Jackson was an earnestly devout man, but his call for wife Anna (Kali Rocha, 'White Oleander') to join him in a reading of Corinithians to mark his departure is risible, partly due to Rocha's heaving bosom. Virginian volunteers discuss their low morale, with the two speakers shown amidst a long phalanx of silent marchers. Things continue on in this vein for an hour as sides are drawn with crowds of extras (most of whom are Civil War recreationists as used in 'Gettysburg') failing to act naturally for the camera. Unconvincing matte work, solemnly delivered dialogue and an unmoving camera give the scene all the drama of a historical school play. The film gets off to a bad beginning as Lee arrives to reject the president's commission. Pickett) gives a fine central performance as General Stonewall Jackson, this edition is poorly directed, stodgily photographed, unevenly acted and undeserving of its three and a half hour running time. While Stephen Lang ('Gettysburg' as Major General George E. The same filmmaking team stumble badly with Shaara's son Jeff's prequel. Each side was fiercely righteous and so the Civil War, like all wars before and since, became a war of 'Gods and Generals.'Ī decade ago, Michael Shaara's novel 'Gettysburg' was successfully transformed into a movie by writer/director Ron Maxwell. Lee (Robert Duvall) command of the Federal Army, called to arms to put down the rebellious secessionists, but Lee chose instead to take the offer of his home state of Virginia and stand against the Union.

Abraham Lincoln offered Colonel Robert E.

Gods and generals by jeff shaara