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Actors: Tom Berenger, Martin Sheen, Jeff Daniels, Sam Elliott, Stephen Lang, Richard Jordan, Kevin Conway, C. Thomas Howell, Cooper Huckabee, Patrick Gorman,
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Gettysburg |
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In the summer of 1863, General Lee (Sheen) makes his deep thrust into southern Pennsylvania and clashes with the Northern Army near the village of Gettysburg. This 1993 film, more than four hours in length and originally intended as a TV miniseries, concentrates most of its attention on two parts of what was a larger, three-day-long battle: the defense of Little Round Top under Col. Joshua Chamberlain (Daniels) and Pickett's Charge (with Lang in the role of Maj. Gen. George Pickett). Other notable elements include the disagreement between Lee and Longstreet (Berenger) over tactics, and the bravery of Confederate Brig. Gen. Lewis Armistead (Jordan). Writer-director Ronald Maxwell worked on this project for 15 years, and used 13,000 Civil War re-enactors to film the epic battle scenes. It may seem overlong and unimaginatively traditional, but it's stirring nonetheless.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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It's 1863 and the South is having trouble keeping the northern army out of Richmond, so they decide to bring the war to the North. On a strict policy not to commit the war crimes the North commited the southern army heads to Washington to present a letter to the president forcing the president to give them their freedom. But, the northern army turns and confronts them at the town of Gettysburg.
Lee sends Lt.Gen. Ewell and Lt.Gen. Hill to take the town and the high ground until Lt. Longstreet arrived. They fail and the north has the high ground. Longstreet suggests to Lee that they go around and take position elsewhere so they would be on the defensive like they intendid. Lee ignores.
The next day Lee sends all three corps on the offensive to the immediate south and north. They fail. On the third day he has Longstreet send his men straight down the middle. He strongly disagrees but there is nothing he can do.
He sends his men including Br.Gen Armistead who is fighting his best friend, northerner Lt.Gen. Hancock.
In the end Lee sees what mistake he has made, but it is to late, half of his army is destroyed.
--Gerad Blume, Resident Scholar
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The armies of the Union and Confederate powers in the U.S. have met in a small town called Gettysburg. While the Confederates push back the Union Army to a defensive position on hills and ridges, on the third day of the battle, the Confederates try a desperate charge that turns into a semi-massacre. This is the turning point of the Civil War toward the Union (U.S.A.).
--Eugene Kim, Resident Scholar
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The movie Gettysburg, based on the book by Michael Shaara,
takes a look at war through the eyes of the actual people involved. With impressive special effects and a very talented cast, especially Jeff Daniels in the role of Joshua Chamberlain, this movie takes you through the begining with North and South meeting in the small PA town
to the courageous and heartbreaking Pickett's Charge.
This would have scored a 10, but as a southerner I could not justify Martin Sheen (whom I greatly respect as an actor) playing the role of Robert E. Lee even though he did a fine performance, I just didn't buy it.
--Teresa McNamara, Resident Scholar
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Thid movie is based on the novel "The Killer Angels," In a bold move, Gen. Robert E. Lee leads his army into Pennsylvania, hoping to find and crush the Federal army. They find each other on the outskirts of Gettysburg. This was the "high water mark" of the Confederacy. The movie follows some of the most important events of the three days of the battle, Gen. Buford's holding action, Col. Chamberlain on Little Round Top, and "Pickett's Charge." We all know how it ends, but the tension is kept up so well, folks were trembling at intermission and exhausted when they left the theater. Fine performances, good examination of the motives of the soldiers, and extremely effective battle scenes make this a "must see" film. Forgive the fake beards.
--Zorikh Lequidre, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Gettysburg |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 42.5%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 37.5%
Time/Era of Movie:
- 19th century
War Thriller
Yes
Armed Forces:
- Army
Specific to
- US Civil War
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- senior military
Age:
- 40's-50's
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- short/standard wavy (man)
Body type
- muscular (man)
Events of movie makes character more...
- sad
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- white/grey
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- average build (man)
How much in movie?
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 60's-90's
Profession/status:
- infantry soldier
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 60%
Specific kind of enemies?
- tyrants
Hair color
- blonde
- white
Hair type
- (man) short/standard wavey
Body type
- average (man)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- hard edged
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
Small town?
Yes
Small town people:
- nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Misc setting
- building
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- gory visuals of deaths
How many deaths in film?
- thousands
How much use of techno gadgets?
- 2 (a little)
Kind of violence:
- land battles
- hand to hand
- guns
- knives
- swords
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--bullets
- perforation--swords/knives
- blunt clubbing (like seals)
Any profanity?
- None
Lot of special effects?
Yes
Kinds of F/X
- exploding bombs
If Soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Orchestra/classical
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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