Gods and Generals

Here comes the second of a projected trilogy about a sweeping, epic battle for the future of a civilization; instead of orcs, this one has Kentuckians. Gods and Generals takes us back two years from the action of the first film, Gettysburg, to chronicle the most destructive war ever fought on American soil from its beginning to the titanic Battle of Chancellorsville in 1863. That’s a lot of ground to cover, so be prepared for an epic three-and-a-half-hour battle between your butt and the theater seat. The DVD supposedly will clock in at twice that length. The combat scenes promise to be stunning, given the participation of thousands of re-enactment hobbyists who’ve had years to get this right—that’s what we call Method acting. Bob Dylan fans take note: he’s got a new song, “Cross the Green Mountain,” on the soundtrack.