Best Civil War Movie or miniseries

[pres2032]

inspired by Placebo's post

[Bok_Tukalo]

1. Gettysburg

Treated General James Longstreet with the respect he deserved for understanding the folly of Lee's plan.

[RoyGBiv]

11. Killer Angels

The novel did that, which was interesting given when it was written. At the time, various historical studies that vindicated Longstreet and started to question Lee hadn't even been written yet.

I thought the movie went a bit too far. The whole "...should have freed the slaves then fired on Ft. Sumter..." were not words that ever fell out of Longstreet's mouth.

In any case, I must admit this is one major reason I like this movie.

[Bok_Tukalo]

23. I keep hearing about that book but I always forget to pick it up

when I get to the independent and get lost in the sci-fi section.

[Zuni]

41. Killer Angels is one of my all time faves

An incredible piece of work.

[NNadir]

38. It is difficult to imagine worse casting than Martin Sheen as Robert E.

Lee. He played Lee like a psychotic. Lee was in fact a highly questionable person, historically he has been way too generously assessed in matters of ethics and decency, but he at least carried himself much better than the way Sheen portrayed him.

This movie played fast and loose with real history. It ought to have paid more attention to Meade, who was balanced and courageous, or to Hancock, or even to what it meant when Reynolds was killed.

It was OK with Burford, and it greatly inflated (unnecessarily) the heroic role of Chamberlain. Chamberlain was NOT everywhere on the battlefield, but the role he DID play was important, if brief.

Pure romance; very little history, Gettysburg.

Cold Mountain better caught the moral ambiguity of war, but with the exception of the scene at Petersburg, it was also heavy on the mush. I think it did capture some measure of the deprevation associated with Southern homefront, but it certainly told the story, like "Gone with the Wind," from a Southern Perspective. Like modern day Republicanism (as opposed to Civil War Republicanism) it relies on myth and distortion to build sympathy for what is strictly indefensible: A system of enormous self serving cruelty masquerading as morality.

The best Civil War movie I have ever seen was definitely "Glory." It shows a part of the story that is seldom now told now, that African American troops were indispensible to the Union cause, and that it is very unlikely that the Union would have prevailed without them. There is no fluff, no romance, and no glossing over the brutal experience of war and the equally brutal experience of racism.

Famously Lincoln himself said in praise of these troops:

"`You say you will not fight to free negroes. Some of them seem willing to fight for you,' Lincoln noted, `but no matter... I thought that whatever Negroes could be got to do as soldiers leaves just so much less for white soldiers to do, in saving the Union'. He concluded:

...there will be some black men who

can remember that, with silent tongue

and clenched teeth, and steady eye,

and well-poised bayonet, they have

helped mankind on to this great consummation;

while, I fear, there will be

some white ones unable to forget that,

with malignant heart, and deceitful

speech, they have strove to hinder it..."

[RoyGBiv]

44. Gettysburg ...

The movie comes across better if one views it in the manner the author of the novel intended: a story about men at war with each other and with themselves over the war's meaning and how it impacted their lives and relationships with one another.

The movie tried to be too many things at once, so it fell short in all areas. Mostly, it fell short as a tactical battle movie, which is not what the novel ever was, but what Jeff Shaara (son of the deceased author) and the director Robert Maxwell tried to make it.

There are indeed countless inaccuracies in the movie. (Of course there are inaccuracies in the movie version of _Cold Mountain_ as well.) There were however a number of things _Gettysburg_ got right that nothing else before or since has, top among them, as previously mentioned, the relationship between Lee and Longstreet and the role the latter played at the battle.

As for Sheen as Lee, I've argued before in other forums that while he may have been miscast, it's not for the reasons often cited. How Lee carried himself at Gettysburg was not his normal style. He did seem confused, old, and bumbling. Numerous observers commented on this. Sheen perhaps takes this a bit too far, but not totally out of the realm of plausibility.

