02-24-2003, 06:51 PM
Out of curiousity I looked up and read Roger Ebert's review of this movie (which I will never see because it will never come to our only theatre). Some of his comments really highlighted the difference between people who are interested in film and people who are interested in history:<br>
<br>
"Oh, it is a competently made film. Civil War buffs may love it. Every group of fighting men is identified by subtitles, to such a degree that I wondered, fleetingly, if they were being played by Civil War Re-enactment hobbyists who would want to nudge their friends when their group appeared on the screen. Much is made of the film's total and obsessive historical accuracy; the costumes, flags, battle plans and ordnance are all doubtless flawless, although there could have been no Sgt. "Buster" Kilrain in the 20th Maine, for the unavoidable reason that "Buster" was never used as a name until Buster Keaton used it."<br>
<br>
and:<br>
<br>
""Gods and Generals" is the kind of movie beloved by people who never go to the movies, because they are primarily interested in something else--the Civil War, for example--and think historical accuracy is a virtue instead of an attribute. The film plays like a special issue of American Heritage."<br>
<br>
I was chuckling as I read this, remembering discussions we've had on these issues in this forum.<br>
<br>
Wendy<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
"Oh, it is a competently made film. Civil War buffs may love it. Every group of fighting men is identified by subtitles, to such a degree that I wondered, fleetingly, if they were being played by Civil War Re-enactment hobbyists who would want to nudge their friends when their group appeared on the screen. Much is made of the film's total and obsessive historical accuracy; the costumes, flags, battle plans and ordnance are all doubtless flawless, although there could have been no Sgt. "Buster" Kilrain in the 20th Maine, for the unavoidable reason that "Buster" was never used as a name until Buster Keaton used it."<br>
<br>
and:<br>
<br>
""Gods and Generals" is the kind of movie beloved by people who never go to the movies, because they are primarily interested in something else--the Civil War, for example--and think historical accuracy is a virtue instead of an attribute. The film plays like a special issue of American Heritage."<br>
<br>
I was chuckling as I read this, remembering discussions we've had on these issues in this forum.<br>
<br>
Wendy<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
