I saw this film in a movie theater soon after its release; it had a limited run, so most viewers probably caught it later on cable. The opening sequence, with the introduction of the actors alongside images of the historical people they portray, immediately grabbed my attention. The story comes from Michael Shaara’s novel, *The Killer Angels*. It was one of the initial books I read about the Civil War—a coworker suggested it to me—and despite having explored many others on the subject since then, it remains a personal favorite. Given how relatively brief the book is, the film's length exceeding four hours demonstrates the extensive research that went into its creation. I’m not qualified to judge the accuracy of the actors’ Southern accents, but I thought the ensemble was excellent, even in the smaller parts. I understand they incorporated Civil War re-enactors as extras, which is a smart move since those individuals are familiar with the period and already own appropriate clothing! It certainly didn't diminish my enjoyment that Jeff Daniels, one of the main actors, plays Joshua Chamberlain—a man from my home state of Maine who lived an extraordinary life: he was a college professor, a Volunteer army lieutenant who advanced to general, a Medal of Honor recipient, and later Governor of Maine. Apparently, this movie has made the spot on the Gettysburg National Battlefield where the 20th Maine and Chamberlain fought the most popular tourist destination. Interestingly, Steve Earle’s song “Dixieland” was inspired by Chamberlain and the 20th Maine's story; hearing the song makes me want to watch the film, and seeing the film makes me want to hear the song. Regardless, it is a war movie, and I typically don’t care for that genre, but this one offers so much more than just battles. You could easily consider it a mini-series and view it over two or three sessions if that helps. Some critics suggest it might downplay the political complexities faced by the South, though there's a speech delivered by Chamberlain about race relations that I think provides some perspective and balance. I really could continue talking about this for quite some time, but I’ll stop now. In fact, I feel like listening to a particular song right now.

Source on TMDB