Gettysburg

[OBIO]

Deb is away until tomorrow evening....a four day stay at her mother's house, lots of girl time, hen sessions and what not. So, I have had the house all to my self...well, as far as people go at any rate....still have 2 dogs, a cat and three tanks of fish. Even the other side of the duplex is empty....so I have total control of the TV and the volume on the surround sound....and can be as loud and proud as I want without driving anyone crazy.

Today, I watched Gettysburg...the superb TNT mega-production. First time I have been able to really enjoy it on a large wide screen TV with the surround sound turned up nice and loud. I gave the subwoofer some extra volume to really bring the bass and vibration of the canon shots and explosions into the living room.

Wow! Still totally blown away by the movie and the scale on which it was done. Superb acting, superb camera work, superb effects. To see thousands of men, dressed in period correct attire, marching across the actual site of Picket's Charge....simply mind blowing...and very emotional. At many points in the movie, I found myself crying.

One downside to watching the movie on a large TV (42 inch Plasma)....I saw a lot of things that simply stood out as "wrong". On many of the Civil War re-enactors, I saw the white band around their wrists where they would normally be wearing watches and I saw one guy popping a piece of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit into his mouth...that green gum was unmistakable.

Gettysburg was released in 1993....17 years ago...and I still had the same gut level reactions to the movie as I did the first time I watched it. The degree to which the actors were made to resemble the real life people they portrayed, the scope of the production, watching 40 field pieces being fired one after another in a long line. It took 15 years, from the beginning of the scripting, through all the research, finding a production company willing to finance such a risky period piece (thank you Ted Turner....who had a small appearance in the film....he portrayed a Confederate officer during Picket's Charge...he died), to bring the movie into reality. 15 years that were well worth the effort.

OBIO

Since Thursday afternoon, I have watched Spiderman 1, 2 and 3, Flyboys, We Were Soldiers, Saving Private Ryan, The Thin Red Line, The Lost Battalion (the best work Ricky Schroder did), To Hell and Back, and Gettysburg. Tomorrow....Gods and Generals is on the list to watch.

 

[tigisfat]

I haven't seen Gettysburg. Based on your review, I will. That 'Flyboys' is quite a piece of trash, eh?

 

[OBIO]

Definitely grab Gettysburg...actually, look for the double pack...Gettysburg and Gods and Generals in one thing. Gettysburg is on both sides of Disc 1 (very long movie)...haven't watched Gods and Generals yet.

Flyboys...I like it. Sure it probably isn't highly accurate, but I like it. Better than Pearl Harbor...the chick flick with Ben Affleck and whats his name.

 

[Z-claudius24]

Hi,

Put "The Patriot" on the list

 

[tigisfat]

Hi,

Put "The Patriot" on the list

What's it about?

 

[Cazzie]

Hi,

Put "The Patriot" on the list

Yep, along with "Braveheart", one of Mel's better movies.

Caz

Going to a Civil War Battlefield today OBIO, the Stanton River Bridge Battlefield below Clover, VA, will post some pix in the Photography sub-forum later.

For more information: http://www.stauntonriverbattlefield.org/

For what it's worth, my maternal great-great grandfather, Dodson Henry Conner (a 15 year-old lad at the time), was a member of the militia of nearly 500 Confederate Reservists under the command of Captain Benjamin Farinholt. For his service, after the war he was granted 100 acres of land in NW Halifax County near the community of Volens. The Conner family now occupies all of that part of the county and that is where our family reunions are held.

This is a scan of a tin-type photograph of my great-great grandfather taken in 1878 on his farm. I don't know the name of the hoss, but he looks to be a good year model.

 

[Clarke123]

If you can find it watch 9th Company. It's a russian film based on a true story of 39 ruskies holding a hill against 400 afghans. A good honest film with none of the glamour or bull**** you get from hollywood.

 

[cheezyflier]

Yep, along with "Braveheart", one of Mel's better movies.

nothing he ever did is better than this

 

[Snuffy]

I've got both of the TNT episodes of Gods and Generals and Gettysburg ... both very well done, lots of reinactments groups had a ton of fun with these movies.

Oh and pay attention for turner's cameo shot in Gettysburg.

As long as we're making a list of movies ...

You have to add, "We were soldiers" ...

 

[Snuffy]

What's it about?

Patriot is early Americana history ... the Revolutionary War.

 

[Jagdflieger]

Obio,

Both great movies to be sure.

Gettysburg, as I recall, was based on Shaara's book, "The Killer Angels." It's a great read about Colonel Chamberlein and his regiment, the 20th Maine Infantry. It has the whole cast of characters involved during that period of th Civil War, both Yankee an Reb, and is written so well that it's hard to put down. While it is considered fiction, it's underlying story is factual.

