Gods and Generals

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Gods and Generals

PG-13

2003

3h 39m

War

History

Drama

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Popcornmeter

8%

Tomatometer

118 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A sweeping epic charting the early years of the Civil War and how the campaigns unfolded from Manassas I to the Battle of Fredericksburg, this prequel to the film "Gettysburg" explores the motivations of the combatants and examines the lives of those who waited at home.

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Critics Consensus

Filled with two-dimensional characters and pompous self-righteousness, Gods and Generals is a long, tedious sit. Some may also take offense at the pro-Confederate slant.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

12/24/2010

3/5

Meticulous Civil War story runs a little long.

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Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

10/29/2008

C-

Everybody is so good and decent that it's hard to tell where the generals leave off and the gods start.

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Bill Stamets

Chicago Reader

02/27/2007

Maxwell continues his textbook emphasis on military maneuvers, but despite literally thousands of Civil War reenactors recruited for the film, the wide-screen canvas fails to map the tactics or evoke the terror of battle.

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Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews

05/30/2011

1.5/4

Succumbs to turgidity. And...intentionally or not...conveys the impression that the film uncritically celebrates the Confederacy. [Blu-ray]

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Urban Cinefile Critics

Urban Cinefile

10/18/2008

A labour of love with special interest to history buffs, this epic film is extraordinary in many ways.

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Ani W

@Artsygal Jul 18

Excellent movie! Very captivating. It's very sad to see how the union party murdered so many people for just wanting to protect their land. Very cruel times. This is when the beauty of the south gets ruined forever very sad.

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Terry S

@BigTRex Jun 1

Awesome movie overall! Yes, one must tolerate some political correctness inserted to appease the cancel culture... but, it is definitely worth sitting through the minor interruptions to the story. After all, they had to get the movie past the censors and get the movie made somehow... didn't they? The main takeaway is that this movie isn't as obnoxious as most movies that were made about The War Between The States. The silly PC messaging is over with somewhat quickly. So, hold your nose to get through those parts... because it is a nice long movie that has a lot going for it otherwise! Much more good than bad. Enjoy! Deo Vindice.

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Geoff T

@RT31236545 Apr 24

Some good battle scenes can’t disguise what is a woefully acted movie . Beyond cheesy dialogue and wooden performances drag this down to virtually unwatchable. It’s actually kind of cringeworthy. And don’t mention the really fake beards on everyone . Very distracting…Impossible to recommend.

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Billy L

@RT72202244 Mar 30

Great film..sure its a bit goofy but still fun.

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Pete W

@RT56398213 Mar 24

The good: Great battle scenes The Bad: Everything else The ugly: lost cause history destroys the movie's credibility.

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Dan H

@RT25116885 Mar 14

Faithful and compelling depiction of the leaders who shaped the first half of the Civil War, albeit certainly a sanitized version of the fighting. Those who have read biographies or narratives of the war will enjoy the portrayals of Jackson, Lee, and Lincoln. Those with the most cursory understanding of the war will be shocked and disappointed to see the Southerners are depicted as conflicted human beings rather than simply demonized.

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Ronald F. Maxwell

Director

Jeff Daniels

Colonel Joshua Chamberlain

Stephen Lang

General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

Robert Duvall

General Robert E. Lee

Mira Sorvino

Fanny Chamberlain

Kevin Conway

Sergeant 'Buster' Kilrain

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Synopsis

A sweeping epic charting the early years of the Civil War and how the campaigns unfolded from Manassas I to the Battle of Fredericksburg, this prequel to the film "Gettysburg" explores the motivations of the combatants and examines the lives of those who waited at home.

Director: Ronald F. Maxwell
Producer: Ronald F. Maxwell
Screenwriter: Ronald F. Maxwell, Jeff Shaara
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Ted Turner Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Sustained Battle Sequences)
Genre: War, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 21, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $12.9M
Runtime: 3h 39m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, Dolby SR, SDDS, Dolby Stereo, DTS, Surround, Dolby A
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)