Gods & Generals

A continuing case of not as good as the book

Gods & Generals, the film prequel of Ron Maxwell's Gettysburg, proved a great disappointment. Hyped to a high level prior to it's release throughout the US the film seemed to me both laboured and running at over three and a half hours possibly at least an hour too long. Gods & Generals is based on Jeff Shaara's book of the same name. The book aims to give a more in depth look at the four main characters of the book, Lee, Jackson, Chamberlain and Hancock. However this approach attempted to give a greater insight into the characters home life but for me these scenes prove to be the real low spots of the story often seeming mundane and contrived.

The book lacks the clean and uncomplicated approach of Killer Angels the book written by Shaara's father Ken. Jeff Daniels reprises the role of Joshua Chamberlain as does 888 8888as Hancock and 888 Gorman as Hood. Martin Sheen is replaced by Robert Duvall as Lee and surprisingly does not make any real impression in the film.

The main character portrayed is that of the complicated character Jackson. This seems the most bizarre piece of casting . Stephen Lang plays Jackson the same actor who played George Pickett in Gettysburg. I found it hard to reconcile the obvious role reversal even considering the verve in which Lang executed the role. Also the continued comments returning to Jackson's religious beliefs wore extremely irritating.

As with Killer Angels the dialogue is mainly taken directly from the book. The text in the book comes over as sincere and well crafted but when you hear some of the lines in film it's painful. Daniel's has to utter dialogue that at times was enough to make you cringe Even though some of the scenes away from the action verged on the comical the action scenes were done extremely well and could well be worth the price of admission.

First Manassas, although on a smaller scale, conveyed the confusion and patriotism of the first engagement. Chancellorsville explained the tactics and in no small measure created a level of tension. But by far the best was the depiction of the fighting at Fredericksburg. The river crossing , skirmishes through the town and the numerous attacks at Marye's Heights were all well scripted. Even some dubious Irish accents at the stone wall did not detract from the footage.

Passion was displayed in abundance but at no time did it come near to bring a tear to my eye. Jackson's leaving speech to the Stonewall Brigade was well done and a rendition of the Bonnie Blue Flag was also stirring and enjoyable.

However the most emotional scene for me did not appear in the film at all. A documentary on the making of the film was screened in the US the week of the films release. During that documentary Stephen Lang as Jackson gives an impromptu speech to the re-enactors at the end of that days filming for Manassas. He tells the troops of how these people have invaded their country but the job is not yet completed and are we ready to return tomorrow and drive those people back to whence they came. And from every person response there was an impassioned and resounding yes.

Then you feel the tear in your eye and wonder why the film could not achieve the same affect.

Dave Harris (Rolf), Signals