Gods and Generals Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray release of the Extended Director's Cut of "Gods and Generals" presents a complex visual experience. At 280 minutes long, this epic feature strains the limits of a BD-50 disc. Consequently, the 1080p/AVC-encoded transfer suffers from noticeable compression artifacts throughout. Nighttime scenes become plagued with compressed noise, considerably marring the viewing experience, and frequent banding further exacerbates the situation. The video presentation's inconsistency is evident, with colors oscillating between vibrant and lifeless. Moreover, while the film has a deliberately soft aesthetic akin to “Gettysburg," signaling the director's intent, the compression issues detract from the intended visual quality.

Despite these shortcomings, there are notable strengths. Kees Van Oostrum's cinematography provides robust colors, lifelike skintones, and rich shadows which hold up reasonably well in most scenes. Black levels occasionally fall short of depth expectations, and detail can be inconsistent; however, close-ups and textures often reveal striking clarity. Soft imagery appears more filmic rather than resulting from poorly applied noise reduction (DNR), and edge enhancement, while present, is not overly intrusive. Furthermore, even though minor ringing and occasional sour notes persist, these issues do not significantly disrupt the viewing experience.

To summarize, while the visual presentation of "Gods and Generals" grapples with considerable compression issues due to its length on a single disc, the overall result stays largely true to the original source material. The visual inconsistencies and artifacts are evident yet manageable, making it an acceptable albeit imperfect transfer for this extended epic.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track in Warner's latest Blu-ray release of "Gods and Generals" stands out as the undisputed highlight. The switch from the 2007 Blu-ray's standard Dolby Digital audio mix to a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio significantly enhances the experience. Dialogue is impeccably clean and aptly prioritized, whether during intense battlefield exchanges or quieter moments. The tracks skillfully balance front and rear speaker activities, making rifle fire, cannon blasts, and the emotionally charged cries of soldiers envelop the listener with solemn authority. The low-frequency effects (LFE) channel demonstrates remarkable adaptability, delivering impactful booms during battle scenes yet retreating gracefully when not required. Randy Edelman and John Frizzell’s evocative score integrates seamlessly with directional effects and ambient noise, promoting a thoroughly immersive soundfield.

Despite these strengths, there are minor imperfections. Some lines of dialogue occasionally exhibit a thinness, while select effects can become slightly muffled. That said, these issues are rooted more in the film's original sound design than in this meticulously crafted mix. The new DTS-HD Master Audio injects a fresh vitality into "Gods and Generals," allowing the nuanced sounds of the Civil War to resonate with unprecedented clarity. Rear channels effectively pull the listener into the heart of the action, capturing everything from the terrifying wails of combatants to the subtler background sounds such as bird chirps. While minor high-end brashness can limit some sound effects before they become muffled, this does not significantly detract from an otherwise superb audio presentation. This upgrade ensures that casual fans, die-hards, and even the film’s toughest critics can all agree: "Gods and Generals" has never sounded better on Blu-ray.

The Extras section of the Blu-ray for "Gods and Generals" offers a comprehensive and engaging array of supplemental materials, although not all of them are newly created. The standout feature is the new Extended Cut audio commentary, wherein Ronald F. Maxwell, Keith Gibson, and James Robertson provide extensive historical insights, production anecdotes, and scene analyses, despite occasional lapses into silence. An introduction by Ted Turner and Ronald F. Maxwell sets the stage for the film, while the Scene-Specific Audio Commentary revisits the prior release’s more focused discussion. Other notable additions include behind-the-scenes featurettes on the film's authenticity and the life of Thomas Stonewall Jackson. However, most video content remains in standard DVD quality.

Extras included in this disc:

• Extended Director's Cut Audio Commentary: Detailed insights from director and historians.
• Scene-Specific Audio Commentary: Previously recorded, focused commentary on select scenes.
• The Authenticities of the Film: Behind-the-scenes look at the film's historical accuracy.
• The Life of Thomas Stonewall Jackson: Overview of Jackson's life from historians.
• Journey to the Past: TV special with interviews from cast and crew.
• The Journey Through Hallowed Ground: Call to support Civil War site preservation.
• Music Video: "Cross the Green Mountain" by Bob Dylan.
• Theatrical Trailer: Original trailer of the film.

"Gods and Generals," directed by Ronald F. Maxwell, extends the scope of Civil War cinema with an immersive depiction, albeit inconsistent in narrative focus and pacing. The film, adapted from Jeffrey Shaara's novel, provides a nuanced glimpse into military strategies and personal conflicts on the Confederate side during the years leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg. With commanding performances from Stephen Lang as Stonewall Jackson and Robert Duvall as Robert E. Lee, the film's cast excels in delivering authentic portrayals, though certain characters and interactions seem stilted and over-expository. Jeff Daniels as Joshua Chamberlain also stands out but finds his subplot somewhat overshadowed by the narrative's Confederate focus.

The extended cut of the movie offers a more thorough presentation of key battles, including the previously truncated sequences from the Battle of Antietam, enhancing viewer engagement. The cinematography remains impressive, capturing sweeping battlefields with a grace that evokes the period's essence, despite occasional sentimental tendencies. However, the battle scenes suffer slightly due to digital effects that don’t seamlessly blend with practical elements and visible reenactor apathy diluting the intensity of combat scenarios.

Ultimately, "Gods and Generals" remains a deeply researched yet polarizing film. Maxwell's direction imbues the story with historical reverence but occasionally falls into romantic idealization of Confederate figures, which sparked debate among historians and film critics alike. While earnest in its attempt to capture the complexities of its subjects, the movie's uneven script, overuse of exposition, and varying character depth reveal its struggles to maintain narrative cohesion and dramatic heft. Despite these shortcomings, committed performances and detailed historical representation make it a worthwhile, if flawed, addition to Civil War filmography.

Ronald F. Maxwell’s extended cut of "Gods and Generals" on Blu-ray offers an expansive look at the Civil War, delivering considerable added footage that fans of the original release will appreciate. Despite its ambition, the film's length and episodic structure remain divisive, likely to split opinions among viewers. On the technical front, Warner's Blu-ray release presents a mixed experience. The video quality mimics the 2007 Blu-ray edition closely, which, considering the limitations of cramming 280 minutes of high-definition footage onto a single disc, results in noticeable compression issues.

However, the audio quality sees substantial improvement with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that is nearly demo-worthy. This upgrade enhances the viewing experience significantly, bringing the sounds of battle to life with remarkable clarity. Supplementary materials also see an update with the inclusion of a new extended cut commentary by Maxwell, Gibson, and Robertson. While these additions are valuable, the overall supplemental offering lacks depth, particularly in production documentaries which would have provided a richer context.

In conclusion, while Maxwell's extended cut bests previous versions of the film, "Gods and Generals" remains a problematic and divisive episodic epic that pits filmfan against filmfan, Civil War buff against Civil War buff. It certainly isn't a waste of celluloid, but some will love it, some will loathe it, others will simply long to be rid of its 280-minute march to war. Warner's latest Blu-ray release, though, is a bit of a mixed bag. While its DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track warrants celebration, the quality of its video transfer is strikingly similar to its 2007 Blu-ray counterpart (which, in and of itself, isn't necessarily a bad thing), the entire film is crammed onto one disc (to slightly troubling ends) and its supplemental package still doesn't offer any significant production documentaries. Proceed with caution and consideration.