Historian's Reaction to Gods and Generals Part 1

In this video, I react to the historicity of the movie Gods and Generals. From Robert E. Lee turning down an appointment to lead the Union Army to the Battle of Fredericksburg, this major motion picture attempted to depict the lives of Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Joshua Chamberlain. How historically accurate is Gods and Generals?
#CivilWar #Gettysburg #Review #MartinSheen #History #HaveHistoryWillTravel #JeffDaniels #MovieReview #MovieCritique #HistoricalReview #Grant #HistoryChannel #Historynerd #Historygeek #HistoryCritique #historymemes #historyofart #historyinthemaking #historynerd #historychannel #historybuff #historylover #historylesson #historyfacts #historygeek #historyinpictures #historymaker #historylovers #historyteacher #historymakers #historymeme #historytour #historymade #historytv18 #historymuseum
This video is for critique purposes only. All clips used are done so under fair use.
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[@micheledemugerian3386]

The actor who played Gen. Hood in both movies is Patrick Gorman. He was a teacher of mine at the American Conservatory theater in San Francisco in the early 70s. He was terrific. Had a bit on him😏

[@haydnburrell9206]

🤨

[@jarrettfoust1610]

He was vastly older than Hood. Uncanny valley.

[@SStupendous]

@@jarrettfoust1610 Yep

[@aaronjohn6586]

Just so appreciate how your videos have grown, really like the attention to detail, the passion for history and the fairness to the people of the particular era.

[@Alex-ej4wm]

Just realized the new recruits guy is the same guy that is fighting for his "ratts" in Gettysburg the movie

[@jasonscottjenkins]

I noticed that too.

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

Colonel Adelbert Ames in the 20th Maine is also one of the mutineers from the 2nd Maine in Gettysburg.

[@Alex-ej4wm]

@@HistoryGoneWilder Right you mean the "These daaanm officers these daanm gentleman!" guy, I thought that he looked familiar. Good now I have an excuse to watch the movie again, haha

[@galatian5]

@@Alex-ej4wm They couldn't pour pee out of a boot with the instructions written under the heel.

[@mikey8088]

Alex2614 no, the confederate prisoner from Gettysburg is the confederate new recruit in G&G who is killed at Chancellorsville.

[@brianmallen8887]

I met the guy who played John Hood once. Actually he was married to a friend of mine. I spent a Thanksgiving with them soon after the film "Gettysburg" was made. I've been a Civil War buff my whole life so it was interesting to talk to this guy about it. He was very nice with that country manner he displays in the film. But he was amused that I knew more about the war and Hood than he did.

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

After Gettysburg, I was really excited about the movie "Gods and Generals", having read the book. Then I watched it. Now I'm not saying its unwatchable, a bad movie....Well yes that is what I'm saying. Almost 4 hours and didn't cover so much. Acting everyone looked like they were Acting, and often like they had a stick up their butts.

[@shawnn7502]

I own both. I don't think either is great, but I prefer Gods and Generals. Gettysburg is way too over-dramatic and Martin Sheen as Lee is a cinematic travesty.

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

@@shawnn7502 Differences of opinion. Though it should be obvious to all you are Tree Hugging Biden supporter MAGA Hat wearing buffoon....and a poopyhead. :-)

[@GingerKraut]

@@shawnn7502 I own both also. And I prefer Robert Duvall as Lee...he wasn't over the top like Martin Sheen.

[@corvusboreus2072]

@@stevenwiederholt7000well your, like, LITERALLY Hitler!

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

@@corvusboreus2072 I always pictured me as more like Attila The Hun. :-)

[@ryanmedina5090]

The book Gods and Generals was a good balanced retelling of the events of the early years of the civil war prior to Gettysburg. Ronald F Maxwell took the source material and whiped his ass with it and produced this turd.

[@christophers.4286]

Having Gorman portray John Bell Hood was idiotic. As was mentioned Gorman was a senior looking fellow wnd Hood wt the time was 29

[@sobersportsman]

These movies should have been a great mini-series.

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

Absolutely. I love mini-series. So much more can be told.

[@MayoFilms83]

It kind of is now on directors cut its in 4 parts.

[@sobersportsman]

@@MayoFilms83 That's cool, but what I meant was the whole Ted Turner project would have been great as a week long mini-series or today a Netflix series. The entire war. I thought Gettysburg was terrific though you couldn't release today. You know, all the Confederate troops being Nazis and such.

[@galoon]

@@sobersportsman Yep. The current generation of Americans isn't nearly as mature or as tolerant as that of the early '90s when Gettysburg was made. The rot that has pervaded our country is painfully obvious today.

[@knoahbody69]

@@galoon Translation: "tRump will be reinstated on Memorial Day."

[@JeffBetsch]

Concerning Jim and his letters to and from his family (9:00). Jackson was well known to have taught many slaves to read and write defying VA law at the time. He started a colored Sunday school that had upwards of 100 slaves attending and the best students he awarded bibles. Implying that they could read and he and his wife were teaching them. That school remained up and running for nearly 20 years after he died. So, it can be assumed at the least that Jim may have known how to read and write based upon his association with Jackson

[@mastermonarch]

Just as likely Jim taught himself to read ....

[@rogerquesnell]

Jeff is exactly right about this. I would suggest the author of this video do some more reading about Jackson, including the Bud Robertson book.

[@JvP519]

They blocked part 2! That sucks, I was really looking forward to it for the past few weeks.

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

I'm working on getting it up

[@michaelspencer1201]

I remember my jaw dropping when we saw this in theaters, when the timeline jumped all the way to Fredericksburg. The Chancellorsville scenes are the only reason I pull the DVD out once in a while.

[@rpink58]

Antietam was also shot ,but was cut from original movie.It is in the directors cut

[@michaelspencer1201]

@@rpink58 I've heard about additional scenes, but have never watched them. I will have to look them up.

[@drewdurbin4968]

They did Antietam horrible...

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

I agree. The Antietam scenes were miserably done from what I've saw.

[@drewdurbin4968]

How they could portray millers corn field like that is ridiculous. You are talking about maybe the most horrific battle of the war in terms of sheer carnage and destruction and its portrayed as just a walk through a cornfield

[@jtoad99]

What is overlooked is that there were free black men who were soldiers in the state militias in the south. Nathan Bedford Forest rode with black troopers who protected him. Forest even promised black slaves that if they served they'd be freed at the end of the war.

[@ronjames7953]

This movie has alot of flaws. I love that they were still making civil war movies in the 2000s regardless of flaws or what not. I wish they'd finish this trilogy. So we could see Grant introduced to the series.

[@generalfred9426]

@crAZy American and put to rest to all the Lost Causers that have made false statements against Grant and Sherman

[@themontgomeryc]

@@generalfred9426 how would a hollywood film put to rest anything? Its not video evidence of what happened, its the directors interpretation

[@bbur35]

The south was winning the first two years

[@drewdurbin4968]

@@generalfred9426 What false statements would those be exactly? Sherman targeting civilians? Grant losing half as many men in 30 days as the army did in 3 years? soryy but those are just Historical facts.

