"He's given me my country back." A REAL Review of 'God's and Generals' (Post your review here)

‘Gods and Generals' Succeeds ‘Chariots of Fire’ as the Christ-Honoring Film for This Generation

Jackson: "My esposita! Come, before I leave, we must sit, read together ... a verse." Jackson finds his Bible on a shelf.

Jackson: "Yes, yes, here. Corinthians. Second Corinthians, chapter 5. I have been thinking about this verse." Anna puts her hand on his, and they read it together.

"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." They kneel together, his arm is around her.

In every generation, one film emerges from the dust heap which is Hollywood and reminds even the most hardened of us skeptics that God can turn ashes into beauty, that He often works outside our tidy little mental boxes, and that there yet remains a witness for Jesus Christ in our culture -- though that witness may take the form of a hero speaking from the grave.

When I was a young man en route to college, that film was Chariots of Fire, the epic tale of Christian Olympian Eric Liddell. For our children's generation, that film is Gods and Generals, the stunning prequel to the Civil War masterpiece Gettysburg.

In February of 2002, I flew to Hollywood with my father [Howard Phillips-COnstitution Party] to see a private five-and-a-half-hour director's cut with Ron Maxwell, the genius behind the movie.

None of us were prepared for what we saw that day -- what can only be described as the most compelling and distinctively Christian tribute to principled biblical leadership that this generation has seen on celluloid.

For one brief moment in our lives, those of us in that forty-person theater were transported out of the twenty-first century and into the more distant time of the Civil War, the events of which would help define the people which we are today. And for a few hours, we were allowed to live and breathe with the man whose very sobriquet has become synonymous with manhood.
We rode with Stonewall.

The heart and the soul of Gods and Generals is Stephen Lang's never-to-be-surpassed portrayal of Thomas Jonathan Jackson, the most misunderstood, but most overtly evangelical and Christian general in our nation's history. (See Life and Campaigns of Stonewall Jackson by Robert Louis Dabney.)

Here we see Jackson seeking to win dying souls, not to some god, but to Jesus Christ.
Here we watch him praying that God would allow a cessation from battle to honor the Holy Sabbath.
Here we weep with him as he rejoices that God would bless the fruit of the womb.
Here we see the man, who was known to most as a warrior, demonstrate a love and loyalty to his wife so precious and sanctified that an aura of holiness engulfs the couple as they pray before their God.
Here we watch in awe, as we have never watched a man before, embrace a holy ferocity in battle motivated by the singular belief that the warrior of Christ need never fear bullets, for he will not die one day sooner nor later than the sovereign God decrees.
And here, with heartbreaking anguish, we watch the dying warrior commend his soul to his God, while the loved ones around him bathe him with hymns of eternal love to the Savior.

After seeing the film, James Robertson, our nation's premier Civil War historian, declared that "Gods and Generals is the greatest Civil War film I have ever seen, and I have seen every one of them."

Mr. Lincoln said he liked his speeches short and sweet, so here it is: The new Warner Brothers picture Gods and Generals is not only the finest movie ever made about the Civil War, it is also the best American historical film. Period.

Writer-director Ron Maxwell's prequel ... is so free of cant, of false notes, of the politically conformist genuflections that we expect in our historical movies, that one watches it as if in a trance, wondering if he hasn't stumbled into a movie theater in an alternative America wherein talented independents like Maxwell get $80 million from Ted Turner to make complex and beautiful films about what Gore Vidal has called "the great single tragic event that continues to give resonance to our Republic."

By this film, Maxwell has emerged as the most humble, the most visionary, and the most fearless director of the day. His humility is evidenced by what the film does not say, as much as by what it does say. Maxwell understands that the poignant complexities surrounding the Civil War and the profound nobility of purpose imagined by the players on both sides of the conflict demand a film that neither preaches nor skirts the true issues. He not only refuses to reduce history to trite sound bites, but he weaves a film that requires the viewer to understand the heart and soul of the key players on both sides before making judgments.

