Gods and Generals

No one could even pay me $20 to watch this again

While it's admirably to show the Confederates as something honorable, and Duvall is a step up from Sheen in the portrayal of Lee, that's where the good times end. It is so confusingly written, edited, paced and shot that it loses any semblance of being a good film.

So tedious and dry...

Incompetent filmmaking, screen stuffed with a bunch of fat reenacting-hobbyists. Lost Cause propaganda.

Tedious in the extreme.

A decade before this movie was released, Gettysburg achieved lots of fame and glory. Gods and Generals in meanwhile failed in many aspects. Boring movie.

Maybe this pro-Confederacy movie is offensive on that front, I am not a historical expert. However, I do enjoy film and this movie is offensive in its boringness.

A much higher quality than Gettysburg.

F

I felt that this was a bit of a mess of a movie. It was interesting from a history point of view, as they seem to get a good number of details right (even with a sterilized view of the Confederate army), but felt soulless as a movie. It's basically Stonewall Jackson: The Movie, as he's the primary character you follow around. However, the focus isn't completely on him, which creates a weird narrative flow and poor pacing over four hours. It didn't exactly make for a good viewing experience.

I can understand why people dislike this movie. I really can. But I just can't feel that way. This movie is the perfect example of what a politically-correct, pro-Confederacy film can look like. Stonewall Jackson might as well have a halo around his head, all the soldiers quote classical orators before they go into battle, slaves are happy to be slaves. And it's not like the North isn't valorized too. Highly entertaining, though four hours does eventually wear.

Theater

A definite step up from GETTYSBURG, the film is far more cinematic and stages its battle scenes impressively, and also dares to contextualise its action, and delve into the private lives of its main characters. Screenplay is still prone to an over reliance on speechiness, (and is a little long winded and pompous at times) but the actors by and large deliver effectively, with Lang standing out especially in a genuinely touching and moving performance.

"As remote and unyielding as an untouched textbook, often so much so that its academic fanaticism causes it to resemble a spectacular parody of daytime television's breathy, on-the-fly awkwardness." - Chuck Rudolph

"Succumbs to turgidity. And...intentionally or not... conveys the impression that the film uncritically celebrates the Confederacy"

This really should have been a television mini-series as opposed to a full length motion picture. If you are into the Civil War, then you might like it. Especially if you are from the south. At least Robert Duvall makes for a better Robert E. Lee than the pious portrayal by Martin Sheen in Gettysburg.

Much too long and slow for my tastes

Huge disappointment. Well I cannot complain about the battle too much. I was really annoyed about religion in this film. All was like Jihad during American Civil War. I'd understand if there was some prayers in whole film but not (adleast) one every 5 minutes. Secondly here are Yanks shown as baddies whereas that's not the case in Gettysburg with the Confederates. Duvall is far better than Sheen as General Lee. Still decent film with all Gettysburg's faults.

Long...so goddamn long. The battle scenes look pretty though.

Why did they try so hard to make this as uninteresting as possible?

Not even half the film that Gettysburg was.

Perhaps the 19th century was a boring, slow-moving era. That doesn't mean a movie about the Civil War has to be. Don't waste your time with this tripe.

Some amazing moments, but everything is ruined by the godawful pace and length. This could have been good if they cut a few hours.

I've never wanted 3 hours of my life back so badly.

Great book, boring movie

Very good adaptation Not as good as gettysburg but damn close

Great flick

Much better than _Gettysburg_. Dishonest portrayal of Stonewall Jackson, but very possibly the only Civil War movie EVER that's almost entirely from the Confederate point of view. A unique, rewarding film despite the flaws

No movie should ever be this long and slow. I didn't feel any emotions for any of the characters, and they even manage to take a potentially beautiful set and make it bland and dull. Watch Ken Burns Civil War stuff instead.