[@generalfred9426]

@@drewdurbin4968 Amazing everything you said is wrong. Lee most more manpower than Grant throughout the entire war. There only 3,000 civilian casualties over the course of 6 weeks during the march with the majority of those civilians being hostile to the Union Army. These are the historical facts.

[@TheLostProduct]

I was there for the filming in MD (the Antietam part that was rarely shown but only some in the extra on the dvd). It was the literal grandest site that my grandfather and I had ever seen. Over 20k re-enactors. So many, it sounded like an auto-rifle going steady. I still have the VHS of the entire Bloody-Lane, A.P. Hills Counter-Attack and the Cornfield Battle that they sent me for registering. And, the dog tag. The A.P. Hill actor (Yes, from the Gettysburg film) there. Real blacksmiths. Real everything. If you looked past the cameras.. You were actually there. Behind you, the civilians. I will never forget those days.

[@Nimgimmer1492]

Man,. you were one lucky fella.

[@FultonEagle1948]

Love this movie, and Gettysburg, they never made the third one, The Last Full Measure. Gods & Generals didn't make any money. It does lean toward the Southern Cause, a movie you can watch time after time, again and again. Yes, the Big Joe stuff is a lot of crap.

Lean? My friend, it's full-on Lost Cause stuff. That's what people hated about it.

[@FultonEagle1948]

@ OK, I admit the flick is dripping with Corn Pone, and agree the Big Jim stuff is laughable. But I do believe that Stephen Lang did a good job of portraying StoneWall, as did most of the cast. (PRESS ON BOYS- PRESS ON)!

[@FultonEagle1948]

@Live Life True, sad to say but True.

[@MM-qi5mk]

This movie had the excitement of a miscarriage

[@willcorlett7630]

Thank you for some good insights. I too am frustrated - if understanding why - there is no mention of the valley campaign or even 2nd manassass (less said about jackson's performance in the 7 days battles the better perhaps) albeit the directors cut does restore some of the antietam footage. My biggest disappointment is that the thrird film in the proposed trllogy about the Overland campaign of 1864 was never made and likely never will. For all their flaws they at least are films about the Civil war, a subject matter Holywood has never really taken a shine to

[@odysseusrex5908]

In the book, Michael Shaara explicitly says that the delivery of the pontoons to Fredericksburg was deliberately delayed in order to prevent Burnside from crossing the river and taking Richmond as he intended, essentially out of professional jealousy. This theme was not mentioned in the movie, but I wonder if you might address it in part two. Is there actually any evidence, do any historians believe that that could have been the actual reason the pontoons were not delivered in a timely manner, or is that something that Shaara just made up for dramatic effect?

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

Thank you. I will address that in part 2. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

[@odysseusrex5908]

@@HistoryGoneWilder And thank you for thinking my question was important enough to respond to. I look forward to Part two.

[@nehukybis]

I liked the film Gettysburg so I watched Gods and Generals while it was in the theaters. It was bad in the way the movie The Last Airbender was bad, but it was also bad in the way Triumph of the Will was bad. It must take real talent to create something that's comically stupid and morally repulsive simultaneously.

[@aaronfleming9426]

that may be the most brutal 3-sentence movie review I've ever read. Well done.

[@JoefromNJ1]

i noticed in the first picture at the beginning grant has 4 stars. wasnt he a three star general? i might be wrong.

[@mrsnakesmrnot8499]

Instead of the bs / false conversations Jackson and a slave, they could have had a montage of some of the REAL battles that were skipped in the film.

[@timberry4709]

The YT channel 'Reel History' did an interview with "Gods and Generals" author Jeff Shaara a couple of weeks ago. While understanding the constraints Hollywood has when converting a book to film he was not pleased with what was done to his book. He wrote a balanced story of the North/South viewpoints and says the movie came out very pro-Confederate, with much of the Northern content discarded, and the (in his words) "happy slave scene" was nonsense.

[@tomball7009]

I used to hate this movie. It can only be appreciated by hardcore historians. It would never draw a regular movie goer into wanting to know this history. The dopey, over the top, preachy, sentimental speeches get a little long winded and frankly dull. It would be really cool if they had anything of Jackson in the valley or maybe some narration of that campaign. Reading the book I Rode With Stonewall help me enjoy this movie a bit more.

[@randallgschwind3799]

As a descendant of John Brown Gordon " Last Salute" His memoirs and his wife Fanny P Gordon "Nine Lives of John Brown Gordon" Never talks about Slavery as the cause but the Northern Aggression by Invasion of The Southern States as the reason Under Articles of Confederation, thus Confederate States!

[@wxman5401]

I'll tell you what's beautiful. That C Thomas Howell beard.

[@jacobgordon7998]

I preferred Martin Sheen's Lee in Gettysburg to Robert Duvall's Lee in Gods and Generals. That said, Gettysburg inspired me to read 'The Killer Angels' and inspired a general interest in the American Civil War. Loved the 'Gods and Generals' book, but the film itself was very disappointing to me.

[@HardscrabbleBlake1968]

My beef with this movie and Gettysburg is all the re-enactors - most are way too old and fat to be convincing Civil War soldiers. There is one scene of men in a small town volunteering and none of them are under 50, and one old geezer looks about 75. The extras in Cold Mountain, which I think was made in Romania, look much more authentic.

[@philovance1940]

Someone said Hollywood doesn’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.

[@randallmarsh406]

When will we get part 2????

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

I plan on getting it up tomorrow and at the latest Sunday.

[@user-xj3ve7wt8k]

Great movie. Great actors. One of the most watched movies in Europe.

[@gallantcavalier3306]

I am wondering if the video you reference when talking about Jim Lewis and General Jackson was the video by Atun Shei films that called this movie Confederate Propaganda? And if it was, how do you feel about it in that sense?

[@KingofDiamonds85]

Atun Shei is a clown. You can't take anything he says seriously.

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

That is the video I was referring to. I've watched some of his videos, but did not care for his style of delivery. That video in particular, I don't think I would consider it propaganda, but as I said in my video, the scenes involving slavery were very misleading.

[@USGrant-rr2by]

That's called propaganda.

[@MomentsInTrading]

I have not seen this movie yet, so this is interesting.

[@johnmckee6483]

Alarm something new everyday and that's why I love history so much that we will not make the same mistake twice

[@shawnn7502]

Huge Civil War buff. I own both Gods & Generals and Gettysburg. I've always thought G&G was the better movie. Jackson at least is well cast and well-acted. I thought Lee and Longstreet in Gettysburg were a disaster, and the attempts to over-dramatize every other line is insufferable. Gettysburg does a good job with the first day, the battle for Little Round Top and Pickett's Charge, but I guess due to necessity leaves out the rest of the battle. I appreciate how historically accurate the movie is with everything EXCEPT the depiction of Lee and Longstreet. With G&G, I also enjoy more the progression of battles ending with the dramatic victory at Chancellorsville. There is no doubt some polishing of southern knobs and glossing over of southern faults, but I can tolerate it. I can tolerate that easier than the horrible pacing and painful profundity of Gettysburg. After all, it is a movie and not a historical documentary.