Maxwell's vision is especially impressive. He has understood what no other producer of note has understood -- namely, that a profanity- and sensuality-free epic battle film with an overtly evangelical Christian protagonist can be utterly compelling to the people of this nation. Not since Cecil B. DeMille has this even been attempted. Yet many viewers will find that Maxwell surpasses even DeMille in his open enthusiasm for teaching history through the lens of Christian heroism.

Maxwell is simply fearless. My first reaction after seeing the movie in 2002 was, "it will never reach the theaters -- someone will blackball the project." Maxwell has dared to tell the truth about the much-maligned Southern cause: Namely, that the leadership was predominantly made up of men whose entire ethic was defined by their personal relationship with Jesus Christ; and that black men and women -- many of them brothers and sisters in Christ with their white counterparts -- willingly and proudly served with the Confederacy, standing against those whom they perceived to be the invaders of their homeland.

He is simply presenting truths that are not easily processed by those who want to reduce the complexities of history to socially acceptable sound bites about slavery.

Equally compelling is Maxwell's portrayal of the federal soldier, personified through the character of Joshua Chamberlain (played by Jeff Daniels). I predict that even the most ardent Southerner will find himself deeply touched by Chamberlain and the heroic battle of the Irish Brigade.

I spoke with actors Stephen Lang (Stonewall Jackson), Jeff Daniels (Joshua Chamberlain) Bruce Boxleitner (General Longstreet) and Bo Brinkman (aide to Lee) during a visit to the film set just a few weeks following the 9-11 disaster. (I was visiting with my sixteen-year-old brother, whose "home school project" was to personally assist director Maxwell for several months.) Each of these men, in their own way, indicated that this film was different from any other project on which they had previously worked, that their participation was a labor of love, and that their own lives had been influenced by discovering the nobility of the men they portrayed.

Which brings me back to my own amazement about Gods and Generals: In one of the more remarkable episodes in the history of modern film, the Lord moved in the life of a Hollywood writer/director/producer to speak to the issue of manhood and faith, and then gave him favor in the eyes of media mogul Ted Turner, who opened up the door by bankrolling the $80 million project.

Now here's some tough medicine: If this film had been left to the Christian community to produce, it probably would never have been made -- not for lack of money, not even for lack of ability -- but for lack of a courageous vision.

Too many Christians would have been afraid of the inevitable and bogus charges of racism which abound whenever Confederate leaders are portrayed favorably. They would have been afraid of Jackson's uncompromising and manly Christianity. But most of all, they would have been afraid that the film was, well, just too Christian!

That's right. Christians are afraid of overtly Christian culture. Most Christian filmmakers and cultural communicators have bought into the notion that one must either reduce the Gospel message to trite little maxims, or present it with such subtlety that the Gospel message is almost undecipherable. Don't get me wrong. There's a place for subtlety, but there is also a place for the overt proclamation of truth.

Gods and Generals presents orthodox, no-holds-barred Christianity. Not because the film was designed as a tool of evangelism, but because the film is faithful and true to the life of a soldier who was first and foremost an obedient evangelist for Jesus Christ.

This is not a "nice" film, but Christianity is not always "nice." It's not nice when a general is called to execute his own soldiers for desertion. It is not nice, but it is biblical, as Jackson explains with tremendous clarity and precision. It is not nice to pick up the sword and go to battle, but when one is defending one's homeland, it is mandatory.

My single greatest concern is that many Christians will lack the spiritual and theological maturity to understand the consistency and orthodoxy of Jackson's worldview. They will seek to evaluate this man through the twenty-first century grid of pop-Christianity, or brand him a self-contradiction, or an enigma.

The truth is that Jackson was one of the most rigorously consistent and principled leaders in American military history. He represents the type of man we rarely see any more: focused under pressure, fearless in the face of death, ferocious in battle, but singularly tender in home life and wedded bliss. (Important: Please order a copy of our new book Beloved Bride: The Life and Letters of Stonewall Jackson to His Wife to better understand the Christian character of this great man. Click here to see how you can receive a free copy.)
[I didn't get the original email so I don't know what the link is for the book!]

