When it comes to American history, I actually know a reasonable amount. Not because I’m really that interested in it and have gone out of my way to research or find out about it, but I’ve just picked up so much over the years from film and TV that I can’t help but know a decent amount. Also if there’s one thing that the Americans do well, it’s the fact they build up their own history to the point you would think there was no other world history apart from their own. So when I had the chance to review the new large budget Gettysburg series on Blu-Ray, that was funnily enough Executive Produced by two famous Brits film makers, Tony and Ridley Scott, I thought it was maybe time to see USA history told with some foreigners at the helm, to see if they would maybe make it more interesting rather than typical patriotic rhetoric. 

“Gettysburg is a 2011 American Civil War television documentary film directed by Adrian Moat that was first aired on May 30, 2011 (Memorial Day) on History. This two-hour documentary film, narrated by actor Sam Rockwell, commenced a week of programming by the History channel honouring and commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War. Gettysburg showcases the horror of the pivotal 1863 Battle of Gettysburg by following the stories of eight men as they put their lives on the line to fight for what they believed in.”

Well even with a couple of Brits behind the show it was still very typical for the American style of telling their own stories, but it was still a good and informative watch. Though it wasn’t as impressive as I thought it was going to be, as even though they had big battle scenes and CG, I just never felt it lived up to the hype of what a film based on the subject could have conjured up. But like I said, it was a good watch, and I’ve added just that little bit more knowledge of American history to my memory banks.

7.5 out of 10 from me.

I also have a DVD copy of this to give away to a lucky New Zealand reader, so e-mail me at likemike@nzblokes.co.nz to be in the draw!