Product Description

The fiercest battle fought on american soil commands the screen an epic film achievement painstakingly recreating the people and events of fateful days in july 1863. Special features: subtitles in english and french cas/crew interview gallery cast/director filmographies and much more. Studio: Turner Hm Entertainm Release Date: 06/21/2005 Starring: Tom Berenger Martin Sheen Run time: 254 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Ronald F. Maxwell

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1125 in DVD
• Brand: BERENGER/DANIELS/SHEEN
• Released on: 2004-02-03
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French
• Subtitled in: French, English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 254 minutes

Amazon.com essential video
Three days in the summer of 1863, at a place called Gettysburg. Although it received a theatrical release, this four-hour depiction of the bloody Civil War battle was shot as a made-for-television film. But no taint of cheapness or shortcuts should stick to this magnificent picture (well, except maybe for those phony-looking mustaches). Based on Michael Shaara's book The Killer Angels, this film takes a refreshingly slow, thorough approach to the intricacies of battle. In ordinary circumstances, those intricacies might seem of importance only to fans of military strategy or Civil War enthusiasts, yet in Gettysburg they come across as the very stuff of life, death, and unexpected heroism. If the film has a problem, it's that it climaxes too early: the first long segment, detailing the struggle of a "civilian soldier," Union Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (Jeff Daniels), to hold his ground against long odds, is an enthralling piece of moviemaking. Daniels, in a heartbreaking performance, does his best film work. Other cast members include Tom Berenger, Sam Elliott, and Martin Sheen as Robert E. Lee. Richard Jordan, in his final role, gives a powerhouse performance as Confederate general Lewis A. Armistead. Oh, and you can also try to spot Ted Turner, whose company produced the film, as a Confederate soldier. Writer-director Ronald F. Maxwell seems inspired by the gravity of the battle; long as it is, every moment of Gettysburg is informed by a nobility of purpose. --Robert Horton

DVD features
Even without the movie, the Gettysburg DVD would qualify as a valuable document for Civil War enthusiasts. The feature-length commentary is highly informative for filmmakers and historians alike, and the making-of documentary, while not strictly about the production of Gettysburg, incorporates historical insights from the film's entire primary cast. Equally noteworthy is the Oscar-nominated 1955 documentary The Battle of Gettysburg, narrated by Leslie Nielsen. Produced and written by MGM studio executive Dore Schary (just as Nielsen was about to star in Forbidden Planet for the studio), the film relates the events of history through scenic views of the Gettysburg battleground as well as the many statues and landmarks that serve as timeless reminders of Gettysburg's historical significance. Battle maps and strategic descriptions are also provided, making this DVD a concise and compelling tribute to the soldiers--North and South--who perished on those fateful days in 1863. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

When will extended version be available
Gettsbug's Collectors Edition in 1993 had 17 additional minutes. This should be available on dvd.

A Little Long but an Impressive Achievement
"Gettysburg" is a film best watched in parts as it is very long (it needed to be lenghty though). This is one of the most accurate civil war films I have seen and an impressive number of reeactors were used in some of the battle scenes. Picket's Charge is particullarly well filmed as is the fighting on Little Round Top. Not all of the battle could be covered even in this epic and the cavalry battle on July third is excluded. The musical score is very appropriate and the film has a fine collection of actors. Jeff Daniels, Martin Sheen, Sam Elliot, and Tom Berenger portray their characters well and surprisingly, all of these four except Elliot look a lot like the historical figures they are portraying. The other actors generally do a good job as well.
Overall, "Glory" is still my favorite Civil War film as a movie, but "Gettysburg" is superb in its own right and unlike many Hollywood films seems fairly accurate.

Best Ever Civil War Movie
This is without question the absolute best Civil War movie ever made. It is beautifully filmed, expertly directed, and features stellar performances by Berringer and Daniels. If you are a Civil War buff, you must have this DVD in your collection.