Gods and Generals

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Gods and Generals

PG-13

2003

3h 39m

War

History

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

8%

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118 Reviews

64%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

A sweeping epic charting the early years of the Civil War and how the campaigns unfolded from Manassas I to the Battle of Fredericksburg, this prequel to the film "Gettysburg" explores the motivations of the combatants and examines the lives of those who waited at home.

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Critics Consensus

Filled with two-dimensional characters and pompous self-righteousness, Gods and Generals is a long, tedious sit. Some may also take offense at the pro-Confederate slant.

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Meticulous Civil War story runs a little long.

Rated: 3/5

Dec 24, 2010

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Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

Everybody is so good and decent that it's hard to tell where the generals leave off and the gods start.

Rated: C-

Oct 29, 2008

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Bill Stamets

Chicago Reader

Maxwell continues his textbook emphasis on military maneuvers, but despite literally thousands of Civil War reenactors recruited for the film, the wide-screen canvas fails to map the tactics or evoke the terror of battle.

Feb 27, 2007

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Peter Canavese

Groucho Reviews

Succumbs to turgidity. And...intentionally or not...conveys the impression that the film uncritically celebrates the Confederacy. [Blu-ray]

Rated: 1.5/4

May 30, 2011

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Urban Cinefile Critics

Urban Cinefile

A labour of love with special interest to history buffs, this epic film is extraordinary in many ways.

Oct 18, 2008

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Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan

Then there is 'Gods and Generals,' cut from the same production cloth as 'Gettysburg' but a film of very loose ends.

Rated: C-

Oct 15, 2004

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Scott W

They should of called this movie Birth of a Nation Part II

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/22/25

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Audience Member

It’s very long and boring, in fact the film could’ve been trimmed down by over an hour. But the comments by online, righteous, moral crusaders about the film are far worse.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/31/25

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Andrew P

Why depict "Stonewall" Jackson as a competent and effective leader? Let's just make him super creepy instead.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

07/11/25

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Tom S

Characters, lighting, wardrobes come across like old tacky squeaky clean soap operas. B grade extras with some looking like they had just come from a Beverly Hills shopping spree. Made it through about 20 minutes & realized why put myself thru this.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

06/20/25

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John T

Great movie. Recording an episode in American history. Of course in modern times we are required to judge history and accord such records as good or evil remembering history and showing it remains important. This is a fictional account so isn’t 100% accurate but is still valuable.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/27/24

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Richard M

Yes there’s an element of one-dimensional acting and script writing and this film isn’t a lesson in great movie making. But a lot of the criticism is for its supposed pro-Confederate narrative. I think this is disingenuous, It’s tied to an equally false post-modern, comfortable interpretation that all in the South were evil. The film doesn’t aim to re-write the wickedness of slavery or even suggest the southern cause was based on any righteous foundation. Indeed it shows the complexities facing both soldier and civilian alike. If the southern motives look foolish, shallow and outdated (even by 19th C standards) then the film is surely achieving its aim in showing people (some of whom were genuinely decent) can uphold a misguided and even wicked cause. There is a lot in this film worthy of criticism. There is s lot too worthy of attention.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

Full Review

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Ronald F. Maxwell

Director

Jeff Daniels

Colonel Joshua Chamberlain

Stephen Lang

General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

Robert Duvall

General Robert E. Lee

Mira Sorvino

Fanny Chamberlain

Kevin Conway

Sergeant 'Buster' Kilrain

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Synopsis

A sweeping epic charting the early years of the Civil War and how the campaigns unfolded from Manassas I to the Battle of Fredericksburg, this prequel to the film "Gettysburg" explores the motivations of the combatants and examines the lives of those who waited at home.

Director: Ronald F. Maxwell
Producer: Ronald F. Maxwell
Screenwriter: Ronald F. Maxwell, Jeff Shaara
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co: Ted Turner Pictures
Rating: PG-13 (Sustained Battle Sequences)
Genre: War, History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 21, 2003, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $12.9M
Runtime: 3h 39m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital, Dolby SR, SDDS, Dolby Stereo, DTS, Surround, Dolby A
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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