Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

Stometer Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Reptileenbu Did you people see the same film I saw?

Raymond Sierra The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

Jon Sanfratello Gettysburg is a great war movie if you are interested in them (war movies) as I am. Many historically based movies are out there in this world and this is one of them...although it took pretty much 4 hours to watch the whole thing, it held my attention. Through the constant fighting, and watching the stress the commanders and soldiers were experiencing were very real. Real, as in you're fully attentive to see what's going to happen next and if the North will really be able to keep the South back! Historically, you can also relate as many of the true issues of the Civil War were mentioned and/or apparent as you watched. One, being the difficulty of loss and the tragedy of the situation...men from the same country were killing each other...men who were friends were supposed to be killing each other...starvation, over-exertion,and simply, yet, very importantly...the necessity of winning the battle of Gettysburg. The battle that we all know, was the defining moment of the war and its winner. Along with the historical allusions, the characters made it very real-the division was quite clear. One of the colonels had even said that this war was being fought due to the fact that it is the right thing to do; and along with that,freed states vs. slave states is not something that should be happening and that unity is an essential value of a functioning country. In all, the con for me was the time consumption...however the action and the history made it enjoyable.

nateliberti One of the greatest Civil War movies in its class, truly shows the struggle of the war. And love the actors, each actor plays the part of each general, Martin Sheen was a great Robert E. Lee. The battles were awesome talking about how important Gettysburg was to the war. The fighting was very real and how the soldiers looked really portrays the war in a personal way. The costumes were very well made and facial hair were great details to add to the movies setting and locations. Also another great actor was Jeff Daniels as Col. Joshua Chamberlain he really gave the part a personal part and showed how being in a high position like that has a heavy effect on their guilt. But was very great movie and taught me more about the war.

zardoz-13 "Little Darlings" director Ronald F. Maxwell's admirable but flawed epic "Gettysburg" qualifies as one of the better movies about the American Civil War. Unquestionably, it ranks as the best reenactment of this turning point battle because nobody has tried to mount a similar movie. Nevertheless, "Gettysburg" suffers from several flaws. Initially, the film was designed to be shown on television as a mini-series, so at a four and a half hours in length, it rivals anything that either David Lean or Sergio Leone could have attempted. Second, its loquacity occasionally overwhelms its sense of spectacle, but loquacity constitutes the hallmark of any mini-series. Everybody delivers a speech. Everybody who speaks is typically a general or an officer. Most of the dialogue is straightforward without a shred of irony. Rarely is anything uttered that is quotable. The enlisted men in blue and gray aren't so much heard as seen. On the other hand, Maxwell scores surplus points for apparent authenticity, with dedicated reenactors on up to conscientious American history scholars providing incomparable verisimilitude. Undoubtedly, Maxwell had more than enough to contend with during this sprawling $20-million production. My major argument is tone. "Gettysburg" boasts no surprises and Maxwell generates little momentum. During the actual event, the Confederates arrived at Gettysburg feeling invincible owing to earlier triumphs. Maxwell's Confederates are losers from the start and the music blends nostalgia with tragedy. Indeed, Maxwell treats "Gettysburg" as a national tragedy. Kees Van Oostrum photography is competent, but neither Maxwell nor Oostrum were as adept as they were later when they made the infinitely superior "Gods and Generals." Nevertheless, what salvages Maxwell's film is the magnificently staged Pickett's Charge, particularly the cannon barrages over a smoky battlefield. Tom Berenger, Stephen Lange, Richard Jordan, Jeff Daniels, Sam Elliot, and Kevin Conway stand out as the leaders.

Tanner Metcalfe Although I am not usually interested in history movies, the movie did a good job of keeping me interested throughout in the Civil War. It also opened my eyes to the true horrors of the Civil War. Although not gory or graphic in any way, the movie depicts the high death rates in the war and how it deeply affects the soldiers and especially the generals. I thought the acting in the war was good as well. Sheen's portrayal of Lee was very good, I thought. The movie has some good scenes as well, the action scenes especially. However, the movie fails in some parts, too. Most noticeably, it was obviously too long. It has the record as the longest American movie ever made, I think, and it shows. It could have easily been cut down by at least an hour, by shortening some of the seemingly endless marching scenes. There was one marching period that I timed to be nearly six minutes long. This had no dialogue and just showed people walking and bring on horseback. Overall, I thought the movie was good and kept me interested throughout, but it could have been much better. It remains, to me at least, a good movie, but more for people who are very serious about history.