Struz

Did anyone see this in the theaters ?

I loved Gettysburg.
How does it compare ?

Dave C

Gettsyburg is one of my all time faves. I was really looking forward to this, but I honestly can't remember one decent review for it anywhere.

I think I'll do a $1 rental on it before I buy it. I'm sure it will be there on Tues ($1 nite) since I don't know anyone that wants to see it.

Rypro 525

the reviews were torture but I'd rent it because since its on dvd, you can take breaks.

uteotw

WHY were the reviews torture? I did not see it but my friends who did really liked it. I want to buy it because I know it's long and want to be able to watch it was my leisure...

silentbob007

I believe the reviews said it was very long, preachy, and boring.

bboisvert

Yes, all that and (at points) surprisingly historically inaccurate.

I have not seen it yet myself. I was really looking forward to seeing this in the theater, but after every reviewer I trust said that the film was mediocre at best, it went into my Netflix queue instead.

If you are a huge Civil War buff, it may be worth a blind buy just for the commentary track (tracks?), but otherwise, I'd suggest a rental. Although I hope to be pleasantly surprised, I can't imagine any film with such universally bland reviews being worth buying.

Johnny Zhivago

I have no input on the quality of the film but figured I would toss this in... It will be available for enrollment at CH in October. If you can wait, and are in the States, go that route... That's what I intend to do.

uteotw

Funny you would say that.

The DVDTalk reviewer who was a history major in college said it was incredibly historically ACCURATE.

bboisvert

Hmmm... interesting.

Again, I haven't seen the movie. Maybe the comments about this are mostly anal-retentive nitpicking. But nearly every review I read mentioned it.

A quick Google search of "gods +generals +inaccuracies" brings up quite a few sites discussing it.


Who knows. I definitely am going to rent the thing. But the negative/mediocre reviews dampened my enthusiasm.

Rypro 525

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Gods...erals-1120554/
read all the crap reviews here

mikenyc

Heaven forbid, that "inaccuracies" would get in the way of a good film ! Like it's the first time it's happening, or something !

uteotw

OK, I feel I can speak just a tad more authoritatively now that I've actually WATCHED the film.

It is very long but did not feel that long to me. It is a "sweeping epic," as they say, and I truly enjoyed it. If you don't tend to like those kind of movies, you probably won't enjoy this one.

It was quite odd at first to see a Civil War movie that's mainly from the Southern viewpoint. I had mainly vilified the South in my mind simply as people willing to die to protect slavery, and Gods & Generals put a more human face on the South than I'd ever seen. It does NOT make it seem like the South was "right," but it does a nice job of showing the war was more complex. There's a moment where

Jeff Daniels (is this the same guy from Dumb & Dumber?) is actually amazing, and so is Mira Sorvino (Romi & Michelle???), though she's in it very briefly.

In some parts it feels more like a play, because the talk is not at all what we're used to and does tend to go on at points. Yes, there are (gasp!) many references to God and the Bible, but Stonewall Jackson was, in fact, a religious man so I didn't take this as "preachy." I took it more as accurate.

GREAT sound, excellent widescreen picture. I haven't gotten to the extras yet but I will tonight. I can't believe we watched the whole thing in one sitting last night; it actually went by rather quickly. (The flipper disc has to be flipped at the most inopportune moment, it seems.)

Anyway, that's my 2 cents after watching it.

Rypro 525

I think warner wants us to watch these long movies in one sitting, that and putting the cut of once upon a time in america right in the middle of a gun fight.

uteotw

Exactly. It seemed ridiculous. Gangs of New York had an odd switching point too, but in G&G it was it's in a battle, then it stops, then you flip, then the battle's over. VERY strange.

Rypro 525

maybe that was the cut off point at theaters?

uteotw

For G&G? That's what I'd guessed, but it appears not:

Goldberg74

Bought it from Wal*MArt for $17.88... but I haven't opened it yet... maybe I'll watch it this weekend... oh, and I haven't seen Gettysburg yet...

Should I watch that first?

Rypro 525

You gotta rent gettysburg since it went oop for what ever reason (0r pay 50-70 big ones on ebay)

Big O Anime_Fan

Gods and Generals is one of the most boring war movies ever made......save your money and just wait till it is shown on TNT twice a day.

Dave C

This guy gives it his highest rating:

http://www.dvdreview.com/fullreviews...generals.shtml

bboisvert

But, as a matter of contrast, that is the same reviewer who had this to say about the new La Femme Nikita disc:

"The presentation is very clean and clear without showing any notable mars or defects. The picture has a high level of definition, reproducing many of the subtle details in the production and beautiful cinematography. With its bold blacks, the image is deep and solid, making for a wonderful experience."

He also refers to what I consider to be some of the lamest and uninteresting supplements as "interesting" and "insightful".

His comments do not even remotely reflect what I (and just about every other reviewer) saw on that title.


Just a little perspective... I know every reviewer is going to have a different take on a film/DVD. But I definitely take things from this particular reviewer with a grain of salt after reading about the "superb" quality of the completely mediocre Nikita release.


(I'm really going to have to rent Gods & Generals soon... so I can actually participate in this discussion with some first-hand knowledge. )

uteotw

Dang--I saw your post and thought you must've watched it by now. So block off 3+ hours this weekend & give it a whirl!

Jonny2k1

I wouldn't buy this movie. I saw it in theaters and it was entirely too long and boring...most of the people there walked out. The slow parts of the movie (extremely numerous amounts) are way too slow and they just dull the action scenes. If you are really into Civil War movies then I would check it out, but I don't suggest this as a blind buy.

Supreme Sean

I saw this in a packed theater ( Surprised me ), and the audience was riveted the entire time. Kind of too long, the dialogue is kind of stilted, some sub-par special effects, but the acting saves the day. Stephen Lang, Jeff Daniels, Frankie Faison and Robert Duvall carry the film. The acting, combined with the sheer importance of this story help to make the film what it is . Ultimately, a flawed but entertaining look at U.S. history. Grade: B+

Off topic, but if people could sit through this almost 4 hour movie without flinching, why does Kill Bill need to be released as 2 parts?

Josh Z

Notice the box office returns for G&G. Even if the audience you saw it with was riveted the whole time, as a general rule a long running time is a major turn-off for casual moviegoers.

90 minutes is really about as long as most people's attention spans will last these days. I've been to several movies lately that were around 2 hours on the nose and have heard complaints about length.