[@shawnn7502]

@Gary Daniel Yeah, the typical BS. You do realize that there weren't many slaves in the border states, right? About 1% of the population of Delaware and Maryland at the outset of the war, and every border state except Kentucky and Delaware freed their slaves during the war. Only those two waited until after the war was over, and as already noted, there were few slaves in Delaware in the first place. So, basically, you're just talking about Kentucky, which yes, had about 20% of their population enslaved, which was still far lower than the states that actually seceded had. And since relocating slaves to Africa or Lincoln offering some amendment never actually happened, then no, the movie wouldn't be expected to mention those.

[@andrewdeehan6292]

Thank you so much for your reply. I am ABSOLUTELY positive your G.G.G. Granddaddy is shining up there in heaven for what you're doing. Please keep up the Great work! I really enjoy your most awesome and informative videos!

[@propriusly]

Nicely done. Balanced and not " damn those yankees/ rebels"

[@1TruNub]

Once again another excellent Video done fairly unlike another channel I know, I would say the director's cut Blu-Ray is probly the best version of this movie. I would recommend it if you haven't seen it. I do agree that they gloss over slavery very much so, But I do not believe that it is a lost cause movie. The fact that a lot of details are minute and put into this movie I think does a very good job Its own right but is a movie nonetheless. I always recommend this movie but take it with a pinch of salt but a movie That I'm able to watch. Keep up the good work

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate the support.

[@1rwjwith]

Ps. Yeah the actor playing Hood bothered me too in that he was way too big old! He comes off like some cranky old Texas farmer who got pulled into the war rather than a West Point southern general who was younger than most other generals in the war...I know some were younger but not many. Also the actor playing Jackson, was way better as Pickett in Gettysburg...but I did prefer Duvall as Lee to Sheen.

[@savanahmclary4465]

The Lees' are the "Common Wealth" of Virginia. VIRGINIA IS NOT A STATE! Soverign and INDEPENDENT! Virginia Common wealth were kin, at that time.

[@johnnytoobad7785]

So I wonder if the last story in the trilogy will ever be made into a film? "The Last Full Measure". Enjoyed the book.

[@KingofDiamonds85]

Never. Sadly, this movie did so bad that they won't put the resources in making the last installment. And especially in these times, anything Civil War probably wouldn't go over well.

[@MayoFilms83]

It be made by somebody else all these actors and even Ron Maxwell are getting to old now.

[@lanceheaps581]

@@MayoFilms83 yeah the actors are all way to old. A bunch of them are even dead. The guy that played Buster and General Kemper are both dead. Not sure about some of the others like the actor that played General Hood he has to be up there in age.

[@MichaelCasanovaMusic]

Highly doubt it. This neo confederate happy clap fest absolutely tanked at the cinema and I think maxwell and Ted turner had a falling out because of it

[@nuancolar7304]

I really appreciated the effort to insert key details from history into this film. Where past films depicting the Civil War used creative license to manufacture details, this film used seldom-seen authentic details (like Jackson riding with his arm raised). As a history buff myself, I can understand the criticism of the scene where Jackson is described as a stone wall, and that the filmmakers took license with the chronology. That said, I'm willing to grit my teeth with the understanding that this was not a documentary, but rather a feature film, and the makers had to get certain material into the script to keep things relevant, familiar and interesting. But I don't like the idea of overdoing this to the point of getting things painfully wrong. As for the criticisms over the lack of depth in depicting slavery, or owning slaves...I think we all need to realize that one cannot fight the civil war again in movies about the civil war. It seems anytime someone attempts to give a speech, write a book or make a movie about this period there will always be criticism over how, or how much, something is depicted. I oppose any false depiction on this subject, but then I also do not routinely criticize World War II movies because they didn't have scenes depicting the Jewish Holocaust. It doesn't mean filmmakers are insensitive to genocide or slavery in making these films, but rather the stories must be told as they are scripted and there's only so much to fit into a few hours.

[@USGrant-rr2by]

I think you're missing the point of the objections to this movie. It more or less justifies the South for going to war, but never really answers the question as to why! Slavery! But the movie as with all Lost Causers glosses over this Extremely important detail and actually makes it seem that the North was evil and wrong for "starting it"? No one is trying to "refight" the CW. But let's at least get the REAL facts, as you say.....right. And just a little info...the technical advisor on this film was "noted" CW historian James Robertson. A Virginia native, VA.Tech professor, and wrote a book on Stonewall Jackson! Unbiased?????? and look up his Confed. Monument Rant that many of his fellow CW historians did NOT agree with! BECAUSE ...He WAS INSENSITIVE to the African American point of view! Just sayin....

[@drewdurbin4968]

He didnt just write a book he was the authority on Jackson. He was an Emory grad he taught at Virginia tech. And what exactly about his lecture on monuments is not true?

[@USGrant-rr2by]

@@drewdurbin4968 I gave you the reason in my comment. I made no mention of any true or falsehoods mentioned in the actual rant.

[@nuancolar7304]

@@USGrant-rr2by But that was my very point. Why must this film answer that question? Every feature film cannot be a documentary. Every Civil War movie need not address slavery, and every WWII movie need not address the Holocaust. It's not right or wrong...it just is.

[@USGrant-rr2by]

@@nuancolar7304 Two reasons. #1: In your very first sentence you say you really appreciate key details being included into the film. Well, slavery is an extremely key detail. The CW would never have happened without it. And if your not going to do that (address their side of things), then don't include slaves in the film at all. But then, you couldn't even make the movie. Do you understand what WE, myself and the Wilder Historian and other critics mean? And #2: WWII was not fought because Adolf Hitler was mass murdering Jews. The world didn't even realize that till the end! But like I said...the CW WAS fought because of slavery. Oh, and don't ever let these Lost Causers tell you different.

[@MinerDaveEverist]

My Grandfather Grandfather was in Sherman Army and So was brother David Everist my Grandfather of My Grandfather Grandfather James Everist My Namesake Private David Everist answer the Roll call at battle of Trenton and Princeton My Grandfather Grandfather was at Burning of Atlanta and March to Sea

[@johnnychaos152]

I was an extra in both Gettysburg and God's & Generals. I'm not a very big fan of how G&G turned out.

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

I was reenacting during the filming of Gods and Generals, but did not take part in it. Wish I would have.

[@johnbyington3458]

Seems to me that there were four Chamberland brothers...correct?

[@dancingwiththedarkness3352]

There is the history of what happened, based on records from various sources. Then, the history of why it happened, based on speculation about events and personal motivation coming together to produce a specific result. This has a range of variables. Different experiences of people living in the same conditions, means they see a different version of the same thing. So even their written words can be misleading. Everyone agrees about the battlefields and battles, but who knows what General Lee was actually thinking during each hour of Gettysburg? I have noticed that people expect history to conform to their personal beliefs and expectations, which is unrealistic. I don't want to see a politically corrected version of the past, that has little to do with what actually happened. That's not history, it's at best, a fantasy.

