Pete M...I think it would be difficult to portray tactical movement, attack and counterattack cinematically while realistically portraying actual battlefield conditions. I think the filmmaker in Gettysburg was essentially interested in presenting the ebb and flow of the battle from the tactical standpoint, the clarity of view being a help to the viewer in his understanding of the battle. Was it realistic (or ethical) to present the battle in this way?

In The Thin Red Line , a depiction of island battle in World War II, despite basic themes of alienation and horror, many battle scenes contained the realistic smoke, ear-shattering sound,panic, and confusion of a battlefield. While being a more realistic representation of war from s soldier's standpoint, little is gleaned of the overall struggle for Guadalcanal.

I think both movies have something to say in terms of what happened on their respective battlefields. And both are certainly more accurate representations than, say, They Died with their Boots On , the Custer saga starring Errol Flynn, where all of the false stereotypes about the battle and the 7th Cavalry are perpetuated.

LEJ