It's a war movie about the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 and covers four days--June 30 to July 3--in this pivotal Civil War battle at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was initially a mini-series for the TNT cable network.
"Gettysburg" is told from the perspective of leading military officers in the Union and Confederate armies. The film begins with Confederate spy Henry Harrison (Cooper Huckabee) reporting to Confederate General James Longstreet (Tom Berenger) about the movements of the Union Army, newly under the direction of General George Meade (Richard Anderson). It then launches into protracted day-by-day presentations of the various battles over the next three days, with some of the filming on location in the Gettysburg National Military Park.
All the foremost leaders are there. On the Confederate side are Generals Robert E. Lee (Martin Sheen), George Pickett (Stephen Lang), Lewis Armistead (Richard Jordan), Isaac Trimble (W. Margan Sheppard), and British Colonel Arthur Fremantle (James Lancaster). The Union side includes Generals John Buford (Sam Elliott), John Reynolds (John Rothman), Winfield Hancock (Brian Mallon), Colonel Joshua Chamberlain (Jeff Daniels), and Lieutenant Thomas Chamberlain (C. Thomas Howell). There are many other historical characters, as well as some 5000 Civil War reenactors, included in major battle scenes.
The approach relies heavily on tactics and disputes between generals; this is not about the life of army privates in battle. Maxwell works hard on the authenticity of appearances, and the visualization of marching infantry columns and cannons roaring is impressive. However, the battle scenes lack essential reality, as there is minimal blood (soldiers seem to die from bloodless gunshots quickly) and no shouts or screams of pain from injury despite significant hand-to-hand battles.
The large tapestry makes "Gettysburg" impressive, but one feels the story of the actual "heroes" has not been captured.
"Gettysburg" is told from the perspective of leading military officers in the Union and Confederate armies. The film begins with Confederate spy Henry Harrison (Cooper Huckabee) reporting to Confederate General James Longstreet (Tom Berenger) about the movements of the Union Army, newly under the direction of General George Meade (Richard Anderson). It then launches into protracted day-by-day presentations of the various battles over the next three days, with some of the filming on location in the Gettysburg National Military Park.
All the foremost leaders are there. On the Confederate side are Generals Robert E. Lee (Martin Sheen), George Pickett (Stephen Lang), Lewis Armistead (Richard Jordan), Isaac Trimble (W. Margan Sheppard), and British Colonel Arthur Fremantle (James Lancaster). The Union side includes Generals John Buford (Sam Elliott), John Reynolds (John Rothman), Winfield Hancock (Brian Mallon), Colonel Joshua Chamberlain (Jeff Daniels), and Lieutenant Thomas Chamberlain (C. Thomas Howell). There are many other historical characters, as well as some 5000 Civil War reenactors, included in major battle scenes.
The approach relies heavily on tactics and disputes between generals; this is not about the life of army privates in battle. Maxwell works hard on the authenticity of appearances, and the visualization of marching infantry columns and cannons roaring is impressive. However, the battle scenes lack essential reality, as there is minimal blood (soldiers seem to die from bloodless gunshots quickly) and no shouts or screams of pain from injury despite significant hand-to-hand battles.
The large tapestry makes "Gettysburg" impressive, but one feels the story of the actual "heroes" has not been captured.