[@marireynolds3996]

Robert e lee and stonewall Jackson what a pair to fight with

[@USGrant-rr2by]

Yes, just ask their wives...and their SLAVES!

[@gabewynne3025]

david u.s. grant lee didn’t own slaves his wife did and he freed them

[@USGrant-rr2by]

@@gabewynne3025 I would appreciate it IF you can provide the source in which you procured this information?

[@USGrant-rr2by]

@@gabewynne3025 That's what I thought! Because you know you are giving FALSE Lost Cause History..NOT REAL HISTORY! Loser!

[@chrisneudorf7303]

I'm surprised you didn't watch the Director's Cut. It contains Jackson at Antietam.

[@jeffreybeigie5244]

I was an extra in both this movie and Gettysburg. You could tell that Gettysburg had Ted Turner's money and this one did not. All those scenes that ended up on the cutting room floor - such a waste. I always felt that they should either have edited even more and made it the Stonewall Jackson Story, or turned it into a mini-series with all the extra footage. That said, I have never been able to bring myself to watch it again since I watched with all the guys in my reenacting unit where we watched the movie in uniform. It was just that bad. Although in fairness, these movies reflect the books they are based on - G&G was just no where near as good as Killer Angles. It was Jeff Shaara's first book and it showed. Like the book the movie tried to cover too much. It was kind of like watching the Longest Day only for the civil war, and without the all star cast, and without the all star screen writers.

[@dan4lau]

Yep... I'm afraid I found the Gods and Generals book rather boring. A shame because the story has tremendous potential. The film by contrast is enjoyable... if you watch it before you learn about all the historical inaccuracies. Both films suffer from the fact that they really feel like TV miniseries, which is what they both should have been. By making them theatrical releases you got the worst of both worlds. The rather thin production values of a TV miniseries and the time constraints of a film. And it really was a waste of all the re-enactors enthusiasm I think that in both films we don't see nearly enough fighting. Having said all of that I do still enjoy them both.

[@USGrant-rr2by]

"The Longest Day" is one of my favorite WWII movies of all time. I actually think it was able to show the immense breadth along with critical smaller parts of the day(June 6,1944) and then meld them into the overall picture as to why the Allies ended up being successful.... however with a high cost! I especially loved the scene with the "clickers" when the US paratrooper gets killed after he hears the tell-tale double click(which was suppose to signal friendlies) but due to a German soldier chambering another round in his Mauser(sounded exactly the same). "two clicks...it was two clicks...."

[@randallmarsh406]

I found the book excellent, but I would agree it should’ve been a mini series. Also, in the book, I felt that it wasn’t all about stonewall Jackson. You got a lot of good stories before the war from the book like general Hancock and armisteads relationship.

[@hoosieryank6731]

Yeah, given the movie, you'd think the Rebs didn't march into Washington because they chose not to. I walked out of the theater in disappointment.

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

@@randallmarsh406 Agree. I think they tried to cover too much, so it became a mile wide but an inch deep. The acting...I could Tell they were Acting. The scene where the two soldiers meet and trade Coffee for Tobacco...GREAT! Always stuck with me. I really Really wanted to like Gods & Generals....No.

[@williamfryman4360]

Jeff Daniels is a great guy. He played Chamberlain well. None of us were there to know how accurate some of his actions are in the movie, but thanks to Gettysburg and G&G I’ve been more and more interested in Chamberlain.

[@daviswhite3591]

You might talk to the descendants of The Confederacy. History is skewed and written by the Victors. -Cpl White, Davis E. USMC 2002-2006 Combat Veteran Son of The Confederacy

[@davidtuttle7556]

@@daviswhite3591 History is written by the survivors. Our understanding in the West of the War in the Eastern Front of WW2 was shaped by guys like Manstein and Guderian with little to not put from Soviet commanders like Zhukov, Timoshenko or Rokossovsky.

[@davidtuttle7556]

@Abdul Dinero and yet, most of the Western perspective of the War on the Eastern Front for the last 75 years was largely written by former NAZI generals and their tale tales of Russian “hordes”. Mainly because no one had access to Soviet records or archives during the Cold War. We all believe Longstreet’s account of his meetings with Lee mainly because Lee spoke very little after the war and died within a couple of years and so was not around to answer Longstreet’s allegations about Gettysburg. We also choose to believe that southern soldiers “didn’t fight for slavery” because the soldiers that made it home said so even though the very articles of secession ratified by each of the southern states listed it as reason numero uno for opting for independence. Even now the Lost Cause is in the ascendency once again. Only this time around, most States Rights and religious conservatives are now Republican rather than Democrat. And in the South there is a perception the Union were the aggressors even though historical fact says otherwise.

[@fearlessfosdick160]

I have a good friend who refers to this film as "The Passion of the Stonewall."

[@DeidadesForever]

No

[@thesouthernhistorian4153]

Wish we had a civil war film about the western theater I really do

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

Me too. It is so underappreciated. I study the Western Theater myself.

[@tymcdaniel5453]

Josey Wales kinda counts, more skirmishes than battles though.

[@RW4X4X3006]

Along the lines of Sherman's Sunday stroll, eh.

[@mjfleming319]

Bryce garbs Ride With the Devil, starring Tobey McGuire and Jewel. Watch it. You won’t be disappointed.

[@thesouthernhistorian4153]

@@mjfleming319 ok then thank you very much.

[@Y2KNW]

I'd have loved to watch a show with the two complaining Confederates. Like an 1860's version of the Odd Couple.

[@UltraViresAdInfinitum]

I liked how they used the same actors from Gettysburg even if they didn't get the age right

[@mikemcmillen9581]

they made them in different order. Used some actors in different roles. It was ridiculous

[@kirkmorrison6131]

They changed Lee from Sheen to Duvall

[@shiningstaer]

Ya it’s helps with continuity, so glad they did change the worst casting of the whole of Gettysburg, lee. Thank god

[@jakubfabisiak9810]

I only wish they were able to use the same actor for Lewis Armistead... :(

[@kirkmorrison6131]

@@jakubfabisiak9810 it would have been difficult as Richard Jordan died shortly after Gettysburg was filmed

[@josephcrook9921]

Gods and Generals had so much potential, with quite a few bright spots, but ultimately doesn't work the way Gettysburg did (good lord that family in Fredricksburg was annoying). Stephen Lang nailed his portrayals in both movies, in my humble opinion. It'd be great if an accurate, well done mini series could be made portraying the men and commanders of the Civil War. Of course, in this day and age, an accurate portrayal would never get made.

[@Beuwen_The_Dragon]

As it is said, ‘history is written by the victors.”… or these days, by the loudest Molotov thrower..

[@stacyvonn8036]

The Shenandoah valley campaign was left out and that brings tears to my eyes....

[@vintagebrew1057]

Indeed....

