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A Slice of Life
by Francine Brokaw
Gods and Generals
This Civil War epic centers mainly on the life and career of Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson (played by Stephen Lang) and chronicles his actions from the days before the war began to his death. As General Robert E. Lee's (Robert Duvall) most trusted right-hand-man, Jackson fought without fear for the land he loved. A religious man, Jackson prayed often, but his devout commitment to his home of Virginia was the catalyst that made him an enduring character in the battles.
Jeff Daniels stars as Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, a professor from Maine who left his life up North to fight for the preservation of the union. Although his story is also part of the film, the majority of the movie is the account of Jackson, as he masterminded and bravely faced one battle after another.
More than 620,000 lives were lost during the war, making it the darkest time in the country's history. The re-enactments of the battles show how far warfare has come in the past 150 years. Today many battles are fought without even seeing the enemy. Back then, soldiers fought face-to-face, eye-to-eye. It's a chilling reminder how barbaric it was, but the soldiers were fighting for their beliefs, and for freedom. "Freedom can only exist as part of law." War is not law.
Gods and Generals is the prequel to the 1993 movie Gettysburg and is the second film in the Civil War trilogy. This film delves into the personal lives and beliefs of the characters, but also has many scenes of battle. About 3 hours 45 minutes long (yes, it is long), this movie puts the audience in the middle of the battlefields and into the minds of the people who lived in this critical time. It is rated PG for sustained battle sequences. Civil War and history buffs will no doubt enjoy the film, however those who do not know anything about the war will definitely get a good education.
© 2003 Francine Brokaw
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