Glory Reviews

[Highly rated reviewer]

Very Close To 5 Stars

A film that follows the story about the the first ever black regiment in the US Army as it battles in the American Civil War.

If you have any interest in American history then you have to see this film. At times the film verges on cheesiness but there's too much substance to the film to really allow that to happen and I can wholeheartedly recomment this for anyone with an interest in war films that have more than just big explosions.

Mostly, Glorious!

This story of the first black regiment in the civil war makes a decent war movie helped along by a fantastic cast and great historical reconstruction. It's great to see Matthew Broderick in one of his best roles, but the most memorable performance comes from Denzel Washington. This movie may have led to his typical typecasting as an angry young man, while Morgan Freeman became typecast as the wise old man. The battle scenes are very well done -- and at the time they must have been even more spectacular. These days, they're not up to, say, 'Saving Private Ryan' standard but they're still pretty damn good.

'Glory' could easily be a classic but it's not without it's share of flaws ... first of all, it's a little to obsessed with it's own 'glory' in places. With it's intrusive score, it attaches ultimate significance to events when it might have been more poignant not to do so.

Mostly, I really enjoyed this movie. But all those schmaltzy moments when the music rises ... they just aren't necessary. People KNOW how meaningful these events were, they can see that right on the screen. Other than that, this was a pretty fantastic and important civil war movie.

Glorious Glory

Better than expected by a long way largely because the film avoids the over-sentimental pitfalls which could easily have spoiled it. Principals Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington are as reliable as ever.

Matthew Broderick I'd always regarded as fairly lightweight but he took the central role with acting honours....this is a very worthwhile and ultimately rewarding film.

Impressive - but dull

I really like this film. It is a good historically accurate account of the first Black regiment to fight in the American Civil War.

But there are times when it wavers, times when I looked at my watch and wondered how long the film was.

Still worth a look, especially for some excellent acting by the well-known cast.

Deserved every Oscar

Morgan Freeman, Cary Elwes, Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick. Need I say more? Denzel will have you in tears, and not from laughter. Matthew Broderick's Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, who lead the first black regiment into action during the American Civil War. Shaw is a compassionate example of a good military leader. He faces disgrace and treachery from other white officers who would do terrible things to their black regiments and have them do terrible things to settlements. Shaw's men died to a man, but he kept a journal and he knew a journalist. Just before his last stand, he gave those journals and letters to his family to the lad and asked that his story be remembered. And here it is. Elwes is an excellent junior officer and Shaw's (Broderick) best friend. Morgan Freeman is the first black sargeant who looks after his men, a wise old dog of a sargeant who always provides excellent guidance to the young Shaw when he asks it. They deal with requisitions officers who would rather sell the regiments shoes and supplies rather than clothe them. They defy the President in allowing the black soldiers to wear the uniform. The soldiers take half pay, and then no pay at all, in being discouraged from entering the war. Through many hardships and punishments, they march long and hard rising and falling together as a unit. It is beautiful and humanist. How anyone could watch this and not be taken is beyond me. The soundtrack is performed by the Boys' Choir of Harlem. The cinematography is BEYOND COMPARISON, the viewer will feel they are looking in on a period Civil War painting at all times. The troubles and tribulations are real, as they did happen and these men did exist and I personally have been to the filming location outside Savannah, Georgia on a little island called Tybee Island at a small beach fort. It was expertly performed and took a great deal of talent to deliver this emotional masterpiece. I bought the soundtrack in 1990 and still have it. I'll be getting the DVD next.

An absolute gem of a movie. Top nptch acting, and what a cast!!! I loved ever minute and couldnt recommend it highly enough.

Average

Some people really like this film and I can see why. It's a touching story of a black regiment fighting against the slave-trade south in the american civil war. For me, the story itself is great but the film isn't. It could have been made a whole lot better, Matthew Broderick is seriously miscast and it pangs a little of Hollywood sentimentalism abd cliche. A great film that never was.

north south

a good follow up after north and south

yoda

this film is very good and i liked it very much

A slice of American history

There are already good reviews on this film suffice to say it is well acted and well made and tells a good story of how tough it was for black Americans to become recognised as black Americans- exposing the intolerance and prejudice. You can't help feeling that it was still just scratching the surface, but it was a good film that will stand the test of time because of the important message it carries- All men are free and that fact should apply to all men (Oh and that also includes all women - best remember that)