Gods & Generals (HD-DVD)
Picture:
C+ Sound: B+ Extras: C Film: D
Some
sequels should never be made, but before the problematic AOL-Time Warner merger
drove Ted Turner out of the company against his will, he produced Gettysburg sequel Gods & Generals (2002) to poor reviews and awful box
office. One of the biggest personally
funded epic film wrecks since Caligula
(reviewed elsewhere on this site) and not as profitable nor as remembered.
The long
and drawn out affair was again written and directed by Ronald F. Maxwell, and
though there are some historically accurate pieces throughout, this drags on
and on and on and on forever, never knows when to end, plus Turner makes an
amusing cameo, the film still thinks the South should have won the war and its
trivialization of slavery is obnoxious beyond belief.
Sure, the
urge to capitalize on interest in The Civil War that began in part with Gettysburg makes total sense, but this
is so over the top, it is often an unintentional comedy owing more to that
other Warner classic (Mel Brooks’ Blazing
Saddles, reviewed on this site) than anything one can take seriously. Jeff Daniels, Stephen Lang, Kevin Conway,
Mira Sorvino, C. Thomas Howell and Robert Duvall give their best, but they
cannot save this mess.
The 1080p
2.35 X 1 digital High Definition image is soft and poor throughout, as the disc
tries to squeeze the very, very long 219 minutes onto one disc, a mistake
Warner made with Wyatt Earp and
Universal made with Spartacus (both
reviewed elsewhere on this site) in the HD formats. Though Director of Photography Kess Van
Oostrum, A.S.C., shot the film completely in more consistent Super 35mm stocks
versus Gettysburg, which has some
poor patches as it was originally intended only as a TV mini-series, there is
no excuse for this too look so lame.
Color and depth also noticeably suffer.
The Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 mix becomes the highlight with a punchy sound
mix that tries to outdo the DTS theatrical on Gettysburg, which itself had its moments despite also being
awkward. The combination is lopsided,
like the film itself. Extras include
optional Ted Turner intro, an audio commentary by Maxwell et al and the
original theatrical trailer on one side, plus three documentaries on the other
and a DVD-ROM section with stills, a timeline and quiz.
For
diehard Civil War fans only, if that.
- Nicholas Sheffo
