Gods and Generals, Glory or Gettysburg (2 Viewers)

[UKReb]

I'm really glad you remember that version too. I was starting to think I'd imagined it! As you say it really was a classic cliffhanger!

James

Gettysburg was only released in the UK on one screen in London and in two seperate parts. I caught Part 1 one week and had to go back two weeks later when they screened Part 2. I cannot ever remember this happening before with any other movie.

However, I do believe I saw the full versions which never got released on VHS or DVD (might have appeared on the Laser Disc version). But I do vividly remember the scene in Lee's tent at the end of the first day when he addresses Hill; Jubal Early and Ewell on why they did not take that hill? This particular scene has never been seen on any DVD version but the actor portraying Ewell appears in the credit titles-which I always considered a bit odd.

This scene and a few others have definitely been re-instated for the Bluray release which I have recently ordered from Amazon when it gets a UK release sometime in July...I think!.

Bob

 

[Eazy]

Morning Bob- I remember that now- how it was released in 2 parts here in the UK. Casting my mind back I think it may have been shown at the Virgin cinema here in Birmingham. As you say it was part one and then part two a week or so later.
I saw that version when it was shown on the BBC for the first time.
It was definitely a different cut than any I've seen since.
From a cinematic point of view having part two start with the climax of the LTR fight gives the second half a very good opening punch. The current version of part 2 has a very slow and downbeat opening.

Thanks for the blu ray info- that's a must buy for me.

 

[mk26gmls]

Just finished watching the extended director's cut of Gods and Generals on Blu-ray today that I got back on Father's Day. When I first saw the film years ago, I wasn't a fan. After watching all of the added footage however, I did like the film. Tons more character development, more action, choppy sequences are gone, etc..... I would recommend watching the latest version. It is a great improvement.

 

[wds0855]

If I get a Blue_Ray dvd player, can I still play my non-Blue Ray dvd's on it?

Walt

 

[UKReb]

If I get a Blue_Ray dvd player, can I still play my non-Blue Ray dvd's on it?

Walt

Hi Walt

You most certainly can and you will also notice quite an improvement in picture and sound quality of your original DVD's compared to when being played on a standard "wind-up" DVD player

Bob

 

[wds0855]

Hi Walt

You most certainly can and you will also notice quite an improvement in picture and sound quality of your original DVD's compared to when being played on a standard "wind-up" DVD player

Bob

Bob thanks for that info, I did not know that.

Walt

 

[lancer]

Watched the extended version of Gods and Generals today. It is something like 279 minutes long. I was a little disappointed in the added scenes. The whole John Wilkes Booth sub-story (which is a good deal of the added time) was a waste of time, IMO. It went nowhere and just added to the yakety-yak scenes, of which the are too many anyway. I liked the added character development but thought that the Antietam scenes were pretty skimpy. I had thought there would be a lot more of this battle. No real feel for the battle, at all. One laugher of an error occurs as the movie flashes the ID banner for Antietam when it is misdated as September 19. Pretty stupid error. All in all, the extended scenes didn't really change my low opinion of the movie, although I did find this version a little more interesting. -- Al

 

[Terp152]

Watched the extended version of Gods and Generals today. It is something like 279 minutes long. I was a little disappointed in the added scenes. The whole John Wilkes Booth sub-story (which is a good deal of the added time) was a waste of time, IMO. It went nowhere and just added to the yakety-yak scenes, of which the are too many anyway. I liked the added character development but thought that the Antietam scenes were pretty skimpy. I had thought there would be a lot more of this battle. No real feel for the battle, at all. One laugher of an error occurs as the movie flashes the ID banner for Antietam when it is misdated as September 19. Pretty stupid error. All in all, the extended scenes didn't really change my low opinion of the movie, although I did find this version a little more interesting. -- Al

Thanks for the review Al. I was thinking of buying the extended version based on what I had read but will save the $. I didn't care for the original and don't really want more of the same. Chris

 

[UKReb]

Watched the extended version of Gods and Generals today. It is something like 279 minutes long. I was a little disappointed in the added scenes. The whole John Wilkes Booth sub-story (which is a good deal of the added time) was a waste of time, IMO. It went nowhere and just added to the yakety-yak scenes, of which the are too many anyway. I liked the added character development but thought that the Antietam scenes were pretty skimpy. I had thought there would be a lot more of this battle. No real feel for the battle, at all. One laugher of an error occurs as the movie flashes the ID banner for Antietam when it is misdated as September 19. Pretty stupid error. All in all, the extended scenes didn't really change my low opinion of the movie, although I did find this version a little more interesting. -- Al

Al

Many thanks for your review-I recently ordered the 150th Anniversary Box set from your side of the pond and as yet still await delivery. Had to go that way as it's doubtful we will see these Blurays released in the UK. Your struggle between the States is unfortunately not that popular with my countrymen, however my ACW Round Table nerdy colleagues had "assured" me that the re-instated missing hour or so had improved G&G overall. Must admit I had my doubts as "one cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear" came to mind, which you have now more or less confirmed. However, even though both movies were flawed I still admire Turner and Maxwell's efforts in getting these on screen for they constitute the most extensive cinematic examination of the Eastern Theater of the Civil War we have ever seen come out of a Hollywood studio.

