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 …

The film shies away from portraying genuine realities, instead relying on a superficial aesthetic meant to appear artistic and reminiscent of older films. This serves as a way to obscure an idealized and romanticized perspective of the Civil War, one favored by those who hold sentimental views about that period. The experience was genuinely difficult to endure.