The Day I Have Been Waiting Eight Years For Has Arrived

Like most of you, I thought the culmination of our eight year wait to see the Gods and Generals Extended Director’s Cut was going to happen on May 24th. Fortunately, the good folks at Warner Brothers, namely Bridget Groller, who I must thank from the bottom of my heart for giving me this opportunity, have allowed for that day to come two weeks sooner. If you have not read about the partnership with WB, please click here. I never thought the two films would arrive this quickly, but they sent them on overnight shipping so I would have them with plenty of time to spare.

The funny thing is, I just got home from teaching two lessons at the local high school on the battle of Antietam, and made sure to let the students know that this film would be coming out in two weeks and to check it out if interested; lo and behold, the battle I just finished discussing will be able to be viewed, for the first time, since it was newly added to the cut, along with the highly anticipated John Wilkes Booth subplot.

I will try to watch G & G today and get the review up by the weekend. Gettysburg will follow as well. Either way, they will be done before the release date, so I will have plenty of time to wet your already dripping appetites. For now, as part of our partnership, I must pass along this information. I’m sure you have all read it already if you have been following, but if not, give it a read and don’t forget to share it with anyone who loves the Civil War or American history!

Please visit the official website for the releases, located at CivilWarMovies150. Also check out these deleted scenes that will be featured in the upcoming releases. Gettysburg: “The Town”, and “Tactics”. Gods and Generals: “Troops Get Order”, and “Union Band”. And of course, there is the official trailer.

Synopsis:

Gods and Generals Extended Director’s Cut and Gettysburg Director’s Cut will be released May 24 from Warner Home Video in 2-disc, 48-page Blu-ray Book versions packaged with photographs, bios, timeline, production notes, maps, and more. They arrive in a double-wide gift box as a Limited Collector’s Edition on July 4

Gods and Generals Extended Director’s Cutis director Ron Maxwell’s newly re-edited 4-hour- 40-minute version, with one hour of new footage added, including amplified scenes and new subplot, never-before-seen footage and new bonus features.

Reedited from beginning to end with expanded scenes and an added subplot, this all-new 2-Disc Extended Director’s Cut- a prequel to Maxwell’s companion film, Gettysburg- restores his original vision of the fierce allegiances and combat during the early American Civil War.

Special Features* and Details:

• Commentary with Ron Maxwell, Keith Gibson and Professor James Robertson
• Extended Cut Commentary with Maxwell, Gibson and Robertson (NEW)
• Introduction by Ted Turner and Ron Maxwell (NEW)
• Gods & Generals: Journey to the Past
• The Life of Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson
• The Authenticities of the Film
• Cross the Green Mountain – Music Video by Bob Dylan
• Ron Maxwell’s Invitation to Take the Journey Through Hallowed Ground (NEW)
• Run Time: 280 minutes
• Rated: PG-13

  Price: $34.99 SRP

Gettysburg: Directors Cut is Maxwell’s acclaimed film about the legendary 3-day battle and will be available for the first time on Blu-ray, featuring 17 minutes of compelling additional footage. Filmed at actual battle locations and full of authentic details, this rousing and soulful movie plunges the viewer into the bloodiest battle fought on American soil. History comes alive with intense and spirited battles and the dilemmas, motivations and fears of the leaders. Tom Berenger (Inception), Jeff Daniels, Martin Sheen (TV’s “West Wing”) and Stephen Lang star in this gripping film based on Michael Shaara’s Pulitzer-Prize-winning book, “The Killer Angels.”

Special Features and details:

 Commentary by Ronald F. Maxwell, Kees Van Oostrum, James M. McPherson, and Craig

Symonds

• The Making of Gettysburg, Narrated by Martin Sheen
• The Battle of Gettysburg, Narrated by Leslie Nielson
• On Location
• Maps of the Battlefield
• Ron Maxwell’s Invitation to Take the Journey Through Hallowed Ground (NEW)
• Run Time: 271 minutes
• Not Rated
• Price: $34.99 SRP

Like I said, I will try to have at least one review up by the weekend, maybe even sooner. I am really excited about this, as you can imagine, but just think, you will be experiencing this same feeling in two weeks. Just stay patient!

