GODS AND GENERALS

I am probably the only person on the face of the planet who hadn't seen Gods and Generals before, but I bought it along with Gettysburg in a twin pack recently. I watched Gods and Generals first, of course, because it's the first of a three-part series about the Civil War. I still have to get the third one.

This movie was extremely long. I joked that it was filmed in "real time". However, to really get the story told and develop all the characters, it was probably necessary for it to be lengthy. This movie established a lot of relationships and gave us a peek into the possible personalities of the major players of the Civil War.

I love historical movies, and this one is no exception. It takes us through the pre-war days right into the beginnings of the war and those who were instrumental from both sides in fighting it. This movie doesn't play favorites. It doesn't lean either toward the North or the South other than the abhorrence of slavery by the Union and the proposed abolition.

Those who played the southerners did well conveying how invaded they felt when their homes were commandeered for various uses and they were forced to flee. There was grief and hardship on both sides as brother fought against brother over the divisive issue of recession.

Though made in 2003, this is actually the prequel to the 1993 movie Gettysburg and lays the groundwork of establishing Stonewall Jackson and others involved. It's rated PG-13 because of the bloody battles, but the battles were ruthless and bloody so it's true to history.