Gods and Generals
We rented the movie "Gods and Generals" and were pleasantly surprised. Most movies are totally secular, filled with profanity and if religion is ever addressed at all it is usually confined to some grandfatherly character saying "Well it's in God's hands now". However, Gods and Generals is totally different.
It is a 3.5 hour movie dealing with the personal lives of three characters in the American Civil War (or "The War Between the States" or "The War of the North Aggression" depending on what part of the world you come from). The major characters it deals with are General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, General Robert E. Lee and Colonel Joshua Lawerence Chamberlin. These characters are traced through their enlistment and the first 3 major battles of the Civil War - Bull Run, Fredericksville and Chancellorsville.
The battle scenes are sustained and intense, although mostly lacking in gore. The issues of states rights and slavery are dealt with, with a surprising Southern sympathy (while avoiding sympathy for the actual practice of slavery). But what is really interesting is the portrayal of these men as individuals, and particularly Stonewall Jackson's relationship with God. Jackson is presented throughout as a deeply devout Christian. In numerous places he prays, and his speech is filled with references to Scripture whether talking to his fellow generals or talking to his black cook.
Gods and Generals shows Christian men fighting for mistaken ideals. It shows men unable to make a link between states rights and slavery (until a particularly fine dialog with Colonel Chamberlin). It shows noble characters interacting with each other in ways that war films rarely achieve. True, it misses a realistic portrayal of the ugly face of slavery and the gory face of war, but for the thoughtful Christian who wants to explore some of history's most interesting characters, this film is not to be missed.
It is a 3.5 hour movie dealing with the personal lives of three characters in the American Civil War (or "The War Between the States" or "The War of the North Aggression" depending on what part of the world you come from). The major characters it deals with are General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, General Robert E. Lee and Colonel Joshua Lawerence Chamberlin. These characters are traced through their enlistment and the first 3 major battles of the Civil War - Bull Run, Fredericksville and Chancellorsville.
The battle scenes are sustained and intense, although mostly lacking in gore. The issues of states rights and slavery are dealt with, with a surprising Southern sympathy (while avoiding sympathy for the actual practice of slavery). But what is really interesting is the portrayal of these men as individuals, and particularly Stonewall Jackson's relationship with God. Jackson is presented throughout as a deeply devout Christian. In numerous places he prays, and his speech is filled with references to Scripture whether talking to his fellow generals or talking to his black cook.
Gods and Generals shows Christian men fighting for mistaken ideals. It shows men unable to make a link between states rights and slavery (until a particularly fine dialog with Colonel Chamberlin). It shows noble characters interacting with each other in ways that war films rarely achieve. True, it misses a realistic portrayal of the ugly face of slavery and the gory face of war, but for the thoughtful Christian who wants to explore some of history's most interesting characters, this film is not to be missed.
posted by Shawn Abigail at 3:38 p.m.
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