calfan

The doting hysteria surrounding this overblown tome of a film amazed me when I first saw it 50 years ago. It is as tedious now as then. With a few exceptions (especially Gable), the acting is overdone and phony. After the fourth silhouettes against the setting sun shot within the first 30 minutes, even the beauty of those scenes was diluted to visual doggerel. One of the few entertaining scenes was the newly widowed Scarlett dancing a jig below the serving table top at a soirée. As for historical accuracy - never mind. I know that I am in a small minority who rate this between 1 and 6 but there is always hope that more people will be less impressed with the scope and grandeur and notice what a silly soap opera this thing is.

If we want suspected terrorists to talk, just make them watch this overblown, pompous turkey on a continuous loop - hold the battle scenes which were not too bad. Anybody will break down if forced to watch and listen to this goodie two shoes tripe. Just another wowie zowie special effects monstrosity - gee, did the giant elephants remind you of the fighting machines from Star Wars (The Empire Strikes Back)? How would you like to clean up after those babies? They even left it open for another "episode". I would have rather spent 3 hours and 21 minutes in the dentist chair. Old J.R.R. has to be spinning in his grave at the treatment his work got from these goofs.May the Fa*ts be with you.

Excellent production with fine acting by Jeff Daniels as Washington. The rest of the cast is also very good. Daniels transformed the stern and stiff George Washington from portraits into the daring and inspiring leader he was. I am beginning to think of Jeff Daniels as being in the same class as Jeff Bridges and Chris Cooper; a true professional. The actual Battle of Trenton was portrayed accurately and serves to reinforce my gratitude for our Founders' courage and dedication to liberty. Jeff Shaara's account of the battle in his excellent book, The Glorious Cause, also depicts Washington as a gambler when the potential rewards justified the risk. I hope it is re-run soon but if you don't see it on TV, buy or rent it.