Basket.

1994's "Gettysburg" has got to be one of my favourite movies ever. I watched it six years ago on video and thought it was fantastic. After completing, over the weekend, another history of the American Civil War, I'm dying to watch it again. I'll be much better able to understand the people involved, the events leading up to and during the battle itself and its aftermath now, I think, than when I was still Primary Six and just about all I knew about what I now regard as one of the most significant conflicts ever to occur in human history was that it happened.

However, considering it is over four hours long, I can't spare the time as of current, although I can probably borrow the tape easily enough again.

Yet I do remember what an awe-inspiring movie it was (adapted from an equally-fabulous historical novel, The Killer Angels), about one of the most decisive battles ever fought in American and world history. Every major event leading up to the clash, during the battle itself and its immediate aftermath is recorded in great detail and with excellent historical accuracy (the filmakers even managed to obtain special permission to film on the very site of the battle), from the 20th Maine's almost-incredibly brave stand on the Round Tops to the climax of the movie (and arguably the battle itself), Pickett's Charge. I have most of the soundtrack, and it is excellent. The acting was also great, with Martin Sheen in particular putting in a superlative performance as the brilliant Confederate general Robert E Lee and the remaining cast of relative unknowns doing their best in their parts as well.

This movie, and I mean it, has battle scenes matched/exceeded only by those in Return of the King, despite being a good ten years older. The viewer is brought up close to all the horrid realities of warfare, from the savage hand-to-hand struggle by Colonel Joshua L Chamberlain's badly outnumbered regiment to hold the vital Little Round Top to the majestic but doomed Pickett's charge, where Lee sent 15,000 (both in the film and the real battle) men to certain death against entrenched Union troops across a wide, open field. It is epic and very moving indeed.

All in all, an extremely good movie, with excellent pacing to build up to the climax, epic battle scenes, great acting and a soundtrack that sounds brilliant and fits perfectly. Definitely one I would recommend, and one I would try to watch again in future.