Customer Reviews

Gettysburg: Three Days of Destiny

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Okay, so they don't have Hollywood stars, but remember that this is an indie flick with a low budget. The directors do their very best by using period dialogue and actual quotes. Another point in their favor is that they actually filmed on location in Adams County, PA, rather than running off to Romania like "Cold Mountain" did. The battle is spectacular, using footage shot during the 140th Anniversary Reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg last July. The uniforms and equipment are authentic and not Hollywood knockoffs, and the special effects make you feel you're in the middle of the action. An EXCELLENT independent documentary, considering its budget and lack of major studio backing. This film has won awards and astute viewers and historians can see why.

In all fairness, this film is advertized on the package as a "docudrama" and not as a drama. The problem is that it isn't clear from that description whether what is being documented dramatically is the actual 1863 battle or the reenactment of battle on its 140th anniversary. As a documentary about the reenactment, this is a fine collection of footage, interspersed with some (thankfully) brief portrayals of the principle leaders on both sides. (Actually, I thought the actor portraying Longstreet did a fine job -- the others were less convincing.) As a documentary about the actual historic battle it is not inaccurate but it provides only a glimpse into the major actions that comprised this long and complex battle.

As a reenactor, I found it interesting watching the various units on the field. Despite the occassional glimpse of earplugs and sunglasses, the equipment and uniforms appear reasonably authentic. Of course, given the generous build of most of the reenactors in this film the title should have been "Three Days of Density" instead. I kid my fellow reenactors...unfortunately most people who have the money to spend on reenacting also have too much money to spend on good food and drink, myself included.

So, if you want to really learn about the battle, read Harry W. Pfanz's trilogy or Stephen Sears' book. If you want to see what Civil War reenacting on a grand scale can be like, this is a fine introduction.

"Three Days of Destiny" is a good docu-drama covering the battle of Gettysburg, where over 50,000 Union and Confederate Soldiers were killed, wounded, and captured or missing. Despite some miscasting (Longstreet wasn't chubby OR going bald; Lee, too, wasn't fat) and some over-dramatized voiceovers, this film features some spectacular battle scenes filmed at the Gettysburg 140th Anniversary Reenactment, and a stirring soundtrack. Historians will find it to be an enjoyable docu-drama, while others may find it unsatisfying. Nevertheless, it is a fine film that belongs in the DVD library of any historian. Movie/DVD Grade: B+

we purchased this as a souvenir of our Gettysburg trip and enjoyed watching it. It was more realistic than the reenactment altho that was also educational for us. really good if you keep in mind it is not made by fancy hollywood studio with big money effects. my kids learned a lot from it which is more than I can say for the baby-food-history you get in big theater chains

I was in this movie, yet can not rate it higher than a three. That is due to poor portrayal by fellow reenactors. Some of us have very authentic uniforms and do our best to portray history, while others are bored during the summer months and decided to give this a try.

Keep in mind we were wearing wool uniforms in 100+ degree weather and instructed to NOT sling our jackets. Some units lost soldiers before making it to the field from camp due to heat exhaustion. The field was accidentally set on fire due to dryness and pyrotechnics, so many reenactors had to steer around the fire.

While much of the acting was horrible, and the solo in the middle of the movie by an unnamed soldier was quite shocking and almost embarrassing to listen to, please keep in mind the complexity of the reenactors used throughout the film. Many units cared nothing about authenticity, while others like ours always try our best to portray history properly (no earplugs or modern farb or accessories, and we will lay down and die...theres nothing worse than a hundred guns going off and no one dropping). So to get a good feel of what reenacting is like on the battlefield, this is a great source. However, as a movie to learn history from, it may lose your interest although it does tell the story properly.

If you buy this for reenacting information it's a great source, just keep in mind some units are far more period correct than others. If you want a story or information about the battle at Gettysburg, Ronald F. Maxwell's "Gettysburg" or the History Channels "Gettysburg the Unknown Civil War Series" is your best bet.

Stick with Ted Turners "Gettysburg", what can I honestly say about this work of fluff. Nothing!

I bought this and several other Gettysburg related books and films to help prep my son for a trip to the battlefield this spring. I did not have high expectations, as the previous reviews were so mixed. But I was still disappointed. Horrible acting and editing aside (I understood that this was filmed during the reinactment and these were not professional actors) the film was impossible to follow. The timeline and details of the battle were unclear as was the layout of the ground. The narrative was often difficult to understand and there were endless scenes of men moving across smoky fields without any explanation. Try another film if you are trying to understand more about what happened at Gettysburg.

This DVD is quite expensive but yields little to justify the cost. The film lacks any real drama and becomes terribly boring after the first ten or so minutes. The acting is hopeless...really, really bad! Although there are many "soldiers" involved in the battle scenes, it's all pretty unconvincing, considering the carnage of the real conflict. In all honesty, as much as I enjoy movies of the Civil War, I'd like to return this for a refund. Alas, that's a prospect that has,indeed, gone with the wind. Thumbs down to this one.

This video is a real sleeper. A painfully complete amateur video. The reenactors are trying very hard to reeanact the movie Gettysburg more so than the real event. They try harder to be the actors that were in the movie instead of focusing on the historic personages that really lived it. This video is a complete waste of time and money. The best part about it was the real belly laugh when one of the soldiers actually burst into a musical number without Monty Python to save the scene. This video is nothing more than a reenactor's wet dream with a double side of corn. In a word Three Days of Destiny.......yuucchhhhh!

If you are interested in learning about the Gettysburg battle, then this dvd is worth taking a look. However, don't expect alot of passion from the "actors" because most of the acting is so very poor, that it is barely watchable.

More shocking than the cold and dull lines were the appearance of some of the "actors". I am not a fan of the "Lost Cause", but I was stunned and disappointed to see General James Longstreet and General Robert E. Lee as paunchy and portly. Both men were physically fit and the "actors" that protrayed them certainly were NOT!

The movie is okay for its cheap price, but anything over $10.00 will be a rip off. I would only recommend "Gettysburg Three Days To Destiny" to the most diehard Civil War buffs.