Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Originally published on Feb. 14, 2003This Robert F. Maxwell-directed Civil War epic is the second of a trilogy (after 1993's "Gettysburg," while "Last Full Measure" is scheduled to conclude) chronicling this country's most devastating conflict. And, while a bit over long (at 3 and-a-half hours) as well as a bit preachy in parts - and it could have been titled "The Stonewall Jackson Story," the picture is often engrossing and powerful. The battle scenes, which accurately depicted the insane tactic of marching directly into enemy rifle and cannon fire unblinkingly, are some of the best this scribble has witnessed. Movie begins with the Confederates firing on the Federal Fort Sumter in 1861 and depicts U.S. Army Col. Robert E. Lee (Robert Duval, Oscar winner for "Tender Mercies") turning down command of the Northern Army of the Potomac. He later becomes the leader of the Army of Northern Virginia. There are three main battles featured here: the first battle of Manasas (called Bull Run by Northern writers, July, 1861), Fredericksburg (December 1862) and Chancellorsville (May, 1863), all Confederate victories utilizing Lee's tactical brilliance as well as the invaluable assistance of his most trusted and able cavalry general, Jackson (played wonderfully by Stephan Lang, Gen. George Pickett in "Gettysburg," but best known as Ike Clanton in "Tombstone"). Lee realized that a long war of attrition would favor the North, which could call upon a population of approximately 20 million, as well as a huge industrial advantage. The South had just six million people, including three million slaves whom they would never arm. He also understood the art of maneuvering his troops and diving his forces to his advantage. And, much like Napoleon, scored victories while tremendously outnumbered. Quick and decisive wins were needed to throw the industrial Union into a panic and make the citizens less hungry for war while attracting possible aid from European nations. Jackson understood these tactics, as well, and used them to brutal effectiveness. He was fearless, too, earning his nickname at Manasas, standing like a stone wall before his retreating men and rallying them to victory. Both he and Lee attended West Point (when CSA Pres. Jefferson Dave was James Buchanan's Secretary of War) and learned strategy not only from Napoleon, but Wellington and Frederick the Great, among other brilliant military leaders. During the first two years of the war, the generalship and élan of the South scored triumph after triumph in the Eastern Campaign, while Federal leaders such as Gen. George B. McClellan and other lesser known men (such as Ambrose Burnside and George Meade, among others) just sat on their hands - much to Pres. Abraham Lincoln's ire. Jackson, as portrayed by Lang, was a complex and nuanced man of religious piety who abhorred the institution of slavery yet fought for the cause to sustain it. His relationships with his men, his wife and the daughter of a friend, Jane Corbin (Lydia Jordan, "Third Watch" TV series) betray a sensitive individual who seems woefully out of place in this great conflagration. His tactics, however, were second to none and who knows what his death (at the hands of his own troops shortly before Gettysburg) mortally hurt the Confederate cause.

Director Ron Maxwell's "Gods and Generals," the prequel to "Gettysburg," appears far more polished than his initial American Civil War movie. In "Gettysburg," lots of critics carped about the bogus beards that the actors sported, principally Tom Berenger's Longstreet. Maxwell made sure that his prequel didn't suffer the same fate in the facial hair department. Indeed, the beards look far better. Indeed, lenser Kees Van Oostrum's widescreen cinematography looks immaculate as does most of the sprawling sets. Of course, the Virginia Military Institute looks contemporary for its day because dirt has been put down to cover the asphalt road. Nevertheless, despite the sheer brilliance of this lengthy spectacle, "Gods and Generals" has some problems that some Civil War buffs, particularly historians, may not charitably tolerate. For example, the film refuses to address the issue of slavery, and most of the slaves seem more reminiscent of the loyal slaves from "Gone with the Wind" and "So Red the Rose" era. Basically, this epic war movie was designed to showcase Confederate General Robert E. Lee, Confederate General Thomas 'Stonewall' Jackson, Union General Winfield Scott Hancock, and Union Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Chamberlain. Maxwell devotes the bulk of the film to Jackson, and Stephen Lang performs splendidly in the role as the pugnacious but religious leader who died accidentally at the hands of his own men.. Robert Duvall replaces Martin Sheen, but Duvall resembles Lee more than Sheen. The action unfolds with Lee's refusal to take Abraham Lincoln's offer to command all Union forces. Lee explains to Preston Blair that he cannot take up arms against his home state of Virginia. Meantime, Jackson serves as an instructor at VMI when he notices cadets tearing down the Union flag. Later, at the Virginia secession convention, state officials vote to secede from the Union and they offer Lee the job of commanding all their troops. Naturally, Lee accepts this offer without a qualm. When Maxwell shifts his attention to the North, he takes us to Maine, where Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain explains his views about the complicated issue of slavery to his class at Bowdoin College. This is Chamberlain before he entered the Union Army, and this time around we meet his concerned wife, Frances Caroline 'Fanny' Chamberlain (Oscar winning actress Mira Sorvino). Unlike "Gettysburg," women play a larger role in this Civil War film.The film takes place between April 1861 and May 1863, and Maxwell depicts the battles of First Manassas, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, and concludes the action less than two months before Gettysburg. This magisterial film will no doubt be a chore to sit through, but it does have its rewards. If you don't know much about the Civil War, prepare to be changed. For example, one seasoned military officer shows Chamberlain and his brother the proper way to load a musket, using a nine step method. This same officer impresses upon Chamberlain the necessity for rigorous discipline and training so the soldiers can responds to commands in an expeditious manner. If you saw "Gettysburg," you will learn, too, how the Chamberlains met Sergeant Buster Kilrain (Kevin Conway) and came to be fast friends. Most critics lament the long speeches, but this is a chessboard movie. Unfortunately, Maxwell is probably more ambitious than he should be and the narrative becomes quite unwieldy at times.

