Gettysburg/YMMV
- Non Sequitur Scene: Fremantle's presence can sometimes seem like this in the movie. He seems horribly out of place, makes odd comments, is rarely spoken of when not there, and his sole function of being present for other characters to provide Exposition could easily be filled by someone else. In the book, his function as an outside observer and Point of View character makes far more sense.
- Contemplate Our Navels: There's quite a few scenes with characters sitting around, discussing the war, slavery, and what could or should have been.
- Crowning Music of Awesome:
- The entire score, but the piece that plays during and in the aftermath of Pickett's charge is especially poignant. I dare you to not tear up.
- When the Union "CHAAAAAARGE!!!" is sounded on Little Round Top. With that kind of music, how could they not win?
- The track for the climax of Pickett's charge, which did not appear on the original soundtrack. A later version has it as "Armistead Is Hit".
- Historical Hero Upgrade:
- Chamberlain, Buford and Hancock in the sense that they are brought to the forefront of the audience's attention.
- This movie and the book it was based on played a major role in rehabilitating General Longstreet's reputation among historians who frequently badmouthed him and belittled his military skill due to becoming a Republican after the war. Robert E. Lee deeply trusted and relied upon Longstreet and the Confederates lost the battle (and subsequently the War) in large part because Lee didn't listen to him. Of course, his corps WAS slow to attack Little Round Top on the second day... but if he had attacked earlier Sickles' Corps. would have been in a stronger position (i.e. not at Devil's Den) and things could have been worse.
- Harsher in Hindsight: The scene where Armistead is mortally wounded is also actor Richard Jordan's final appearance, since he passed away suddenly after filming the movie, so the movie is dedicated in part to him. Also counts both ways as a Tear Jerker.
- Some Anvils Need to Be Dropped: The people on both sides were human beings, and every person who died at Gettysburg was an American.*
- Tear Jerker: Considering the forgone nature of the conclusion it's not very surprising. Still, it's horrifying to see what happens to these men.
- General Pickett's "I can't see! I can't see what's happening to my boys! What's happening to my boys!?" when he realizes how badly things are going, as well as his response to General Lee's inquiry about his division -- "General Lee... I have no division"—are well beyond the threshold to hold back the waterworks.
- Longstreet is so certain that Pickett's Charge will fail that he is too choked up to order the assault. When Pickett asks him if he should begin the attack, the best the heartbroken Longstreet can manage is a nod.
- Made worse by how eager and elated Pickett is to carry out the order.
- There's far too many of these moments to count, but major ones include:
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Armistead: (to Longstreet) Win was like a brother to me. Remember? Towards the end of the evening, things got a little rough. We both began to... well, there were a lot of tears. I went over to Hancock. I took him by the shoulder. I said, "Win, so help me, if I ever raise my hand against you, may God strike me dead." |
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Armistead: (after being mortally wounded) I... would like... to see General Hancock. Can you tell me... where General Hancock may be found? |
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- What the Hell, Casting Agency?: Mostly avoided, but Martin Sheen was, to many viewers, an odd choice at best for Robert E. Lee and dreadfully miscast at worst. More so in hindsight after the prequel, Gods and Generals, where Lee is played by his real-life descendant Robert Duvall.