Gettysburg (Widescreen Edition) [VHS] | ![Gettysburg (Widescreen Edition) [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Z7Y3ZTFQL._SL500_.jpg) | Director: Ronald F. Maxwell
Actors: Tom Berenger, Martin Sheen, Stephen Lang, Jeff Daniels, Richard Jordan
Studio: Turner Home Ent
Category: Video
List Price: $24.98
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Rating:  510 reviews
Sales Rank: 5429
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, Letterboxed, Widescreen, NTSC
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 2
Running Time: 261 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 4.1 x 1
ISBN: 6303014100
UPC: 053939613933
EAN: 9780780603868
ASIN: 6303014100
Theatrical Release Date: October 8, 1993
Release Date: July 18, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
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
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 510
 A potential statement July 28, 2010
Casandra (Northern California)
While I consider this to be one of the finest Civil War movies made, there is a singular opportunity to make it even better. If Ted Turner and group would hire the special effects groups that did say, the Lord of the Rings, and show Picket's charge as it was with the full number of soldiers participating crossing the field and being slaughtered as they truly were, with more realism, with bodies and parts stacking up as they came on, showing an unrelenting view of the battle as it was, and then adding to the film at the end, a small vignette of the reunion (as described in Ken Burns Civil War) where the surviving soldiers in reenacting the charge tearfully throw down their arms and rush out to hug each other, then this could possibly be the one of the best anti-war movies ever made. Carnage is not glorious, and until people see war for what it is, we can never be free of it. And where else to bring it home, to show it, then with Americans against Americans in what is considered one of histories greatest battles.
 Gettysburg July 6, 2010
Frances
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I was totally disappointed that I received a DVD from out of the country that was not compatible with my DVD player. I did not expect to receive a DVD from out of the country. I had to pay almost as much in postage as what the DVD cost me. I would appreciate a refund for my postage. Thank you for your consideration.
 General Pickett, tearfully: "Sir, there is no division."... July 6, 2010
Neil F. Doyle (USA)
While GETTYSBURG has a few drawbacks--mainly the sprawling amount of time taken to depict the fierce Civil War battle with two viewpoints and philosophies--it compensates with its historical accuracies in depicting the battleground while at the same time compressing the three-day battle into the framework of a lengthy film.
Its major asset is the sincerity of all of the major performances--and that includes TOM BERENGER looking magnificently scruffy behind his impressive beard, MARTIN SHEEN as Robert E. Lee, STEPHEN LANG as George Pickett, JEFF DANIELS and C. THOMAS HOWELL as Confederate brothers, RICHARD JORDAN as Lewis Armistead and SAM ELLIOTT as John Buford.
Another fine asset is the stirring musical background with patriotic war themes and drum beating exercises adding flourish to the drama. The sets, costumes and color photography are all first rate, but some will be impatient with the talk between battles which is sometimes a little too extensive. All of the battle scenes look like a re-enactment, a soft core version of the more graphic horrors of war that are rampant in many more recent war films.
Still, it's an impressive film from start to finish and the performances are all admirable.
The most haunting exchange of dialog occurs at the end of the battle with Pickett being told by Robert E. Lee to keep an eye on his division.
"Sir," says a tearful Pickett, "there is no division."
MUST SHARE THIS ONE -READ KILLER ANGELS FIRST June 25, 2010
Marcia Dunton (Ridgway, PA, US)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Gettysburg was made after Michael Shaara, the author, passed away. He was not there to see his novel Killer Angel's made into this award winning movie. Jeff Daniels was so realistic as Joshua Chamberlain, you felt like you knew him and felt the weight of his decisions, the heat and humidity of the day, the dispair when his soldiers were killed, and his joy when they had a victory. I understand some of the movie was actually made on sight, so they felt what the soldiers did back in July of 1863.
So realistic. This is a long movie, but you almost wish it continued when it was over.
This movie and book made a visit to Gettysburg a goal for me which was attained this summer, and yes it was hot and humid. I would love to go back July 1-4th just to be there, but life intrudes, and work takes prioirity.
If you get a chance-get this movie- it really is a classic. All you history teachers, this is a must for you. Your students will like this movie, it gives them an idea of what life was like, and shows the war from both sides.
Sour sneers at a great movie. June 19, 2010
Colin Glithero (Auburn,WA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I was initially surprised to see that there were so many 1-star
reviews for a movie that I found gripping,convincing,and moving.
Many were especially scornful of Martin Sheen's portrayal of
Robert E.Lee as a man tired and sick (although he in fact was so
at the time of the battle).
Hmm,I wonder. It couldn't be because Martin Sheen is a
prominent, unabashed liberal, could it? Surely not,since that
would be using irrelevant, non-artistic, criteria to judge and
reject a work of art, and nobody with any intellectual integrity
would do that.......Would they?
Showing reviews 1-5 of 510
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