The two follow on books to the "Killer Angels," "Gods and Generals" and "The Last Full Measure" were written by Shaara's son, Jeff Shaara, and are of equal quality and readability.

My son and I went to see "Gods and Generals" at the base theater at Fort Lewis. It was a free showing with free popcorn and drinks and reenactors lined the walls with their Enfield and Springfield rifled muskets as everyone was seated. It was a most enjoyable few hours.

 

[Navy Chief]

I watched Gettysburg years ago, but not since I got a big screen. I will watch it again. THANKS!

NC

 

[TeaSea]

Okay, historically....

Gettysburg is the second most historically accurate of the movies mentioned (besides We were Soldiers ...).

However, it does take poetic license at times to keep the movie going. There are several fictional characters created to provide a foil for the historical characters, and significant bits of the battle are either overlooked or discarded. Gettysburg is actually 4 separate battles on one battlefield (1st day, 2nd day, 3rd day, Culp's Hill), and difficult to get all together. One of my favorite scenes is the dressing down J.E.B. Stewart receives from Lee....almost totally fictional, but an excellent example of a superior providing counseling to a subordinate (Sahaara use's Lee's aide-de-camp, Charles Marshall as his source...although Marshall was not in the room, and neither Lee nor Stewart ever wrote about or mentioned the incident again -- Marshall should not be viewed as a particularly reliable source in all matters Lee). Gettysburg is a good depiction of the battle, but not a particularly good movie in my opinion....very good book, poor movie (too long, something the Longest Day, and A Bridge Too Far also share).

Gods and Generals is so preachy it's not worth watching (in my humble opinion). It sort of portrays the Battle of Fredricksburg accurately and is probably the ONLY movie that will ever treat that subject, so you probably should watch it for that only.

The Patriot is totally fiction, although the characters Martin and Tavington are based loosely on Francis Marion and Lt. Col William Tarleton, both combatants in the South during the Revolutionary War. Many of the battles are loosely based on real battles resulting from Cornwallis failed campaign in the South. here are not many good revolutionary war movies because the U.S. becomes consumed about the Civil War, so I liked this one...even though it is also too long. There are some great quotes.

I don't even know how to address Braveheart....it's one of those awful movies that is so good you hate to realize its fiction. The Battle of Stirling Bridge is so fictionalized there isn't even a bridge. About the only accuracy is that yes, the Scots revolted, yes Edward moved to put them down, and finally, yes William Wallace did exist, and the manner of his death is accurately rendered. Oh, Robert the Bruce also emerges as the leader of the Scots rebellion and defeats the English coalition at Bannockburn in 1314 (Edward had died in 1307). Queen Isabella never met or slept with Wallace, and she later, in league with Roger Mortimer has Edward II (her husband) killed, allegedly by inserting hot iron rods into his anus....you can't make this stuff up. Braveheart is a good movie though...so ignore the lack of real history and enjoy!

The Thin Red Line is a weird movie based loosely on James Jones book, which is based loosely on his own experiences as an infantryman on Guadalcanal ( I will risk offending the Marines here by pointing out that there were more U.S. Army members involved in that battle than Marines, as was the case in most of the Pacific island hopping campaign). I actually kind of enjoyed the movie...however, the book is far superior and the screenplay would have greatly benefited by not trying to leave Jones defining story. My advice, read the book.

We Were Soldiers Once is pretty accurate, however it also takes liberties, compresses events, creates a character or combines some, leaves out others, and can leave the wrong impressions about what happened. Understand, I know some of the men involved in the battle (my father trained with them at Ft. Benning prior to their deployment and served with them following the battle). The fundamental flaw in Airmobile assault tactics is accurately depicted (once you're in, you're committed), and the basics of the battle are true. This is the most accurate movie of the one's mentioned.

Weird thing is...I happen to own all these movies...so I guess I sort of like them all.

 

[miamieagle]

Gettysburg was the most important Battle of the Civil war in America secound most important war. That distinction goes to the war of Independance.

I"am very glad they did a grand movie about that Battle since so many men died there defending their cause. The movie itself was very entertaining and at the same time a good instrument for teaching our younger generation what those who love this Nation had to sacrifyce to keep it together.

I"am just glad the North won the war.

A must see to those of us who love History.

 

[Eoraptor1]

I saw Gettysburg on the big screen with my uncle when it came out. I have friends who find this movie a crashing bore, but I loved it. I have it on DVD and an even longer version on VHS. I recommend the Michael Shaara book as well. I like seeing the reinactments, but I find there's generally more background info in books. My family is split between the readers and the non-readers. Non-readers, in my experience, don't perceive reading as actually doing anything... BTW: Buster Kilrain is a composite character. You won't find his monument on Little Round Top.

