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Gods and Generals
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Metascore
30 out of 100

Generally unfavorable - based on 29 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.1 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 49 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Starring: Jeff Daniels, Robert Duvall, Stephen Lang
  • Summary: Gods and Generals, the screen adaptation of Jeff Shaara's heralded best-selling novel and prequel to the acclaimed drama "Gettysburg," is and epic and sweeping portrayal of a nation divided at the start of the Civil War. (Warner Bros.)

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 29
  3. Negative: 18 out of 29
  1. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Wilmington
    63
    Has the unfortunate effect of overtipping the dramatic scales in favor of the Southern generals and turning almost everybody into waxen idols who spout flowery rhetoric.
  2. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Stephen Hunter
    60
    One doesn't come away from it with any sense of what the victory cost in human terms.
  3. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    38
    The kind of movie beloved by people who never go to the movies, because they are primarily interested in something else--the Civil War, for example--and think historical accuracy is a virtue instead of an attribute.

See all 29 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 37
  3. Negative: 14 out of 37
  1. BigSlimJimmy
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Since I started to research and become passionate about the histoeical topic of the American Civil War, I have loved Gods and Generals. Unlike most, I did not read the book, and when first viewing the film, was not aware there was one. I'm sure, as Civil War flicks go, many critics did not enjoy the film, but this is probably due to the lack of extensive historical knowledge about the Civil War (specifically that history of Stonewall Jackson and the South's point of view on the war). Many criticize this film beause of how it makes the South look, and many people with a standard knowledge of the Civil War may safley assume that the South was Evil, hated Black people, and drank sweet tea all day. Not getting a stereotypical "Gone with the Wind" setting and an "Uncle Tom's Cabin" storyline, most people were likley going to call this film racist and say they hate it. Historical accuracy seems to be lacking in most Hollywood films about any time period. In "Gods and Generals" many of the characters talk like, well, someone from the mid-Nineteenth Century South would talk. Not getting the watered down version that many people call accurate in films, people were probably confused the entire film (and the length probably did not help). Gods and Generals is a great film, and tells the story of a Southern General who is tragically killed by his own men, and even though it is missing the sprinkle of Hollywood in it, Civil War buffs will love this film.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. bobt.
    10
    This is the best movie i ever saw. screw everyone who said it was bad!
    • 0 of 1 users said yes
  3. ClaytonS.
    3
    Overly long, shapeless, overly pious, over blown. Overly sancitimous toward General Jackson. Those who wish the South would rise again would love this movie. I give it a three because it does portray the battles accurately and Robert Duvall is greatness.… Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes

See all 37 User Reviews

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