Tuesday, December 1, 2009
The Six Top Civil War Movies
According to Martin Kelly, at about.com, the following are the six top Civil War movies. Read through his synopsis and choose one that catches your interest. If it is rated R, please first get your parent's permission to view the movie--hopefully with them!
For extra credit, write a review of the flick (a solid paragraph or two). Have your parents/guardian sign the top, as a means of guaranteeing that you did view the entire film. Turn the signed paper copy into me in class, but please also type and post your review as a comment here.
1. Glory
This film is one of the very best Civil War movies ever made. It gives a stirring account of African-Americans in the Civil War, specifically the 54th Regiment of the Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. This regiment led an assault against Fort Wagner at the Battle of Fort Wagner that helped turn the tide of battle. The film is historically accurate and rich in detail with superb acting from an all-star cast.
2. Gettysburg
This excellent film is based on one of the best war novels ever written, The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. Well-staged battle scenes were actually filmed at Gettysburg lending the film greater authenticity. Gettysburg offers multifaceted character development and a superb performance by Jeff Daniels. With great music and an excellent screenplay, this movie is a must-see.
3. Gone With the Wind
This classic uses the Civil War as a backdrop to tell the tale of a strong-willed Southern woman. Gone With the Wind does a good job of depicting the South's point of view without moralizing. The burning of Atlanta and confiscating of Tara provides a compelling look at the effect of Sherman's March to the Sea on the Southern people.
4. North and South
This made for TV mini-series is an excellent telling of one of the most important periods of American History. The compelling story offers a well balanced look at a very dark period by portaying good and bad people on both sides. Patrick Swayze, James Read, and David Carradine offered superb performances in a movie that everyone should see.
5. The Red Badge of Courage
This movie based on the classic novel by Stephen Crane captures a young Union soldiers struggle with cowardice. Even though this film was reduced drastically from its original length by studio editors it still has stood the test of time. The movie offers some great battle scenes and narration from the novel. The Red Badge of Courage stars the World War 2's most decorated combat veteran, Audie Murphy.
6. Shenandoah
A successful planter in Virginia is unwilling to take sides in the American Civil War. However, he is forced to become involved when Union soldiers mistakenly capture his son. The family then proceeds to retrieve the son and along the way discover the horrors of war and the importance of family values. The movie offers superb scenery, a great story and tremendous acting from Jimmy Stewart.
Ms. Fettig's pick: Cold Mountain (see trailer above)
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5 comments:
Brad Gretch
History 1
Glory Review
The movie Glory is about the 54th Massachusetts Regiment that fought in the Civil War and was comprised of African American soldiers led by a white colonel. Some of these men were run-away slaves from the South, others were born free, but they all shared the passion and desire to fight in the war. The cast includes Denzel Washington, who plays an overzealous run-away slave with a desire to fight, and Morgan Freeman, who plays a wise soldier with a big heart that is promoted to lead the men. The men were volunteers to the army and they remained with their colonel even after they were told that they would be killed if the Confederates caught them. Even under intense drilling, the men refused to leave, and it was said that they learned faster than most of the white regiments. Although they were fighting for the same cause, the group was still heavily discriminated against. One example of this is the lack of supplies the men were given. They were not provided with new shoes or socks, even though their feet were constantly bloody and blistered. Their white colonel stood up for his regiment, however, and forced the supplier to give his men shoes.
The men were eager to fight, but they were always assigned to do the manual labor. At one point, they thought they were going to see action, but instead they were forced to pillage and burn down a small Southern village with another all black squad that was used to these tasks. The colonel, once again, pulled some strings and got permission for his men to fight. The 54th replaced another banged up group of soldiers and defeated the Confederates in a small skirmish. This battle did not go unnoticed by Union generals, however. They were allowed to go to Fort Wagner, which was held by the South, to assist a few white regiments in their siege. The 54th Massachusetts Regiment volunteers to do the most important job in the battle by attacking the front of the fort. This was a suicide mission with the purpose of distracting the Confederates while the other groups flank the enemy. In the attempted seizure of the fort, the 54th lost over half of their men, but they did their job. The Union was unable to take the fort, but Abraham Lincoln said that the actions of the 54th regiment were a huge contribution to the war efforts. After the word of their attempts reached the North, many other African American men were inspired to join the fight and help the cause.