Gods and Generals gave me a headache so acute I wasn't sure I could make it through the whole thing, but I did. If I say any more, this thread will get locked so quickly it'll make everyone's teeth click, so I'll let it rest there. Jeff Shaara's book of the same name, I loved. There's a great little exchange in Texas between Robert E. Lee and Sam Houston at the height of seccessionist fever, where Lee has nearly been attacked by a mob for wearing a blue uniform, but is preserved from harm by being in General Sam's company. Houston asks Lee, "Do you see a great deal of stupidity in all this?" This is at the time where both sides think the war will be over in 90 days, be relatively bloodless, and their side will win. We all know how that turned out...

I'm a little surprised to see so much love for Braveheart and The Patriot. This site seems ever on the alert for historical discrepancies, and especially "Hollywood" revisionism, both of which these movies have in abundance. TeaSea and I park our cars in the same garage on this one. I enjoyed them as adventure stories.

I did see We Were Soldiers but have no idea how accurate it was. My cousin, who was an Air Commando in Vietnam, says the book, We Were Soldiers Once, and Young, is in his opinion the most realistic book on that war. Again, I personally have no idea, but I pass his opinion along; he was there, and I was a baby.

JAMES

 

[TeaSea]

I think OBIO has nailed something though....

These are only movies you watch when the wife is away!

Oh, BTW, Friday Harbor is a popular destination both in the real world and in FS9 and FSX.

What's it's connection with the Battle of Gettysburg?

 

[eddie]

Obio,

Both great movies to be sure.

Gettysburg, as I recall, was based on Shaara's book, "The Killer Angels." It's a great read about Colonel Chamberlein and his regiment, the 20th Maine Infantry. It has the whole cast of characters involved during that period of th Civil War, both Yankee an Reb, and is written so well that it's hard to put down. While it is considered fiction, it's underlying story is factual.

The two follow on books to the "Killer Angels," "Gods and Generals" and "The Last Full Measure" were written by Shaara's son, Jeff Shaara, and are of equal quality and readability.

My son and I went to see "Gods and Generals" at the base theater at Fort Lewis. It was a free showing with free popcorn and drinks and reenactors lined the walls with their Enfield and Springfield rifled muskets as everyone was seated. It was a most enjoyable few hours.

Jag, Jeff has written another book, called "The Rising Sun", its a novel about WWII. Starts out in North Africa, and he writes just as good in this book of WWII, as he did for the Civil War!

 

[Jagdflieger]

Eddie,

Thanks for the tip. I'll see if I can get a hold of it.

I have his "To the Last Man" at home. It's about WWI.

 

[Ken Stallings]

The DVD Gettysburg is truly excellent! In my view, it is one of the best Civil War movies ever made. I also personally liked Gods & Generals a lot. The critics dismissed that one nearly universally, but I think it was a fair portrayal of the mindset at work at the opening of the war. People criticize it for the stilted language, but the truth is that the movie focuses mostly on educated people (with the exception of the two nameless Confederate soldiers). And the reality is that people spoke in that manner.

In fact, the producers toned down the language from reality simply because they didn't want to face even more criticism. The critics disappointed me because they nearly all used 20th century criteria to evaluate a movie made about 19th century Americans.

Ted Turner lost so much money, he backed away from doing the third of the Shaara series, "Last Full Measure," which I personally think would hav been the best simply because of the subject matter. All that stilted language was dead and buried by this phase of the war, along with about 10% of the American male adult population!

BTW: You simply must make an effort to visit the actual Gettysburg battlefield. It is simply impossible to fully appreciate the suicidal nature of the charge up Little Round Top and Pickett's Charge until you see the ground first hand. My dad and I are rather knowledgable on Civil War history, but we were both awestruck by the enormity of how the terrain made Lee's goals impossible. I immediately turned to my dad upon standing at the summit of Little Round Top and said, "Longstreet was completely right -- Lee lost his mind!"

Ken

 

[Eoraptor1]

Eddie,

Thanks for the tip. I'll see if I can get a hold of it.

I have his "To the Last Man" at home. It's about WWI.

Jagd,

The name of the book you're looking for is "The Rising Tide," (2006) which is about the US entry into the ETO via North Africa and Sicily. The second book of the Trilogy is "The Steel Wave," (2008) which covers the Normandy Invasion and breakout. I just last week finished "No Less Than Victory," (2009) which covers the Ardennes Offensive to VE Day. By coincidence, while I was reading it, I met a fellow who was in the Ardennes during the time which the action in this book takes place at the VFW post where we have our block club meetings. Jeff Shaara is currently working on a novel about the PTO. Last month a historian wanted to interview my uncle (who just turned 91) about his experiences, but he was dismissive; "They [historians] write what they want to write," he said.

JAMES




ATTN: OBIO,

Glad to hear Deb is doing so well.