'Gods & Generals': Les Kinsolving marvels at disparity in comments about hot new film

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Tuesday, February 25, 2003 | Les Kinsolving

[JohnHuang2]

Tuesday, February 25, 2003

Quote of the Day by A_perfect_lady

[First Amendment]

Let's all go see it a bunch of times!

(Anytime any Freepers see a good movie put it up here - I don't go to any movies anymore unless Mel Gibson is in them. So please let us know about good movies - there are so few.)

[formerlytempaussie]

This movie was certainly the LONGEST movie I have ever watched, four hours counting the intermission.

Though I felt the first 45 minutes were a bit slow and lacked direction, the movie picked up from there and had a very non-Hollywood element (realistic) to the rest of the portrayals of those men who led the South.

I thought one of the best performances was by the woman who played Jackson's wife. How refreshing it was to see men and women who actually had respect and love for each other.

Though the ultimate outcome of the war probably did not hinge on the death of Jackson, it certainly was shortened by the loss of this General.

[Dante3]

We plan to see "Gods and Generals" on Sunday. I agree there have been very few good films. Some relatively recent ones we have liked:
"Lord of the Rings" (Part I & II)
"Spiderman"
"Brigham City" (has a truly surprise ending)
"Mexico City"
"Blackhawk Down" -- a must see

I liked a lot the first half of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Then it went a little flat (however, last night the TV show based on it was boring). "Sweet Home Alabama" also was pretty good.

I have heard that "Barbershop" is good but haven't had a chance to see it.

[Dante3]

I should have said plan to see GAG again.

[RushLake]

I agree that Stephen Lang ought to be in contention for an Oscar. I also found Robert Duvall to be a much more credible Robert E. Lee than was limp wrist Martin Sheen in "Gettysburg". It is debatable whether "Gods and Generals" would ever garner very many Oscars if any. It presents slave holders in a heroic light. It doesn't spend enough time presenting all black people as victims of all white people. It has a lot of (gasp) stars and bars in it. On the other hand, it does have the vile leftists Ted Turner and Robert Byrd in it. It will be interesting if their participation gives it a chance for the PC oscars.

[Jaxter]

If you haven't seen it yet, I'd recommend you add "We Were Soldiers Once" to your list. IMHO, the best Vietnam War movie ever.

[TFMcGuire]

Being forced to stare for an entire afternoon at a statue of Stonewall Jackson.

Who would you and the media have us stare at instead, Mr. Sragow?

Vacuous sports stars or still more vacuous modern film stars?

One attribute only lifts an individual to the worth of consideration and emulation of his fellow man---Character!

Of which Thos. Jackson was overflowing. Your Heroes?

You are not fit to shine his shoes.

God deliver us from you priests of hedonism and humanism.

What you are is indicative of God's judgment upon you.

Gaaack!

Regards,

TMc.

[TFMcGuire]

The Book is Dynamite, too.

The heroism of these men will stab you in the heart.

Regards,

TMc

[mict42]

An Epic Film. The industry hates it because it is so good. Figure that out and you'll know why 40% of the population doesn't get Iraq.

[IncPen]

Ebert hated it, which means we'd probably like it.

Let's do it (even without the guys)

[mommybain]

"We Were Soldiers"

Watched it this past weekend w/ my 13-year-old son. He's still talking about it, which is amazing since his attention span right now is about as long as a gnat's.

See this movie if you haven't!

[mommybain]

Va Tech Hokie bump for James Robertson, Jackson's biographer.

[Dante3]

I forgot to list "We Were Soldiers Once." I agree it is a truly great film. Also, other Mel Gibson films such as "The Patriot." My all time favorites include "Braveheart" and "Gone with the Wind."

[Illbay]

It presents slave holders in a heroic light.

Well, I guess that depends on your definition of "heroic."

While it is true they were fighting for a repugnant cause, they believed that cause meant life or death for the slaveholding states. In a sense they were right, but ultimately history is the judge, and they were very, very wrong.

It is difficult for us to understand the ambivalence toward "African slavery" that existed at the time, even for most people in the "free states." Although their cause was wrong, given the climate of the times they thought they were doing the honorable thing.

The result of that war was a true UNION of the states into a single nation, ironically. Before that time, "the United States" was spoken of in the plural ("the United States are a Repubic"). Afterward it was spoken of in singular as we do today ("the United States is a Republic"). Before, people thought in terms of their state or their region. That is what people like Robert E. Lee thought they were fighting for.

[Dante3]

We received a card for over 50 free video/DVD rentals at Blockbusters. A number of films highly recommended by Ebert turned out to be so extremely boring that we never finished watching them. It made us wonder if he gets paid for his praise. In any case, he lost all credibility.

[js1138]

Before sending anyone to see it, you need to warn them that it violates not only political correctness, but also the Hollywood script writing conventions, acting conventions and editing conventions. The dialog is adapted from writings of the period and is completely unlike anything heard in movies today. There are no fast cuts in the editing.

[Tax-chick]

James Robertson, Jackson's biographer

A very kind, as well as erudite, man. He sent my son Thomas Jackson an autographed copy of the book for his first birthday ... arranged by my Dad!

[flying Elvis]

Big ditto! They patterned the dialogue on letters and speeches, not actual vernacular. The director should have spent some more time looking at letters written by common soldiers. They actually used cusswords and expressed emotions in a language the modern reader could identify with. The movie included too many quotes from marble monuments to allow the story to carry itself. The director focused on the minutinae of the Civil War instead of telling a coherent story about whatever he was trying to convey with way too many side lines from indistinguishable bearded men.

The reenactors did okay, but didn't portray the gore of a Civil War battle accurately. A real CW battle rivaled the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan in terms of horror.

GAG has all the hallmarks of a 30 minute history channel documentary. While I appreciate the noble effort involved in this movie, it was still a bad movie by any standard. Being politically incorrect and having a positive depiction of Christianity does not a good movie make.

If anything, Civil War buffs should be disappointed in this movie; the financial losses it reaps will insure there are no epic Civil War movies for some time to come.

[mommybain]

He seems that way to me, and I've never met him. I do know that every Va Tech alumni magazine or newsletter I receive these days features him quite prominently. Evidently he worked directly with Robert Duvall during filming also.