I really like the Civil War, but I held off seeing "Gods and Generals" (2003) for over six years. The reason? Because “Gettysburg” from 1993 just didn't do it for me. While “Gettysburg” has a few decent moments, overall it was pretty average, and at times even felt like a slog to get through. I can’t figure out how they managed to make the Civil War's biggest battle so dull. "Gods and Generals" tells the story of First Bull Run, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, mainly focusing on Stonewall Jackson (Stephan Lang) for the Confederacy and the Chamberlain brothers (Jeff Daniels and C. Thomas Howell) from Maine representing the Union. Robert E. Lee is also featured, played by Robert Duvall, who gives a more captivating performance than Martin Sheen did in "Gettysburg." The movie starts out slowly but gradually picks up pace. In contrast, “Gettysburg” felt slow from the beginning and never really became engaging except for scenes like Little Round Top and Pickett’s Charge. What truly drew me into "Gods and Generals" were the battle sequences at Fredericksburg and what happened afterward. It illustrates how Civil War soldiers had to march, shoot, and reload in formation while being exposed to rifle fire and cannon blasts. The Chamberlain brothers even had to sleep on the battlefield that night—imagine trying to rest surrounded by dead bodies and wounded, moaning men! That was very well done. There are several other memorable scenes as well, such as when Union and Confederate soldiers met in the middle of a river to trade coffee for tobacco; the execution of three deserters; and what’s portrayed as the “perfect battle” for the Confederates at Chancellorsville, where General Lee risked dividing his army to launch a surprise attack. Unfortunately, this victory came at a steep price when General Jackson was accidentally wounded by friendly fire, losing his arm. The story concludes on a slow, sad note. I was impressed with how realistic the town scenes looked; it seemed completely authentic. I later found out in a documentary that they filmed those scenes at Harpers Ferry, WV. Some people have said that "Gods and Generals" portrays the Southern viewpoint more favorably than the Northern one, but I don’t think so. While there's more screen time devoted to Jackson and Lee’s stories, plenty of attention is given to the North as well; the film does a good job of presenting a balanced perspective between the two sides. The movie was filmed on location in Virginia, Maryland, and Harpers Ferry, WV, and it runs for 3 hours and 39 minutes. The Director's Cut, which I haven’t seen, is an hour longer and includes the battle of Antietam and a subplot involving John Wilkes Booth. If you found "Gettysburg" boring, don't let that stop you from watching "Gods and Generals." Yes, it’s a long film and has some slow dramatic moments, but it builds momentum and is one of the best Civil War films for helping viewers visualize the battles and other aspects. Believe it or not, the movie includes overt depictions of Bible readings, scripture references, and prayer! It even dares to show Christianity and marriage (between a man and woman) in a positive light!! Can you believe it?! GRADE: B+/A-

Source on TMDB