Those of us privileged to watch the director's cut with Maxwell last February knew that we had observed something truly extraordinary, something which was bigger than the film itself. Here was a movie that would do more than accurately record history; it would make history. Maxwell has given the children of this generation the opportunity to gain rich insights into the fathers of their fathers. Only by engaging their history truthfully can we even dare to understand our present identity or our future destiny as the American people.

We sat motionless, completely unable to speak even after the last credit rolled and the music came to an end.

The first words I heard came from a man sitting near me, a writer of some note. Fighting back the emotions, the writer whispered:
"He's given me my country back."

And so he has. Ron Maxwell has defied the political correctness police of both the Right and the Left by giving the American people a truthful vision of their past. He has shown a time when men defended women, when faith in God defined a man's vision of duty, when the greatest leaders were also the most committed Christians. For the first time in the history of modern major motion pictures, a director with guts has given us the opportunity to understand the complexities, the beauty, the horror, the glory, the tragedy, and the Gospel witness found in one of the greatest fratricides in the history of any people.

After the review, my father and I drove director Maxwell home. That night we prayed with him and for him. We prayed that the final product would be pleasing to God, that God would use the film to bring honor to Jesus Christ, and that millions would better understand manhood as a result of watching the film. What a blessing to think that the testimony of a warrior who died more than one hundred and thirty years ago could lead people to Christ today.

Doug Phillips is the president of Vision Forum and the producer/director of the documentary film Raising the Allosaur. He is the proud 38-year-old big brother to Samuel Phillips, a 16-year-old home educator who served as personal assistant to director Ron Maxwell on the film set of Gods and Generals, and both a Yankee and a Confederate extra in the film. At the time of this writing, Doug has yet to see the edited and final 3.5-hour version of the film.

Christ in the Camp: The True Stroy of the Great Revival During the War Between the States

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J. J. White, the captain of the unit in which Hugh White fought - happened to also be HIS BROTHER! Both sons of Dr. W.S. White, General Jackson's pastor.

Here is a snippet from Hugh White's letter to his father after the Manassas battle - this dated July 23, 1861.

My dear Father,

I wrote you yesterday that you might know of our safety. You will hear more of the particulars of the battle of the 2st than I have time now to give. Our Company has suffered sadly......Who thought that our ranks would thus be thinned and so many be hurried into eternity? Where are their souls? This thought often perplexes and saddens me. I pray that I may hereafter be far more zealous in seeking to bring sinners to Christ, that if they die, they may only sleep in Him. I wish that I was with you to join in ascribing praise and glory to the good providence which preserved me in such danger. Everyone in the fight was in imminent peril. Balls flew fast around and over us, and many of our brave comrades fell at our side. But brother James and I, though separated for awhile during the first charge, soon met again and side by side we passed through the remaining scenes of the day. We are unhurt. Though our loss has been great, the field is ours. The enemy was put to flight and chased for miles. .......They fought bravely - for their regulars and best soldiers were engaged. But they could not stand the charge of bayonets. Every time we advanced, they fell back. Who would not praise God for thus overthrowing those, who, on His Holy day, sought to execute their wicked purpose to crush those who sought to defend their liberties and their home. It was an awful Sabbath.

How often I long to be with you, enjoying the privileges of the Sabbath. Even one hour would have been delightful. But God ordered otherwise. We are all in His Hands. He casts down and He keeps alive. May He speedily crown our cause with complete success! If it please Him, may I again see my father and mother in peace and spend my life in preaching His Gospel. The scenes in which I am now engaged are very sad; yet the taste of victory, though bought by precious blood, is sweet. But to preach would be far better. .......But surely God has spared us in this protracted and bloody battle, as He has, He can spare us in the future. There was an incessant roar of cannon and musketry for over eight hours. The hardest fighting was from eleven to four o'clock. We were in this........I hope to see you again in peace. But if we do not meet here again, we have a home in heaven.

Hugh

Next is a letter from Hugh, the seminary student turned battlefield warrior, to his younger brother, Thomas (T in the letter). Hugh so longed to bring others to Jesus Christ - even amidst the carnage and battles in which he found himself. Here he goes "to battle" for the soul of his younger brother T. - letter is undated.