[@imgvillasrc1608]

Cause the book wasn't about Jackson and this is where Maxwell failed utterly. He wanted a God's and Generals movie but with Jackson as the main character.

[@bobbyricigliano2799]

I appreciate and concur with your analysis of this film. For the most part , it is very good and an enjoyable watch for the student of CW history. The scene with Jackson and Jim Lewis is admittedly dreadful, and should have been portrayed accurately or not at all. I think Robert Duvall's Lee was far too elderly at the beginning when he declines the Union command. Lee was far more vigorous and youthful in 1861 than we see in the film. Duvall's character seemed closer to Lee's condition at the end of the war, where age and health issues began catching up with him.

[@SStupendous]

Huh? That Lost-Cause film is an eyesore for anyone who doesn't want to hear confederate propaganda. Very different film to the better Gettysburg.

[@KibuFox]

The war greatly aged Lee. I agree though. I think it would have been better to portray Lee more youthful at the start, and show the progression of how he aged over the course of it. Interestingly, I would love to see something that portrayed just how the war affected the various generals, both Union and Confederate.

[@SStupendous]

@@KibuFox Given he died only in 1870, and went virtually completely gray from 1860-62, I'd agree with that.

[@gavinculpepper9685]

@𝖂hipped 𝕯ream and the third movie would have been way more about the north, if it would ever be made. Doubtful now, to many sensitive people

[@SStupendous]

@@gavinculpepper9685 It was going to be based on the Last Full Measure, and have the same title. It was meant to be about post-Gettysburg onwards.

[@skepticalsmurf]

I agree with you on some of the actor choices in both films,most of the generals on both sides were young men pressed into service,there were examples of citizen/West Point trained generals being under 20yo... loved the Longstreet & Chamberlain portrayals in Gettysburg but hated their choice of Sheen for the part of Lee,Duvall should have been in both films...

[@marchess286]

I think Sheen did an excellent job of portraying the stress Lee was certainly experiencing under the "man of marble" surface.

[@Nimgimmer1492]

I've read that they wanted Duvall for the first film, but he wasn't available. So, they hired Sheen.

[@tommymitchell2306]

Sheen did an amazing job! I like his portrayal of Lee! He did the best job!!

[@manatarms7652]

Gods and Generals is sooooo boring (and confederate propaganda).

[@garneroutlaw1]

You do know that the movie is based on a book that is widely accepted to be fiction right?

[@jordanazevedo5688]

@@garneroutlaw1 fiction about what the battles? Sure but removing the slave stuff and making it seem like the confederates were heroes and shit nope that's propaganda. Hell in the movie when the confederates attack the union camp its all victory music, but then when its the union winning its the dreadfully music yea thats part of the propaganda.

[@erraticonteuse]

As someone who worked with Grant's papers, which of his battles/campaigns do you think would make a good movie, or just one that you would most like to see dramatized?

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

I have to say that the best campaign to be dramatized would have to be the Vicksburg Campaign. I think it has seen the least attention. But a short film on the Battle of Missionary Ridge would be epic.

[@josephdriesenga2730]

@@HistoryGoneWilder Yes, I agree. A movie on the Siege of Chattanooga would be fascinating. And I would love to see good portrayals of Grant, Sherman, Thomas, Bragg, and Cleburne in a film, and it would be a great opportunity for those depictions.

[@haroldchase1881]

My ancestor got through every battle unscathed till Grant took over then he got hit in the overland campaign.

[@johnfoster535]

@@HistoryGoneWilder ...yes, and showing the young Arthur MacArthur charging up the slope would be great, and then, the debacle for Grant at Cold Harbor would balance it out.......showing it was not all glory and success for Grant.

[@legalvampire8136]

Battle of Chattanooga has dramatic potential, beginning with the Union troops under siege, also including Union capture of Lookout Mountain, clouds hide what is happening from the rest of the armies, then clear to show a Union flag at the top of the Mountain has replaced the Confederate one, indicating Union victory; and the spontaneous successful charge of the Army of the Cumberland without orders up the almost impossible Cemetery Ridge, one Union soldier mortally wounded in the attack dying still saying excitedly 'almost at the top! almost at the top!' And to see Grant and Sherman working together and to consider the position of General Thomas, a Virginian who became one of the Union's best generals. And the question of whether after losing this battle many Confederates realised they had lost the war.

[@crashoverride4881]

The take away From gods and Generals, and Gettysburg, is the fact that they gloss over the history of the Civil War. Whereas they depict Certain events. If you look at it I honestly think Jackson was a better military tactician. Whereas the battle of Fredericksburg shows it a terrible waste of human life. Where as general Hancock lost more than 10000 troops at Marie's heights. The same that General Pickett suffered at seminary ridge in Gettysburg. Where as in general Lee's comment That war is so terrible that we would grow so fond of it. War is A terrible Waste of humanity.

[@charlietheanteater3918]

“Just as we, would not send any of our soldiers to march in other states” *Sharpsburg, Gettysburg, and Perryville would like to know your location*

[@KingofDiamonds85]

Yeah, Jackson's comment here was in reference to Lincoln calling up troops from Virginia to invade, at the time, the 7 states that already seceded. Lincoln's foolish call to arms led to Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas to secede as well. Those invasions in the North were attempts to shorten the war. Lee even issued orders that the civilian population wasn't to be harassed(not all soldiers obeyed but it was ordered).

[@charlietheanteater3918]

KingofDiamonds85 I know the context of the quote, I just find it funny that they ended up doing it. (To be fair gettysburg occurred after Jackson’s death)

[@USGrant-rr2by]

@Gary Daniel Yes, a war started by the South. Lincoln was well within his rights as the US president to call upon troops to put down an armed insurrection. And that's what it was!

[@kennethkellogg6556]

@@KingofDiamonds85 Define "civilian". The Army of Northern Virginia captured blacks, and sent them south to slavery.

[@USGrant-rr2by]

@@kennethkellogg6556 He won't answer that because he's just another "Lost Causer" racist A-hole!

[@groffus11]

These movies are great. I particularly liked the part that showed the Irish on both sides fighting each other. I am Irish myself and I know that our natives fought on all sides in every war ever fought (so it seems) but very rarely is it ever shown on film.

[@pexxos1]

You're only Irish if you're born and bred on the Isle...if not, you're just someone who happens to have Irish ancestry.

[@signoguns8501]

I think thats true of most western nationalities tho. People think of war like boxing matches, one country vs another, with no outside interference, but that's not really accurate. In almost every war, there are usually thousands of volunteers involved, there are alliances and coalitions, lend leases, auxiliaries, mercenaries, etc etc etc. Even in civil wars.

[@groffus11]

@@pexxos1 I was born and bred on the island.

[@timothyhouse1622]

Yeah, GREAT scene. I just love the Southern Irish saying, "dOnT tHeYs kNoWs We IZ jUsT FiGhtInG fOr iNdEpEnDencE."

[@jaywinters2483]

Your objectivity is refreshingly 👍.