I also note your comment on the complete waste of time for the John Wilkes Booth insertions into the movie. However, it's perhaps worth remembering that Maxwell was lining up the character for his major appearance in the final part of the trilogy "The Last Full Measure". As we now know because G&G bombed at the box-office Turner pulled the funds for the third movie. In my opinion that is why the character's introduction in G&G now appears to be superfluous and the inclusion of such scenes no more than futile.

Bob

 

[lancer]

Al

Many thanks for your review-I recently ordered the 150th Anniversary Box set from your side of the pond and as yet still await delivery. Had to go that way as it's doubtful we will see these Blurays released in the UK. Your struggle between the States is unfortunately not that popular with my countrymen, however my ACW Round Table nerdy colleagues had "assured" me that the re-instated missing hour or so had improved G&G overall. Must admit I had my doubts as "one cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear" came to mind, which you have now more or less confirmed. However, even though both movies were flawed I still admire Turner and Maxwell's efforts in getting these on screen for they constitute the most extensive cinematic examination of the Eastern Theater of the Civil War we have ever seen come out of a Hollywood studio.

I also note your comment on the complete waste of time for the John Wilkes Booth insertions into the movie. However, it's perhaps worth remembering that Maxwell was lining up the character for his major appearance in the final part of the trilogy "The Last Full Measure". As we now know because G&G bombed at the box-office Turner pulled the funds for the third movie. In my opinion that is why the character's introduction in G&G now appears to be superfluous and the inclusion of such scenes no more than futile.

Bob

Hi Bob. I admit that the JWB scenes would have made more sense in the context of a Part 3, if it had ever been done. As it is, the scenes kind of just extend an already long, talky movie. I liked the movie for the battle scenes, Manassas, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, which have some added scenes. The brief coverage of Antietam was a major disappointment for me. The scenes in the cornfield were good, but brief, and as I said, leave no feel for the scope or importance of the battle. There are a couple of added Southern war council meetings between Lee and the generals that are interesting and several extensions of scenes with Jim, Stonewall's black cook, that add to character development. The extended version is not a complete dud, but as you venture, it does not constitute a prince from a frog. -- Al

 

[lancer]

Thanks for the review Al. I was thinking of buying the extended version based on what I had read but will save the $. I didn't care for the original and don't really want more of the same. Chris

Hi Chris. If you did not like the original version, this extended version will not change your mind. It has some worth while additions in terms of battle, war councils and such, but it is very long and talky. Borrow it from someone, or rent it like I did, before sinking your bucks into it. -- Al

 

[Warrior]

Hi Chris. If you did not like the original version, this extended version will not change your mind. It has some worth while additions in terms of battle, war councils and such, but it is very long and talky. Borrow it from someone, or rent it like I did, before sinking your bucks into it. -- Al

Thanks for the review Al and sorry to hear the Antietam added footage was a disappointment; this movie could have been gigantic if they had gotten the battles right, paving the way for the third installment, the Last Full Measure, but now we'll never see that happen.

 

[lancer]

Thanks for the review Al and sorry to hear the Antietam added footage was a disappointment; this movie could have been gigantic if they had gotten the battles right, paving the way for the third installment, the Last Full Measure, but now we'll never see that happen.

Hi George. Yeah, the added footage just wasn't much. In fact, the added Antietam footage only timed out at about 8 minutes total, for all of it. Not much recognition for America's bloodiest day. Big bummer. -- Al

 

[kingtoot]

what killed it for me was watching the Confederate High Command singing Christmas carols,,,what a waste of film....too many prayers from Stonewall, too..they could have used the time much better than that...maybe we would have had "The Last Full Measure" if Maxwell did it better..

 

[lancer]

what killed it for me was watching the Confederate High Command singing Christmas carols,,,what a waste of film....too many prayers from Stonewall, too..they could have used the time much better than that...maybe we would have had "The Last Full Measure" if Maxwell did it better..

Ha! Great minds, my man. That Confederate "USO" show was always the worst (or howlingly funny, if one prefers) part of the film for me. I can't see General Robert Edward Lee being caught dead at any such event, much less rocking and clapping along. I also had a big problem when Chamberlain was reciting Shakespeare in front of Fredericksburg. Too much "historically questionable" liscense taken in this movie. -- Al

 

[kingtoot]

it made me cringe....what was maxwell thinking? even the battle scenes weren't as epic as Gettysburg...and after Gettysburg got great reviews and an Oscar nomination at least..maybe even won for best sound or something

 

[Scott]

what killed it for me was watching the Confederate High Command singing Christmas carols,,,what a waste of film....too many prayers from Stonewall, too..they could have used the time much better than that...maybe we would have had "The Last Full Measure" if Maxwell did it better..

That scene was for the folks that buy the Lee/Jackson praying with children shlock art.

 

[debrito]

I would like to thank you guys for all those replies, I think that no Thread from me have had some many returns, I do appreciated all the interventions. I will be watching Cold Mountain for a second time tonight.

Best

 

[Scott]

Chick Flick

I would like to thank you guys for all those replies, I think that no Thread from me have had some many returns, I do appreciated all the interventions. I will be watching Cold Mountain for a second time tonight.

Best

COLD MOUNTAIN!!?? What color panties are YOU wearing? ^&grin^&grin :wink2::wink2: ^&grin^&grin