The recent disasters, especially that at Fort Donaldson, have not discouraged but aroused the Army, and they are more anxious to do something to redeem our cause than ever. I am glad that the same effect has been produced among the people, many of whom should have been in the army long ago. No man ought to permit himself to be drafted. It is my intention now to remain in the army. Although you are not yet 17 years of age, I wish you could be here. But, T, I am afraid to see your life in so much danger. I should tremble far more for you than for myself. If I am killed, I have a good hope, that I should at once enter heaven, and be happy forever. This hope cheers and animates me at all times...so that while death walks on every side, no tormenting fears arise. But alas! How different with those who, unprepared for death, meet it on the field of battle. I have heard such men cry to mercy in the midst of the battle, when the cries seemed louder than the roar of the cannon, and certainly pierced the heart with keener anguish.

How then could I endure to see you placed in danger of such a fate? Will you then, at once, seek preparation for death, so that whether it meets you at home, with everything to promote your bodily comfort, or amid the horrid carnage of the battlefield, it will be without terror? Why not, at once, do so? Why wait one day, one hour longer? Everything calsl you to decide for God and against sin. Every day you live out of Christ sin is binding you more and more firmly in its fetters, and may thus hold you as its captive forever. I beseech you, therefore, to break off from every form of sin. Tear yourself away from it by fleeing at once to Jesus Christ, the only Savior from sin and death. Do you never feel anxious to be a Christian? When you sit in your room at night, with your Bible at your side, does something never whisper to you----open, read, obey this book, that you may be happy forever? I know it does. This is the Spirit of God speaking to you. Heed its voice---search the Scriptures, and you shall find eternal life. I wish I could write more to you, but I cannot today. My prayers follow you day and night. But even this will avail nothing if you will persist in rejecting the Savior. The question of life and death, salvation or eternal destruction, must be decided by yourself. The only reason why sinners are lost, is that they "will not come to Christ that He may give them life." It is their own fault. How will you decide? Decide at once for Christ, I beseech you!

Your fond brother,

Hugh

Hugh's brother Thomas (T) White did join the fight - becoming one of his brother's fellow soldiers in the 1 Company, 4th Virginia Infantry. Hugh was elected captain of that unit with T at his side - in May of 1862.

More letters of Hugh exist regarding the battles of that year. His last letter to his father was dated August 24, 1862, from the Banks of the Rappahannock.

My dear father,

You are al no doubt anxious to hear from T and myself. We have not had another battle though there has been some sharp skirmishing, and the roar of artillery has been almost incessant for several days past. We have moved some distance up the banks of the Rappahannock each day, halting occasionally to throw shells at the enemy and receive some from them. ......General Stuart has just captured 300 prisoners, destroyed a large number of Yankee wagons, bringing off the horses, and found the trunks of General Pope and thirt other officers at a railroad station. ......T. is now behind the Army, sick with jaundice. He is able to go about and I have just heard that he is with a citizen making his way toward Gordonsville. He has the surgeon's permission. I deeply regret that I did not see him again and furnish him with more money before he left. He must be transferred to the Cavalry because he cannot stand the Infantry service.

The order has just come to cook 3 days rations, and it is probable that we shall move forward in the morning but no one knows.

This has been very little like the Sabbath....The busy preparations for tomorrow prevent any enjoyment of the Sabbath. However, Dr. Stiles is to preach to the Brigade this afternoon, and I hope to hear him. It requires a great struggle to keep the busy scenes around me from driving all devotion from my heart. They ought to have a contrary effect. I ought now more than ever seek my strength, my happiness, my allin God. How can I live without Him? With Him no storm can disturb my peace, no danger can come nigh, no harm can befall me which will not do me good.

I feel greatly relieved at T's absence. I hope he may not return until the shock of battle I see approaching is past. ....God will give us victory, and enable us to crush the infamous man who now leads "The Grand Army of the Glorious Union." When Lincoln presides, with Halleck as Military Chief at Washington and Pope is the first commander in the field - how can they triumph over our leaders who are as distinguished for their piety as they are for their bravery and skill?

I send you three hundred dollars. Of this I wish you appropriate one hundred dollars for T's outfit for the Calvary, one hundred be held subject to my order, and one hundred as a donation to the Confederate States Bible Society and our Committee for the publication of religious tracts and Books.