I watched the movie "Gone with the Wind". I really enjoyed watching it. It was very informative and had many of the battles and things that effected the South the most. When i watched and listened to the movie i got an idea about what life was like back during the war for the people that were there. When it came time to learn the material in class i was able to recall the events that were in the movie. Even though it waas about what happened in history it was shown in a that it was easier to unerstand.
Teal Trowbridge
History 1
Glory Review
The movie Glory was about the 54th Massachusetts Regiment that fought in the Civil War. Run away slaves, free African Americans fought with heart and passion in battle. Denzel Washinton plays a run-away slave with a temper and a heart filled with hate. Morgan Freeman plays an older African American, a very wise and solicitous man. These African American volunteers were lead by white colonels. Matthew Broderick plays the white colonel of the 54th regiment who strives to better his troops and prepare them for battle. Volunteers remaind in the 54th regiment even though the punishments were violently harsh or resulted in death. Still the men stayed in camp after being drilled and drilled by stringent officers. Even with proper training and marching skills, Africans found themselves without guns, suits,socks and shoes, and an equal pay to white Union soldiers.
Denzel Washingtons character runs from the camp base in search of good quality shoes, but is caught and punished. Their colonel, amazed to see the conditions of his soldiers, takes a stand and demands proper supplies to his troops.
After being properly trained and prepared with weapons and marching formations, the men began to grow eager for their first battle. Soon the men and colonel become aware that African Americans as colored people still faced discrimintation and were only being appointed labor working tasks. A glimps of hope lifts the 54th regiments spirits, when another colored regiment appears. Both colored forces join together and move to a small town where they take the city's goods and are forced to burn the city after. Colonel finally got the conections to get his men into battle, giving them a chance to participate in uniting the North and South.
The struggle shown between leading colored forces and having a regiment that is an African American force in the Union is suspenseful. Watching the movie Glory is a great way to reunite with the history of your country. The film will keep you alert, but still you may find a tear of pride and honor rolling down ones cheek. As 54th Mssachusetts regiment takes a bold and daring move onto the battle field where they loose over half their men. The African Americans and whites of our nation fight with honor and soul, colonel(Matthew Broderick) and a slave (Denzel Washinton) stand and sacrifice themselves to inspire their fellow troops,this may also motivate the viewers to be proud of their past. Our Countries achievements is one to be proud of, one to honor and to appreciate. Glory does a spectacular job at bringing ones self to realization that what we have earned during the Civil War is precious, and if you dont work to preserve your assets,as a nation and together, you may suffer the consequences.
Emily Streeter
History 1
Glory Review
The movie Glory was based upon the Civil War and the discrimination, horror, and truth of it. The Massachusetts Regiment is the main focus of the movie and it involved run-away slaves and former slaves.The main characters of the movie were Denzel Washington who played the role of a black man who is aggressive and wants nothing more than to fight. Another big charecter was Morgan Freeman who was later a leader of the men. The conditions of the war were difficult and discrominated. The black regiment had less prviledges and supplies like the lack of socks and shoes. Morgan Freemans charecter finally asks about getting new shoes for the men and the colonel does end up getting some. A big moment for the men was when they got blue uniforms. For a long while they were told that they were not going to fight so they felt that all the drilling they were doing was for no cause. Finally, when the men are allowed to fight they show true charecter and as the story goes they bond and become closer.
The Regiment is finally assigned to fight but it is more like a suicide fight whose purpose was to distract to distract the Confederates so the others could attack them. They didn'twin but the black Regiment was inspiration to many which then caused other Arican Americans to join in the war.
I love the movie Glory, but I have to say that Gone with the Wind is probably my favorite Civil War flick. I'm not sure if it is the costuming, the doomed romance, or the fact that I can indulge in film for four hours...
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