IMO.

[candy]

2. The Andersonville Trial !!!!

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

3. Glory

I just like the movie. It's very sad.

[pres2032]

5. crap! i knew i forgot one

that's one of my all-time favorites too. I love the soundtrack and everything about it.

[steely]

6. Yes - GLORY!!

Thanks for reminding me -

and stay away from "Gods and Generals" or whatever it was called.

[blue neen]

4. Cold Mountain gave a different perspective to the war.

It wasn't all just plantation owners fighting for the South.

It also was just a plain fantastic movie.

[RoyGBiv]

7. Glory ...

Hands down...

_Cold Mountain_ has probably the single most realistic scene from any Civil War inspired movie -- the Crater -- but overall it's not an exceptional movie. The book was better.

_Gettysburg_ is actually one of my favorites, but it's really a bad movie in many respects. Again, the book was much, much better.

[JohnKleeb]

8. Civil War Combat was an excellent documenatry series the history channel

had.
Glory and Gettysburg I liked too though, and Cold Mountain.

[deadparrot]

9. North and South

The first two books (North and South, Love and War) are absolutely amazing, both on the page and on-screen. They did a great job of putting together all the different viewpoints on the war, though they were a bit off-base on some points.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. Glory.

[WoodrowFan]

12. Glory

and I won't watch any that try and make the CSA or its leaders look "Noble"

[bigwillq]

13. "Glory, Glory" why is there no "Glory"?

I vote for Glory.

[Cadence]

14. This isn't a civil war movie and it's a little o/t but

I saw a movie on Suffrage on HBO a month ago that I thought was awesome. It was interesting how much of what they were dealing with back then around world war I that parallels what we are in a different way experiencing today. The women suffragists were holding banners outside of the white house to give women the right to vote and when the war started they were arrested for being "unpatriotic" in a time of war.

I have a hard time with war movies, I can't dissociate enough from the violence and I get overwhelmed. I like the human interest stories though that don't focus on the violence.

[Bok_Tukalo]

24. Human interest that doesn't focus on the violence?

Try 'Empire of the Sun'

I'm a war movie buff and it is one of my favorites.

Basie: Jim, didn't I teach you anything?
Jim: Yes! You taught me that people will do anything for a potato.

[Mist]

15. I tried watching Cold Mountain twice

It was like watching paint dry. What am I missing? Should I give it another try?

[deadparrot]

16. I didn't like it, either. Glad I'm not alone.

Faaar too long for my tastes. I've never checked my watch so many times in a movie.

[bigwillq]

17. All Civil War movies are long

I guess I'm just an ole romantic

[deadparrot]

21. The length itself isn't the problem for me.

It's just that I took no interest in the events that took place. I hadn't read the book, but I was able to guess what would happen about twenty minutes into the film.

I'm a history buff, and normally I enjoy historical movies. This one just didn't rub me the right way.

[bigwillq]

28. So sorry you didn't have an enjoyable time with that movie.

:hi:

[deadparrot]

29. No problem; to each his own. :)

[Bertha Venation]

27. Too violent, too depressing for me. But Renee Zellweger was terrific. n/t

[Radical Activist]

32. Bad accents

couldn't they find a major female character with a believable southern accent? ugh

[Radical Activist]

18. What's that movie Jewel was in?

I'm not saying it's the best but I can't remember.

[Spirochete]

33. Ride With the Devil

or something like that. Does that sound close? I Think Tobey Maguire was in it too?

[Radical Activist]

34. I think you're right

That was a pretty good movie. Not many focus on the guerrilla warfare that happened in Missouri.

[OhioBlue]

36. yes - it was Ride with the Devil

Jewel and Tobey McGuire were in it as was Skeet Ulrich

[OhioBlue]

37. Gone With the Wind

is my all time fav - but I had to vote for Ride with the Devil b/c nobody else had and I love that movie.