Give my warmest love to all at home. You are constantly in my mind, firmly engraved upon my heart. Write when you can to your devoted son.

Hugh

On August 25th, 1862, Captain Hugh White's company was part of the 27,000 man army that Jackson led in a great semi-circle west to the Shenandoah Valley and then east through Manassas Gap and on to Bristow Station and Manassas Junction, a two day march of over 50 miles. The stage was set for the second great battle of Manassas. There was hard fighting August 27th and 28th. But the real battle began on August 29th. On that day, the 4th Virginia Infantry was able to pur in line only 180 men, 76 of whom became casualties. Colonel W.T. Poague in his memoirs tells of attending a prayer meeting that evening which was led by Captain Hugh White. The next day, August 30th, 1862, there were 21 more casualties in the 4th Virginia, including that of Captain Hugh Augustus White. The battle was a victory for the Confederate forces. But, as reported by Dr. James Robertson who wrote a history of the 4th Virginia Infantry, "The western Virginia regiments never fully recovered from a bitterly contested struggle."

Final post - apologies if this is boring to some. It hits my heart today as many prepare for the battles our soldiers face right now in a new conflict:

Here is a letter from General Stonewall Jackson to Dr. W. S. White, father of three sons fighting for the Confederacy but moreso, fighting for freedom from oppression. Dr. White was the pastor at the Lexington Presbyterian Church where Stonewall Jackson had met him and they had become friends. Both men were concerned with the state of mens' souls as well as with the state of the war in which they found themselves. General Jackson, for one thing, was involved with Dr. White in the establishment of Sunday schools for "colored" children. (the language of the time). One letter is from a soldier who reports Jackson - in the heat of battle preparations - rode up beside him and commented on these Sunday Schools with good hopes of their continuance and effect.

Below is a snippet from General Jackson's letter to Dr. W.S. White, dated March 9, 1863.

My Dear Pastor,

Your letter of the 5th inst. was handed me yesterday. I am much obliged to you for it and thankful to God and to yourself for the deep interest you take in the Army. I felt that if you were a young man that you would delight to labor in the Army. Though your health will not admit of such constant labor yet I trust that you will find it convenient to come and preach a few sermons. I do not feel that I can accurately express by letter the inducements that exist for Christian labor among our troops. If you could come and spenda few days and see for yourself, I believe that good would be accomplished not only by our labors here but by the impressions which you would carry away.

(the next section is about General Jackson seeking more Ministers of the Gospel to be sent to his Army. Evidently Dr. White wanted Gen. Jackson to so state publicly his desires but the General was hesitant because, "This I shrink from doing because it looks like presumption in me to come before the general public and even intimate what course I think should be pursued by the church (people of God). I have had so little experience in church matters as to make it very proper it appears to me to keep quiet beyond the expression of my views to friends. Whilst I feel that this is the proper course for me to pursue and the one which is congenial to my feelings, yet if you and Col. Preston after prayerful consultation are of the opinion that my name in connection with my wishes will be the means of doing good, I do not desire any sensibility that I may have to be a drawback in the way of doing good. I desire myself and all that I have to be dedicated to the service of God. .....

My views are summed up in a few words which are these. Each Christian branch of the church should send into the Army some of its most prominent ministers who are distinguished for their piety, talents, and zeal and that such ministers should labor to produce concert of action among Chaplains and Christians in the Army. These ministers should give special attention to preaching to regiments which are wihout chaplains, and induce them to take steps to get chaplains, to let the regiments name the denominations from which they desire chaplains selected and trhen to see that suitable chaplains are secured.A bad selection of a chaplain may prove a curse instead of a blessing. If a few prominent ministers thus connected with each Army would corially cooperate, I believe that glorious fruits would be the results.......I would like to see no question asked in the Army as to what denomination a chaplain belongs; but let the question be does he preach the Gospel. The neglect of the spiritual interests in the Army may be partially seen from the fact that not half of my regiment have chaplains. .....Give my love to Mrs. White ......

