The movie Gettysburg is a war film written and directed by Ronald F. Maxwell and is based on the novel The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara. Gettysburg came out in 1993 and is centered around the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. This battle, which took place during the American Civil War, involved the largest number of casualties and is seen by some as the turning point of the war. The movie focuses on many of the military leaders on both the Union and Confederate side over time. Confederate General Robert E. Lee is depicted in the movie as a man that is extremely beloved in the South and is viewed almost as a hero. His troops are extremely devoted to him and are always eager to fight under his command. Another leader, though lower in rank, depicted in the film is Union Colonel Chamberlain. Chamberlain comes off as much more educated than General Lee which most likely comes from his teaching background. Though he is just a common man, he is still extremely passionate about the war and the cause that they are fighting for. He even extends his compassion to the men on the side he is fighting against, even if he cannot understand their views and reasoning for fighting in favor of slavery. Chamberlain also seems much more thoughtful than Lee and thinks about the deeper meaning of the war than simply the glory of it. Both of the men are extremely well respected throughout their troops and even though they have different points of view, they are both very passionate about their sides’ opinion. Aside from the passion that both of these men feel towards their causes, they both have a deeper love for war and the military itself-like many of the other characters that we’ve seen so far. These two characters have many similarities and differences throughout the film, but like most of the war leaders that we’ve encountered so far, they are extremely well respected, and intense about the military and their causes.

“Gettysburg (1993 Film).” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg_(1993_film)>.

Gettysburg. Perf. Tom Berenger, Jeff Daniels, Martin Sheen. Simitar Entertainment, 1993. Film.

“Battle of Gettysburg.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gettysburg>.