Civil War Themes: Look from both sides as they participate in the pivotal three-day Battle of Gettysburg.

Battles/Moments: Day 1-McPherson's Ridge; Day 2-Little Round Top; Day 3-artillery attack, Pickett's Charge.

First off, I have to say that the Gettysburg score is ultra-fantastic. I have listened to it thousands of times, made it my official homework-music in college, and still play it when relaxing. Singled out is the main score and the "Fife and Drum", and a slower, graceful "Dixie."

There's a strong cast, playing demanding roles. Martin Sheen delivers as General Robert E. Lee, one the South's most beloved sons in history, whose loyalty to Virginia is unparalleled. Tom Berenger is General James Longstreet, in my mind wrongly singled out for damaging soldiers' morale for questioning Lee's commands at Gettysburg.

Jeff Daniels gets the most credit for excellence in Gettysburg and inspired several historians and civil war buffs to rediscover the heroic actions and successful life of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. And because of Daniels' acting ability in the film, I later forgave him for his participation in Dumb and Dumber with Jim Carrey.

The re-enactment of Pickett's Charge in Gettysburg is the stuff that epics are made of, with the grand setting and thousands of soldiers on the field marching in the face of almost-certain death. It makes you amazed at what the Confederate soldiers actually went through on that one-mile walk across an open field and what went through the Union soldiers' minds in the center of their line watching the sea of gray approaching. When I visited the battlefield, I couldn't believe how far that walk actually is until you look across to Cemetary Hill. The movie's portrayal is one of the best war scenes of this nature ever created.

Now the movie is four hours, eight minutes long, so if you're one of those anti-anything-over-two-hours movie watchers, then watch Gettysburg in installments. Although it's not recommended because there's so much to see and take in, so settle down and enjoy.

The verdict: (out of 5) -- Great cast, good battle scenes, engaging dialogue.

From Leonard Maltin's review:

Ted Turner's answer to Gone With the Wind, a magnificent re-creation of the Civil War's most famous battle. Based on Michael Shaara's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, "The Killer Angels", this long but engrossing slice of history was filmed on the battlefields of Gettysburg National Military Park using over 5,000 Civil War re-enactors in the battle scenes.

Look fast for filmmaker Ken Burns as General Hancock's aide and Turner as a Reb foot soldier during Pickett's Charge. Elliott, and especially Daniels, stand out in a cast full of great performances. Final film for Richard Jordan, who has the most poignant role in the picture as General Armistead. Superb score by Randy Edelman. ***1/2 out of four.