Very truly yours,

Your friend,

T.J. Jackson

Just returned from the film. At first, I thought, "Oh no...Those who said the film was 'plodding' were right," as I thought the film dragged during much of the first hour. But as the characters were developed, the grandeur of the film opened up. (I think those critics who called the film "plodding" left after the first hour.)

Clearly, the Civil War is too large a topic to try to capture in any one film, or even any three films (as Maxwell is planning a third and final film in his trilogy). I can see how some critics felt that this is a film for the Civil War buff, as some knowledge of the events leading up to the war, and the sequence of battles, was necessary to fill in the gaps in the film.

It is a challenge to do a film about the Civil War that is fair to both sides, but this film, I thought, achieved it. Aside from the issues leading up to cessession and the war, clearly, the emphasis of the film were the main characters. Robert Duvall is one of my favorite actors, and he was fabulous in the role of Lee. But the characterization of Thomas Jackson was awe inspiring. I teared-up three times during the film (which says a lot, because I don't tear up at films, as a rule): when Jackson prayed on behalf of his dying fellow-officer ("I'll have faith enough for the both of us..."), when he wept for the loss of the little girl, Jane, who befriended him in Fredericksburg, and, naturally, as he died in a fever-induced delirium, calling out orders to A.P. Hill, and then seeing the "green grass under the trees" just across the river. It would take a cynical person, or a cold-hearted one, not to be moved by the honor, dignity, faith, tenderness, and courage portrayed by the performace of the actor who played Jackson; and the fact that the events portrayed were actually true to history and to the man made it all the more impressive and powerful. In this regard, Maxwell is to be congratulated for doing a historical film without promoting an agenda, allowing, for the most part, history to speak for itself.

I've never been sympathetic to the Southern "cause" in the Civil War (as a personal note, my ancestors lived in Canada at the time of the Civil War, but two of my distant relatives served in the Union army, one with the Maine militia, the other serving with the militia from Connecticut), but I was impressed by the honor of the men who led their brothers in their cause. Lee and Jackson were great leaders, great Virginians, and great Americans.

My son and I just returned from seeing this wonderful film. I can't tell you how shocked we were to see something that had anything with Ted Turner's name attached to it, give such a honest portrayal of a period in history so contrary to his view of most everything else he has graced us with over his professional career.

I am somewhat of a collector of Civil War era documents and books written in and by witnesses with first hand accounts, and this movie follows as close as I imagine can be done within the restraints of time and substance. This film stuck to the true development of the actual characters they portrayed as anything I have documenting the facts in real time. We were especially shocked to hear the leaders describe their reasons which motivated them to fight with such conviction, and inspiration, divine and otherwise, which contradicts the prevailing political thought portrayed in today's sanitized view of history.

I didn't think I would ever say this but, I would recommend this movie to everyone, with the belief they will join me in welcoming a new breed of non-PC film making as we could expect out of Hollywood. This movie wasn't at all too long, as the critics claim, it wouldn't have pleased them if it was only 10 minutes of the true facts about the quality of the leaders in the Confederacy.

However, I couldn't help but think that we would have had to cross a liberal picket line to see this movie if Mel Gibson or any conservative would have dared dispense the truth about the integrity of the southern cause and take on the PC whores and media. Only Ted Turner could get this kind of pass, just as Clinton did with welfare reform.

We saw the film yesterday afternoon, Gretchen, and it was marvelous......particularly the VERY accurate Christian portrayal of Stonewall Jackson......what a remarkable man he was! Mr O had read the book.....I have not yet......and was amazed at how much of the spiritual content in it was retained in the film.

It also revealed more clearly than any other film the perspective of the south, that they had been invaded by the north, their placement of state over union, and their belief that God was on their side of the conflict. They prayed for God's will as well as those in the north........and it was done, even though it was not what they prayed that it would be. God clearly wanted the evil of slavery to end, and desired that this nation be united in order to accomplish great things in the next century, and I believe in this one......

Did it move me as much as Chariots of Fire, or Gettysburg (or The Two Towers)? Probably not.......but that perhaps was because I was preoccupied with the horror of sending one's son to war.

If you haven't seen it yet.....GO.

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