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

Thank you so much. I simply provide the facts of the situation and try to add clarity to the movie scenes. Some were very well done. Many times, movies jump right into battles and thats all you know about the men fighting is their military career, but these men were school teachers, farmers, and factory workers.

[@Oscuros]

@@HistoryGoneWilder Hi, I'm personally qualified in history and was moved to comment the same thing. Objectivity in historiography is important, I remember arguing that in an essay early on and getting a rare A back then for it, not because the professor agreed with me, but because of the reasoning behind it, which I won't bore anyone with. The problem with English and then American historicism is romanticism, which can often militate against objectivity like in the continental European traditions, especially Germany, where the bastion was invented and developed, and where it is treated as a science, and not the bachelor of arts it is in English. Even though it is important for inherently subjective beings to at least strive to be objective, specifically romanticism in the form of nationalism in historiography gives a tendency to at least omit uncomfortable facts, but even lying by omission is a slippery slope. Given that history is predicated on facts, especially when judging narratives and historians against one another, using that simple criterion (just sticking to the objective facts as found on the record) gives a natural integrity to the narrative and causation that makes it unimpeachable in front of peers, they cannot really disprove it, therefore it stands. This particular topic has been particularly problematic for me regarding the methodology (in other YT content), so it was nice to see solid methodological process in asserting the facts for a film which I also personally enjoy and have in my collection. They are particularly useful talks, despite us having probably completely different geographical and political inclinations and backgrounds, because I have to accept the integrity of the facts and sourcing to give me a true picture of what was and was not accurate, something I am far more able to do in the 20th Century, where similar decisions are often made (Giving German officers Knights Crosses from WWII in WWI instead of a Blue Max is a particular favourite of mine).

[@drewdurbin4968]

The scene in which Lee takes command of Virginia Forces is misleading the dialogue from Lee is almost verbatim from what was actually said, but he was not in military uniform he had already resigned from the US army he was wearing a black suit. Also if you watch the extended version Antietam is included but it is poorly done.

[@glenmartin2437]

There are enough inaccuracies in history. We really do not need more. Thanks for pointing the errors.

[@sgregg5257]

God's and Generals is a bad film that is not a faithful adaptation of the book. Reading the book, and the watching the film, one cannot help but be let down. The book is better. Also this film relies on tropes that are cringe inducing . The Last Full Measure is another spectacular book and I would fear how movie makers would butcher that too.

[@darthroden]

Not a perfect movie but it did have its moments. The depiction of the Battle of Fredericksburg was well done.

[@garywebster3585]

We know its not 100% accurate. Its a movie. Its not at all a bad effort. Try the civil war podcast. Its excellent. My view. Many of these generals should have learnt staff work in the Mexican war instead of dashing to the front at every opportunity. So many lives were thrown away. Jackson was a shambles at the start of the valley campaign and a waste of space during the seven days.

[@aaronfleming9426]

Appreciate the comment. I just recently began reading about the Romney campaign, which contributed to Jackson being in a shambles as you note.

[@mariocassina90]

This movie will be remembered in history as the one with the bigger use of prop beards

[@Nimgimmer1492]

"Gettysburg" was worse. One of the re-enactors in that one said the standing joke for the actual name of the film was "Gettysbeard."

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

I really REALLY wanted to like this film. But I Just couldn't the negatives so outweigh the positives. Very often you can tell they are acting.

[@thefreeman8791]

Thank you for doing a well balanced video on the film. I had not watched it since I was in college ten years ago or so and recently went back and watched it again. I find that in several cases they do capture the spirit of the circumstance but they obviosuly do not keep to the literal history telling of it. Also, it is worthy to note that Lee did not start out the war with a beard but grew it after the war had started. And thank you for pointing out that Lee was not appointed commander of the Confederate army in that scene. That is one of the things that annoys me when people say that Lee left the union army to lead the Confederate army becasue he was not even in the Confederate army until well after first Bull Run. He was relocated there but his initial command was of the state militia of VA not of the Confederate army.

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

Thank you so much for appreciating my hard work.

[@thefreeman8791]

@@HistoryGoneWilder Thank you for putting the time into it and promoting a healthy discussion of history. I know how labor intensive it can be to make these videos.

[@seantig479]

Your commentary was excellent and as enjoyable as the movie itself. An uncut version of this movie would be priceless.

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

Thank you so much for your kind words. Please consider subscribing to the channel if you have not done so already and check out my other videos, I think you will enjoy them.

[@BELCAN57]

Compared to "Gettysburg", this movie falls short, it seems to cry out for a two part story since it swiftly glides over so much early war history.

[@ferda9476]

Yeah, would have been way better as a miniseries. There's just too much going on.

[@galoon]

Yep--you could make a whole movie dealing with just the Peninsula Campaign--which wasn't even mentioned in Gods and Generals.

[@imgvillasrc1608]

​@@galoon Or a whole movie on the Shenandoah Campaign. You know, the campaign that brought Stonewall Jackson to fame and infamy.

[@andystuckey2561]

My g grandfather and his brother were both in the 14th S. C Vol

[@spade2187]

traitors

[@andystuckey2561]

@@spade2187 you obviously need a lesson in history and not I feel good because my fore fathers were trash in New England or New York. They were South Carolinians that don’t own slaves but joined because Lincoln invaded sovereign South Carolina. Take. History class from an non moronic fool and see.

[@muaddib989]

@@andystuckey2561 Your forefathers fought to defend the institution of slavery as a byproduct of fighting for “state rights”. It doesn’t matter what the overall objectives were, the byproduct was what it was. Slavery and the denigration of black human beings. Anyway Nazis didn’t fight in WW2 to do genocide against Jews, Slavs, communists and handicapped people. But that’s who they killed during the war. Shouldn’t Germans say “what my grandfather didn’t work at the camp, he was in the front line fighting against Americans, Brits and Russians. What about my Nazi heritage?” Just so you don’t think I’m so biased shill. My ancestors were members of the Ottomans. For like 600 years they served in that empire until the 1920s. In that time, the ottomans committed a genocide, I’m not walking around with an Ottoman flag in an Armenian community stating “my heritage isn’t about hate”. It would sound absolutely dumb. You can be proud of being whatever you are without bringing up the lowest form of vermin as a source of pride. Most Turks, Germans and Japanese people rarely discuss how awesome they fought on the wrong side of history

[@andystuckey2561]

Get a grip.

[@ryancolvert6918]

@@muaddib989 Try as you might so fanatically, fighting to defend your home and family is not fighting for an institution. The South was not fighting for slavery any more than the North was fighting to get rid of it. The amount of facts that refute your claim could circle the moon and back, but the fact that the South refused any and all compromise to rejoin even with the promise they could keep their slaves disproves your claim utterly. The was was conquest, pure and simple. Because the North refused to let the South use her unalienable right to leave a relationship with an abusive part of the country. To deny that is the same as claiming that a man can beat his wife half to death, kill her sons when they run to her defense, and then rape her afterwards. There is simply no getting around this, and the whole modern Slavery angle is a blatant rewrite. Both sides agreed about what it was about, and Slavery was not it. To support the Union is like supporting the Nazi occupiers.