[Radical Activist]

49. I'm just a big Jewel fan

although I never bought her most recent album.

[OhioBlue]

54. well, the movie was great

rent it again - you won't be sorry.

[Radical Activist]

19. Ken Burn's Civil War series

I know that isn't a movie but that was a great series that changed the way documentaries are done.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

25. Yes, I agree.

[lpbk2713]

31. Yes. I've seen most parts of it at least twice.

And I particuarly liked Shelby Foote's contribution.

[Radical Activist]

45. Shelby Foote was entertaining

I always liked it when he came on.

[charlyvi]

40. Loved it

Ken Burns is a genius documentarian--loved "Baseball" too.

[Radical Activist]

47. I'm embarrassed to say that

I still haven't seen his Jazz series. But I loved baseball and I've watched the entire civil war series several times.

[fortyfeetunder]

43. Yes, it's da bomb! (pardon the pun)

I was practically glued to Ken Burns Civil War series. It motivated me to read more about the war afterward. Now it's on DVD...yippee!!!

[RoyGBiv]

46. A Lone Voice ...

I'll be a lone voice of dissent and say that while I enjoyed Ken Burns' series, I am not overwhelmed by it, at least not in a positive way.

It may or may not be true that he changed the way documentaries are done -- I tend to think not -- but if it is, this is not necessarily a good thing. Burns focused on drama rather than facts when the former was better served by ignoring or playing with the latter. This is rather ironic considering one of his most famous contributions was the use of Shelby Foote's voice, who, while commenting on his own narrative trilogy, stated that when substance conflicted with color, substance won out every time. Or at least that's what he *said*, but I digress.

Burns' series was excellent entertainment, and I will give it ample credit for inspiring an interest in the war that had not existed for half a century. I would be more impressed if Burns himself had left it at that and not tried to pass himself off as a historian or his work off as the final word on the subject in the aftermath.

[Radical Activist]

48. It gets some pointed criticisms

from historians and documentary film makers both. Historians will always argue over accuracy and exactly what happened, especially when a non-historian enters their field.

Documentary film makers may joke about the "Ken Burns" effect or his style but he and Michael Moore are probably the only two widely known by the general public.

[RoyGBiv]

50. Widely Known

I'll go further and say Burns is probably the best positively known documentary film maker while Michael Moore is the most controversial, that is either loved or hated depending on who you are.

I know a few people who hate Burns, but their reasons are, well, stupid. They "blame" him for all the focus on slavery as a cause of the Civil War. I scarcely know how to react to that. Well, DUH!

Anyway ...

Historians argue over accuracy because accuracy is important. I don't take a great deal of issue with his various presentations of interpretation, although those could certainly be challenged in certain areas. But, simple fact-checking is necessary if a documentary is to receive legitimately the kind of accolades Burns has received. Being popular is not a good answer for that. Yes, he's good at what he does, i.e. making documentaries that entertain and inspire people. But should that be congratulated if he uses false information as the basis of his inspiration and entertainment? Frankly, Burns' work wouldn't stand up to the kind of public scrutiny that has been directed at the films by Michael Moore.

[catbert836]

20. No "Glory"?

Please.

[NightHawk63]

22. Glory

I had to go with Glory. Though some of the others are faves of mine, I think Glory opened the eyes of many people to the contribution of black soldiers fighting for the Union.

[Bertha Venation]

26. GLORY

Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Andre Braugher, Matthew Broderick . . . . my GOD, what a good movie.

[realisticphish]

30. i will put my vote in for glory nt

[proud patriot]

35. Got to go with Glory

I actually own that one :D

[Eyeball Kid]

39. Another vote for Glory.

n/t

[NoPasaran]

42. Glory

By far the best

[Allenberg]

51. Definitely Glory.

[PittPoliSci]

52. Glory

I love Gettysburg though.

[Justin54B20L]

53. I'll have to go with Andersonville, great movie

Ken Burns civil war documentary was also pretty great.