Should I watch this ??
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shareSpeaking as someone who has an above average interest in the Civil War, it was very difficult to sit through the entire film in one sitting.
The subjects of the Civil War and Gettysburg are immensely interesting. You would think, therefore, that "Gettysburg" would be overflowing with life, but that's hardly the case. It takes forever for things to get going. Plus there's an undeniably lazy and unexciting feel to the settings and dialogue when the forces aren't actually fighting. One has to REALLY CONCENTRATE to listen to and get through the interminable dialogue. Plus the mawkish melodrama factor is high.
It's still worth checking out if the topic interests you and for the depictions of Little Round Top and the infamous Pickett's Charge. But I thought the 2003 prequel "Gods and Generals" was all-around superior and far more compelling.
If you decide to watch it I suggest using the subtitles because the accents are sometimes thick, plus it will help you keep up with the discourses.
I just finished the Director's Cut. At 271 minutes I found it to be a long, but rewarding, journey.
The film requires some patience to get through. It's VERY talky, with lots of conversations and relatively few battle scenes, but it's got a great cast and interesting characters and there is what I would call a solemn dignity to the whole thing.
It also has a great score that occasionally really touched me and stirred up the emotion.
I don't think this is a movie that would be made today. It's extremely respectful of the Confederacy and I'd say the primary focus is on the heroism and philosophical ruminations of the characters, especially the Confederate generals, and more especially Robert E. Lee.
Sadly, I just don't think Hollywood would make a movie like this now. Out of fear of being called racist, a Gettysburg movie made today would be sure to be focused on the Union and the Confederates would all be portrayed as being snarling demons.
I re-saw it since that post, about 6-8 months ago, and I appreciated it quite a bit more, although I wisely split my viewing into two parts. Nevertheless, I still prefer "Gods and Generals."
shareWhy do you feel you enjoyed it more the second time?
I just ordered Gettysburg and Gods and Generals in a very nice box set. I will watch Gods and Generals when it comes in.
Splitting it into two viewings helped since watching an over 4 hour film in one sitting isn't easy unless maybe you're bedridden.
Secondly, I was able to understand and follow the dialogues better, which increased my interest (even though I didn't use the subtitles). A good example of what I mean is the representative of the men from the disbanded 2nd Maine; his heavy accent was difficult to discern the first time I viewed the film, but somehow I was able to understand him in my last watch.
I was just able to "get into it" on my most recent viewing, which is why I give movies more than one chance (or more) if I think they're worth the effort.
There are still some shortcomings IMHO, like General Armistead’s incessant blathering about his bromance with a general on the other side, which needed toned down a notch. I didn't buy it. People in war know that their comrades/loved ones can die at any moment and are braced for it, especially on the battlefield in a risky charge. Also, the score is mostly good, sometimes great, but there are some annoyingly "heroic" or melodramatic pieces, for me at least.