[@yeller212wmj7]

There's alot to be said for Gods and Generals (both good and bad), but one of the things I really admired about the movie was pretty much almost all the actors from Chamberlain to those militia guys at 3:44 took on the exact same role in Gettysburg as they did in this movie

[@trajan231]

Same actor, different character. Same for Stephen Lang.

[@willoutlaw4971]

Lee was inept. Stonewall did not understand nighttime recon and passwords. Got shot and killed by his own men. Thank you 18th N. Carolina Regiment.

[@odysseusrex5908]

Lee was inept? That statement might want some backing up.

[@KingofDiamonds85]

The first 3 words you said alone are reason enough to not take you seriously.

[@Pb-ij4ip]

On some level I don’t mind a film being not entirely accurate, not that I like that sort of thing, but I definitely appreciate ones that make me curious.

[@aaronfleming9426]

I think that's really important actually. A historical movie doesn't have to be perfect to get people interested in learning more.

[@ooonyxxx]

It's literal Confederate propaganda

[@Nimgimmer1492]

@@ooonyxxx Nonsense.

[@moderndaywyattearp5792]

This movie infuriated me for two reasons. 1. It portrays the slaves in a light of paid servitude. As you said it is glossed over despite being front and center. In Gettysburg it is only shown in the instance of a run away slave who is briefly talked to by Chamberlain. In this film there were more opportunities to show the true evil of slavery, but it didn’t. The reason it is called confederate propaganda. 2. As you said they skip an entire year of the war. I went into this movie expecting to see Antietam. I feel if they would have, and they could have cut 30 minutes of useless dialogue it could have been shown. Seriously, do we need a two and a half minute Bonny Blue Flag performance? No.

[@rpink58]

The battle of Antietam was shot , it was cut from the original move , its in the directors cut.

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

I couldn't have said it better myself Modern Day Wyatt Earp. I watched the Antietam battle scenes, but the movie jumped so much, it had not lead up and fell flat.

[@raynagel7462]

I know many of the extras in this film so I watched it, that being said this was the absolute worst movie of any kind I have ever watched in my life and I am 74 years old.

[@odysseusrex5908]

You've lived a charmed life.

[@spartanx9293]

@Gary Daniel boring as hell Ron Maxwell doesn't know how to make anything interesting

[@jacehbrickfilms5233]

I liked it

[@ricardoaguirre6126]

I loved Gettysburg but haven't bothered to watch this one. I do want to check out the book.

[@jeffsmith2022]

That's a rather harsh criticism by you Ray...

[@Bushy-gq9sz]

I didn't know that used to same actors for Chamberlain and Tom. that's a nice touch.

[@bentankersley2988]

I’m convinced, that I must be the only man alive to appreciate, hold dead and cherish this movie. I also regard it as highly accurate with many character depictions, even if some are askew.

[@spazemfathemcazemmeleggymi272]

Same, I guess most people would rather a 5 second tiktok rather than listen to southern people talk but I loved every moment of this movie.

[@nazikiller0164]

Thanks for pointing out the whitewash of slavery and the inappropriate casting of the actor portraying General Hood. I would add that an account of Jackson's behavior during the Peninsular Campaign would paint a more balanced picture of this complicated man.

[@Nimgimmer1492]

"Inappropriate casting?" How so?

[@nazikiller0164]

@@Nimgimmer1492 Hood was a very young general- I believe he was 30 or 31. The actor portraying him is around 50 years old and looks it.

[@szalard]

Hi, when I watched this movie, Jackson's command: "Give them the bayonet" strucked me. I am Hungarian and a great fan of the 1848-49 Hungarian - Austrian Civil War, called the Hungarian Freedom War (starting as a civil war, when the Austrian army attacked Hungary, which did not declared its secession from the Habsburgs, but won an autonomy, called the Hungarian revolution of 15 March 1848, accepted initially by the emperor-king, but after 6 months changed his mind, and sent his troops to attack Hungary, the Hungarians declaring their independence only in 14 April 1849 after 8 months after the starting of the confruntations, then all ending with the Russian intervention in behalf of the Austrians). Because of having shortage ammunition, the Hungarians developed this way of fighting in which at the start of the battles they tried to immediately enter in bayonet fight with the enemy, and tried to win the battle with their bayonets. Hearing Jackson's order, it made me think that he maybe read some works about the Hungarian war, because then many books circulated in English, German, French about the Hungarian Freedom War. Too bad that today there is almost no actual work in English about it.

[@TheIlustrado]

Just saw this channel and I immediately subbed! Great content BTW! A minor recommendation, if you will: you need a new microphone and probably a good audio editor as well! Apart from that, great video! Can't wait for part 2!!!

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

I'd like to see some films/miniseries about the Western Theater.

[@Bernie8330]

The Blue and the Gray covers Vicksburg.

[@stevenwiederholt7000]

@@Bernie8330 Got that one. Thanks.

[@Eke1335]

You need to React atun shei viideo about this

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

Are you saying react to a reaction video?

[@Eke1335]

I mean about The movie that you rewiewed

[@anumeon]

Regardless of what one feels about these two films. One thing is indisputable.. Jeff Daniels is incredible as Chamberlain.. So amazing at delivering his lines.

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

Jeff Daniels has to be one of the greatest actor ever. Both Chamberlain performances were wonderful.

[@anumeon]

@@HistoryGoneWilder Right... I mean when he recites Shakespeare as they are about to cross the river.. Amazing stuff... You really feel his energy..

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

@@anumeon yes you do. It is bone chilling.

[@USGrant-rr2by]

@@HistoryGoneWilder Hey, what the hell is going on?? I have had at least 2 replies taken off and I HAVE NOT SAID ANYTHING that is racist or presented black people in a bad light or anything like that. In fact it is exactly the opposite!! So why can some people literally JUSTIFY SLAVERY and RACISM and there comments are just fine?? What the HELL is going on?? What did I say in my last response to Mr. Kractovli that warranted being taken down??

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

@@USGrant-rr2by I have not removed any responses. The only people I remove are neo nazis. It was not me.

[@Anon1913]

You have no idea... I was in that film

[@thesouthernhistorian4153]

As a fellow beginning civil war channel excellent video sir

[@dmac5595]

Well you just got 1 more subscriber... about to watch your videos.

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Please keep chugging away. It takes awhile, but when you get noticed, it will take off.

[@michaelgross7016]

I took 5 weeks off to help as a reenactor. I played union and confederate.....whatever the scene needed. I was disappointed with movie. We did do a nice job in the battle scenes

[@SouthernGentleman]

The battles were pretty neat and has the same actors from Gettysburg

[@HyperK7]

Unfortunately, Martin Sheen was unable to portray Robert E Lee. Otherwise, I believe you are correct regarding the actors.

