or the other and we see the
view of both African American slaves who actually saw themselves as being
effected by the war as the white Anglo-Saxon Confederates do and we also see the
African slaves who see the Union as liberators and are thankful for their
newfound freedom.
Now
I have to admit that I tend to be a pessimist when it comes to the inherent
greed of corporate America and I find it very hard to believe that the
Confederacy would have eventually freed the slaves on their own since the whole
wealth and economy of these vast plantations depended greatly on the fact that
they were profiting from slave labor and if one looks at the history of the
labor movement in America, one can see the fight American workers faced to star
unions and even now I cannot tell you how many companies do all they can to
prevent their workers from forming unions lest we forget the endless
negotiations that occur when any union must come to a new contract agreement
with their employers. So while there may have been some benevolent slave owners
in the south, I just think that the majority of those profiting off of slavery
would not have given it up without force. However I will note that the mindset
of a thirtysomething year old man living in the early 21st century is
vastly different from that of a man the same age living in the mid 19th
century. It is hard to believe that the American Civil War occurred
approximately 150 years ago, but it is very important to keep that in mind while
watching “Gods And Generals.”
While
the film presents events largely from the southern perspective, we do get some
interesting scenes with Jeff Daniels and C. Thomas Howell reprising their roles
from “Gettysburg” regarding the war and the question of why they are
fighting and what will the freed slaves do in America after the war? This
mirrors the southern issues nicely and we even see the Irish immigrants who were
practically walked off the boat in New York, enlisted in the army, and marched
onto another boat to fight as portrayed in Martin Scorsese’s “Gangs
Of New York.” The draft riots depicted in “Gangs Of New York” are also
an interesting counterpoint to take into mind while watching “Gods And
Generals” because it shows that the war itself was not something as clear as
black and white like some cliché western image, but truly a gray area of many
conflicting emotions and points of view. Also of note is that there are a number
of Actors who returned to play their respective roles they originated in
“Gettysburg” including some with little more than brief cameos. I found that
level of commitment admirable. Ted Turner has an uncredited cameo in the film as
well.
It
is impossible to capture every facet an era like the American Civil War on
celluloid so the film might seem a bit imbalanced for some, but I am expecting
that eventually a longer cut of the film will eventually premiere on Ted
Turner’s own TNT network just as “Gettysburg” was presented ten years ago.
What I find somewhat distressful is that for whatever reason the DVD release of
“Gettysburg” has been put on moratorium and subsequently is difficult to
find at retailers. I would think the marketing tie-in between the two films
would be natural, but evidently the marketing gods have different ideas. What
those are I cannot say for certain, but I am sure we’ll find out with
certainty sooner rather or later.
Warner
Home Video presents “Gods And Generals” to DVD with a beautiful anamorphic
widescreen (2.35:1) aspect ratio that preserves the way in which the film was
exhibited theatrically as close as possible for home viewers. The picture
quality is magnificent with great detail and no color bleeding or compression
anomalies whatsoever. The English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack is quite
discrete and lively particularly for the battle scenes however I did notice that
the right rear surround channel appeared to be favored a bit more than the left
rear surround channel. I checked my speaker connections to make sure there
wasn’t a loose wire, but everything was connected just fine so I am not sure
if this is intentional or not. English Captions and Closed Captions for the
hearing impaired and French and Spanish Language Subtitles are encoded onto the
DVD as options too.
The
extra features are spread out across both sides of the DVD-18. The first feature
is the videotaped introduction by the film’s Executive Producer Ted Turner
(3:00), who explains his interest in the American Civil War as stemming from
both his youth in Charleston, South Carolina and living between Atlanta and
Savannah, Georgia as well as his studies when he was a student at a military
academy in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He notes the various Civil War television
films he commissioned for both his TNT and TBS Superstation networks that
include “Ironclads,” “Andersonville,” “The Hunley,” and
“Gettysburg” and notes that not only has “Gods And Generals” been his
most ambitious production yet, but also the strict adherence to authenticity
maintained throughout the film.
His
introduction is supported by the commentary featuring Writer and Director Ronald
F. Maxwell and two of the film’s Historical Advisors, Col. Keith Gibson and
James I. Robertson Jr. Contrary to what the packaging states, the commentary is
not feature length, but rather scene specific from a historical perspective so
on both sides of the disc, the scenes seamlessly branch from one to another
without the slightest pause in the conversation.
Please note that when one places side B, which is labeled “Special
Features” into their player, the DVD will automatically continue playing the
feature from the point on side B where side A left off. So you must press the
menu button your remote control and go to the Special Features menu and activate
the conclusion of the commentary in order to hear the entire track. Interesting
to note in the film’s strict adherence to historical accuracy is that in the
very first battle of the war there was no gray Confederate army uniform so you
see some soldiers still wearing their blue Union uniforms and even some
volunteers dressed in what looks like hand me downs from the American
Revolution.
The
Bob Dylan music video for the song “Cross The Green Mountain” (3:16) and
Mary Fahl’s music video for her beautiful song “Going Home” (4:01) are
included along with a brief CD spot for the “God’s And Generals”
soundtrack. The theatrical trailer (1:43) is also presented in a widescreen
(2.35:1) aspect ratio on side A. Unfortunately the deleted scenes that are
present on the limited edition bonus DVD that was originally packaged with the soundtrack
CD are not included on this DVD so if you want to see them, you will have to
try and find the soundtrack with the bonus DVD included within the jewel case
and buy it. The packaging should state whether or not the bonus DVD is included.
The
extra features on Side B are three featurettes. One covering the African
American slave experience in the war as portrayed in the film with Writer and
Director Ronald E. Maxwell and African American Actress Donzaleigh Abernathy
whose father was a part of the Civil Rights movement with Dr. Martin Luther
King. African American Actor Frankie Faison also participates in the featurette
discussion too through interview clips (22:00). The second featurette covers the
film’s historical authenticity (12:55) and the third focuses on the historical
figure of General “Stonewall” Jackson and compares it to his dramatic
portrayed in “Gods And Generals” (14:29). A Virginia tourist spot (: 55)
concludes the extra features included on the DVD. DVD-ROM users will also have
access to web links to the official site and other Civil War related websites.
The menus are standard interactive still frames and all are easy to navigate.
Within the snap case is an offer for consumers who purchase both “Gods And
Generals” and “Andersonville” on DVD, they will get John Huston’s film
adaptation of “The Red Badge Of Courage” on DVD for free with only $3.25
charge for shipping and handling. Those who purchase both the “Gods And
Generals” DVD and CD soundtrack are entitled to a $3 dollar mail in rebate
that is also detailed on the insert within the DVD snap case. Both of these
offers expire on October 31, 2003 and further details are given within the
insert for each offer.
As
a whole I enjoyed “Gods And Generals” very much and found the film to be a
worthy prequel to “Gettysburg” as well as a good DVD release to purchase for
fans and Civil War buffs alike and definitely worth a rental for those still
unsure. “Gods And Generals” will debut on DVD-Video on Tuesday, July 15,
2003 from Warner Home Video and I highly recommend checking it out.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
Buy This DVD Now By Clicking On The Text Link Below!
Gods and Generals