Gods and Generals

Ted Turner Pictures presents an Antietam Filmworks production

Starring: Jeff Daniels Stephen Lang and Robert Duvall as Robert E. Lee

Directed by: Ron Maxwell

Plot: We follow Stone Wall Jackson through the civil war through victory and defeat. To the point of where he was killed by his own men. Oh yeah and guess what? It takes 4 hours to witness it.

Acting: Stephen Lang plays Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson and has a performance that should be stated as one of the best in a civil war movie. He sadly was the only actor here that did anything for this movie. Sure Rovert Duvall's name is in the credits but man he is in the movie for a total of ten minutes, and the movie is four hours long you would think they could stick him in a little more. Oh yeah Jeff Daniels is in this too but besides one really good monologue he basically stands around and does nothing. I had a serious problem taking Daniels seriously, one of my friends pointed out to me that every time he saw his face on screen he would have flashes of Dumb and Dumber and start laughing.

Writing/Directing: One word guys TRIMMING. My god I never thought anyone could make a movie that felt like you were reading a book but this did the job pretty well. Ok I have a biased I study the Civil War a lot and this movie is basically a text book on screen. Ron Maxwell somehow made this movie into looking like a student film. Having random characters come in and say something and then leave for an hour and then have them come back and die and suspect the audience gives a shit? I mean there are moments of symbolism here that stand out more then a neon sign would have. Not only that but the long and I mean long monologue moments that repeat over and over again made me start to think I was in the Matrix or something. I mean I swear to god you do not need to have three moments, long moments. Of a guy talking to god. I made me want to prey for the movie to end. Not only that but I thought to myself while watching this "Battle scenes will make up for it". I was so wrong. re-enactors were so bad it hurt to watch. The effects were awful and since they wanted it a PG-13 rating the violence was cut down to nothing. Which makes no sense since that was one of the most bloodiest wars ever fought. I think the film makers really needed to take a look at Glory or at least The Patriot and see what those movies did right. The movie had no emotion in it. I didn't care what happened to anyone in the movie. The Patriot for example made sure you did and put a lot of heart into the movie and I loved it. This movie sure made me feel like they were trying not to make you connect with anyone. Oh well hopefully they will learn their lesson for next time.

Overall: Lets just say I saw this movie at 7:30 and got out around 12.... Its a long movie. So do your ass a favor and go rent Glory and sit at home to get your civil war fix. Because seriously no God or General could save me from this movie... Well except Patton he probably could haha... Anyway I want those 4 hours of my life back Ron Maxwell!!

Stars:**