[@sqike001ton]

Except they used the same guy to play stonewall who played Pickett in Gettysburg that always threw me off

[@sqike001ton]

@@HyperK7 I like robert Duvall as Lee more than martain sheen

[@EclecticHillbilly]

@@sqike001ton Duvall's Dad was from Virginia, so he'd probably have a better feel for it than Sheen (even though Sheen is a great actor, too)

[@haroldchase1881]

They should have focus on one battle and one battle only .

[@HistoryGoneWilder]

Yes totally agreee.

[@MayoFilms83]

Yeah but you have 2 years of fighting so why not show more than one battle? First Manassas wasn't even in the book of God's and Generals. It was added in by Maxwel him self.

[@Issacandjacob]

I always did find the film off putting and totally shoved aside slavery when Confederate scenes. If gettysburg had this films effects and sound, it wouldve been even better.

[@emperorclaudius5499]

This movie is pro confederate propaganda

[@MayoFilms83]

Its because in Gettysburg was more pro Union this was told more from Jackson's side because he wasn't alive during the Gettysburg battle. It's not propaganda this is fictional based off the novel of the book. Not by real accounts.

[@Ralphieboy]

It does stress the Confederate side much more than Gettysburg.

[@Mr508films]

I can't stand this film for many reasons. I agree that Hood should have been played by a younger actor like Barry Pepper. The script is full of too many speeches and there is no natural flow. I also agree that it should have had more major engagements like the Valley campaign, maybe Kernstown, where Jackson suffered a defeat and his anger toward Garnett originated. I thought the acting was not as good as Gettysburg and I also didn't like the sugarcoating of slavery. They did shoot an Antietam sequence but left it out of the Theatrical version. there are many details that really annoyed me. the fight on Henry House Hill didn't have the house. Brawner farm at 2nd Bull Run would have introduced us to the black hats that we saw in Gettysburg. And the 20th Maine actually were not put into action at Fredericksburg. And the CSA Irish did not weep while firing on the union Irish Brigade, they were angry at them, not sorry for them. They also should have cast some younger actors in certain roles. like Major Taylor and Hancock. It was very clear that they were 10 years older. I am not sure if I liked Duvall as Lee. I really liked Sheen in Gettysburg. He brought real emotion to the role.

[@JohnnyButtons]

Really do love the content bud, all of it. I would enjoy sippin coffee and tokin a cigar and chatting with you about pre-1880s American history 😉

[@SouthernGentleman]

You were wrong about slaves not being taught to read around Jackson. Jackson believed slavery was something God will end and he broke the rule and taught slaves to read in order to read the Bible. That scenario in fact could happen. Jackson taught Sunday school to slaves. In 1906, long after Jackson’s death, Reverend L. L. Downing, whose parents had been among the slaves in Jackson’s Sunday school, raised money to have a memorial window dedicated to him in the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church of Roanoke, Virginia-likely making “Stonewall” the only Confederate general to have a memorial in an African American church.

[@USGrant-rr2by]

Jackson's own sister disowned him and NEVER talked to him again after Jackson sided with the CSA during the CW! (FACT) And another FACT: Jackson's own decendants have openly SUPPORTED not only taking down statues of him but other CSA statues because they are "Symbols of Overt Racism"! Suck on that "Southern Chump."

[@SouthernGentleman]

@@USGrant-rr2by Yeah because they don’t want to be persecuted.

[@SouthernGentleman]

@@USGrant-rr2by Actually Laura Jackson respected both sides and helped both sides. Laura was known for housing and tending to wounded soldiers from both the Confederate and Union armies fighting in the area. Absorb that truth

[@SouthernGentleman]

@@USGrant-rr2by She never talked to him because she lived in West Virginia and he was fighting a war and died in 1863. Stop being a Marxist Revisionist

[@LesHaskell]

My great-great-grandfather enlisted in the 3rd Unattached Company, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia for 90 days in 1864. He was assigned to garrison duty in Forts Lee and Pickering in Salem Harbor. Then there are my collateral relatives (9th cousins, 4x removed) from South Carolina. Seven brothers all joined up with the Confederate army. Six of them in the Army of Northern Virginia, and one at Fort Wagner. Two didn't survive the war. Some were with Maxcy Gregg, some were aides to generals, one was a cavalry commander, one was an artillery commander. They married into the Alexander and Hampton families, and some were involved in post-war, anti-reconstruction politics, and one broke with the Democratic Party to run against Ben Tillman for governor in 1890.

[@jimmythedudeman]

Interesting that Patrick Gorman’s that Hood bugs you so much more than Jeff Daniels’ Chamberlain, when both actors were ~20 years older than the generals they portrayed, and in my opinion Daniels looks noticeably older in this prequel than Gorman does. Not saying you’re wrong, of course, but the decision not to recast Chamberlain always bothered me more than Hood

[@blakelester1776]

This movie is the oddity of my life... I honestly borderline despise it, yet I can watch it anytime.... The cinematography is beautiful, by far it’s best feature. As for how it functions as a movie it is one of the worst I have ever seen. Being a life long student of the civil war makes this even worse and thank you for pointing out all that is missed, but one way they could have massively saved time is not showing all the needless banter scenes especially those from the confederate point of view that add nothing to the plot. They don’t even really develop the characters. Mostly it’s a lot of hot air, and while the “lost cause” argument can certainly be made it just lacks anything.... Also the battle scenes while well shot, are bloodless pillow fights. The most horrific scene is a Union private in the 20th Maine that has his arm removed asking permission to leave the battlefield at Fredericksburg... Now Gettysburg is very similar to this but how it’s cut plus the amazing score cover this better.... All though I understand Stephen Lang playing Jackson it’s kind of cheap because of his wonderful performance as George Pickett in Gettysburg... Yet as I say all this I can watch this movie start to finish anytime... It’s almost like there is a better movie within this than what is presented, and I’m still trying to find that... (That is insanity by definition).... A miniseries would have been much better and with media as it is more likely if this was suggested in today’s media market.

[@117rebel]

Blake Lester I’ve heard most people describe it as dry and boring. I’m a history nerd so it’s not boring for me. I can see it being dry and boring to the common lay person. Another movie I really like that I also hear called dry and boring is Master and Commander.

[@demun42]

History can be dry and boring but at the same time help us to learn where we came from and how we got to the point we are now. When you dig deep into those men who led troops on both sides to see their thoughts and get an idea as to where they stood is absolutely incredible. So much on all of them very rarely gets talked about. It would cause people today to stop and rethink what they have been taught over the years.

[@darylwilliams7883]

Fully agree. There is something pompous and professorial about the dialog in this movie that wastes the talents of otherwise fine actors. Never the less I bought the DVD and have watched it several times, usually after re-reading Foote's trilogy. Duvall was great as Lee, better than Sheen, but it was just too jarring seeing Lang as Jackson after his great turn as Pickett. And the time span between the two movies was too great. All of the actors looked significantly older than they were in Gettysburg despite the fact that the events portrayed happened within months of one another.

[@knight0fren551]

@@117rebel Master And Commander is Such a Masterful film just epic!