Two Deleted Scenes from “Gods and Generals”

I don’t know how this eluded my reach, especially with all I have been doing for the release of the Gods and Generals Director’s Cut, which Jeff Shaara has announced on his website, is slated for May (he said he heard directly from Warner Brothers), with the theatrical premiere coming in July. Blog reader Steven Hancock put these two clips up on his Facebook and I clicked them eagerly awaiting to see what I had missed, and how new they were, but then I saw that the first one is from 2009 and the second is from 2007. Both have plenty of hits, so I don’t know how I missed them, especially since I have been on Youtube now more than I ever have.

These, he tells me, were included on the bonus DVD that came with the soundtrack that was released before the movie came out. The disc included the music videos for both Mary Fahl’s opening credits song of “Going Home” and Bob Dylan’s closing song “Cross the Green Mountain”. But along with those came several other scenes. I had this soundtrack, but the second disc was lost (or so I think) when the case broke and was replaced. I currently only have the music disc, but will do some searching for the second one. These are two very nice scenes, and I hope they are included in the final cut.

In this scene, the character of Jim Lewis played by Frankie Faison, gets more screen time as he talks to a fellow African-American Confederate, who has just seen his master’s body placed in a casket, after being killed in battle. I will assume this came after the Fredericksburg scenes, because smoke can be seen coming out of their mouths. There are also more black Confederates singing “Steal Away to Jesus”. This is a pretty moving scene because after Lewis takes somewhat of a cynical approach to his friend, saying that he “master” had been killed, the young man tells him that the soldier had just given him his freedom papers, meaning he wasn’t a slave, and he was on his way to delivering the body to his family in Winchester.

This second scene shows the Confederate Irish Brigade in what I will guess is before First Bull Run, because Stephen Lang, as Jackson, is still wearing his blue uniform. This depicts a soldier, Fitzgerald, singing the “Song of the Rebel Irish” which was played by Confederate Irish soldiers.

Enjoy!

The Top Ten Movie Soundtracks: #6- Gods and Generals

It’s been four months since my last rating of a movie soundtrack, but due to the late summer doldrums I have decided to bring it back.

Next on the list at number six goes to the 2003 Civil War epic Gods and Generals, directed by Ronald Maxwell. Although he has directed other films, Maxwell will always be known for directing this films sequel, Gettysburg, along with this, and in both films, he shows a ear for great music.

While Edelman composed the music for Gettysburg, he was too busy with other projects when this film rolled around. He would contribute some music but the majority went to John Frizzell, whom Edelman recommended.

This film’s opening score starts out rather unusual, with a song rather than a main theme. We hear “Going Home” sung by Mary Fahl, and although I was surprised, this piece really sets the tone for the film. The overlay of all the different battle flags in the background was also a really nice touch.

Not used much at all, save for a few excerpts, is the main theme of the film, “Gods and Generals”, which is powerful and resounding, perfect for a movie with so much emotion, both in battle and in the private lives of the main generals of both commanding forces.

The Battle of Fredericksburg, which is the second battle depicted in this film, was the first time that Irish Brigades of the Union met those of the Confederacy. For that, we have the haunting theme of “These Brave Irishmen” which captures the saddening effect of men from the same country, fighting each other on a foreign land. As Buster Kilrain would say, “We left Ireland to escape a tyranny and wind up shooting at one another in the land of the free.”

Perhaps my most favorite piece from this wonderful soundtrack is “V.M.I Will Be Heard From Today”, played when Jackson’s troops are surprise attacking the Union at Chancellorsville. The music starts out very slow, but gradually gets louder and faster, before erupting in a bold out-lash of vocals. This was another instance of music being used to perfection, as it was played while his troops slowly approached the Union line, and finally attacked them.

To close out the movie, Bob Dylan’s song, “Cross the Green Mountain” was used during the end credits. Just listen to the words of this song, and it will give you a great idea of what the American Civil War was all about.

Previous Films on this List

10. A Clockwork Orange

9. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

8. Schindler’s List

7. 2001: A Space Odyssey