I can understand why this failed at the box office and in the theatres; where people with the attention span of goldfish start reaching for their phone after 15 seconds, but as a movie to watch on your own time in your own pace; it holds up pretty well after a little shaky start.I must disclaim that I don't know anything about the American Civil War; apart from the fact that it was a nasty business and about that slavery business; it is probably for the best the Union won. Otherwise, every movie claiming to be absolutely 'truthful' about a war has to be taken with a grain of salt. For some reason the moral high ground in the film does seem to be occupied by the Confederacy; as a film about the conflict it simply didn't investigate enough the reasons for or indeed why the war started. We simply see Lee refusing command of the US. army in an opening scene and that's about it as to politics. Indeed the war just starts and everything else from that point onwards could be seen as propaganda seen from one side or the other.But - it is as a character portrait of general Stonewall Jackson and an investigation of the early course of the war itself where this movie really starts to shine. I found Stephen Lang's portrayal of a man who at one hand is a devout Christian given to compassion and prayer and on the other a merciless general; how those elements mixed up in him to be very interesting and compelling. The film does lean very heavily on his shoulders for depth and psychology, even Robert Duvall's general Lee story seem to be unable to do anything but to orbit around Jackson's character. There are a lot of long speeches and prayers going out left right and centre; but like Jackson the movie stands alone in the room like an antiquated piece of furniture and is very comfortable doing just that; being weird and slow and spiritual compared to our modern sensibilities. I liked that eccentricity about the film.Second; the battle scenes are just excellent, beautifully shot and choreographed and by the looks of it; historically accurate. Most movies can just afford about one large scale encounter; here you have a whole campaign. If you like that sort of stuff here's an abundance. Little details like fraternisation at Christmas between forces, the Irish ending up fighting their own down to the music and plays they enjoyed at the time really adds to the dimension of conflict. We also see examples where the bad decision making of high-end generals mean certain death for the foot soldier. As a side note; as a European I admit to having had an image of the southern armies being a provincial rabble; I can see clearer now that they had some excellent leadership and quality to them; it was a refreshing revelation to me.The entirety of this film is a strange nest of different story lines weaving in all sorts of different directions. I liked the inclusion of Chamberlain's story. It may seem an odd match up against Jackson's story; but they were both teachers and fought out of a sense of duty to their country. The film also includes a play with in the play, where we see actors playing actors playing at war within a war. It's a nod to us the audience about what we ourselves see on film; that we have a responsibility to make our own minds up about who was right or wrong. Everyone was playing some part in that war and we all project our own thoughts and fears into a story. I am not one for glorification and I am fully aware that the film may have a rosy-tinted view of the Southern states in the war; but I wasn't watching it for political reasons. As a slow-paced war film to watch in your own time while pondering about the human consequence of conflict; it is time well spent and enjoyable too.

Just sometimes critics get it completely wrong. This film is one such instance of that. I guess a well made Civil War epic with astounding acting, well put together convincing battle scenes. Accurate uniforms and weapons and a film which takes full advantage of it's budget etc counts as bad these days. Personally as a historian and someone who enjoys long epics I was invested in this one. To me it is more of a character study of General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson and his actions as a Confederate officer than a war film. This film has all the tropes which makes a great war film of course but I never really knew who the man Jackson was, just what he did as a General. I'm glad this film was made because it gave me an insight into the man's psyche, someone here said Stephen Lang deserved an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and I agree. I do prefer Ronald F. Maxwell's other epic Gettysburg but taken on it's own Gods and Generals is still worth sitting through despite its four hour running time. I want to see Maxwell's proposed third installment in his trilogy The Last Full Measure and I think people will agree with me the audience is there and want to see it get done. God's and Generals is criminally underrated and one which critics missed the mark on.Solid 10/10