Average Rating: 
Rating: - A great movie makes a great DVD
Recently, I rented Glory on DVD. I had seen the movie before and I loved it. This DVD only made me appreciate more and I'm glad I rented it. Matthew Broderick gives an excellent portrayal of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, who is selected to lead the 54th Massachusetts Regiment, the first all black regiment of the Civil War. He not only has to fight for respect for his men, but also for his own respect. Cary Elwes is Shaw's brother, who is picked to help lead the 54th. Among the soldiers is Denzel Washington, in an Academy Award Winning Performance and Morgan Freeman. Washington, in the beginning of the movie, has no respect for the White man and hates him. But at the end, he gets rid of his hatred. That's what I think the film's final image represents: the unity of the black and white man as one. Shaw also gains the respect of his men when they charge Fort Wagner. The extras on the DVD are excellent. There are two featurettes: The original 1989 featurette briefly covering the film's making and "Voices of Glory", which covers the story of the 54th in the actual letters from those who served. There is the original theatrical trailer as well as trailers for two other Denzel Washington movies (A Soldier's Story and Devil in a Blue Dress). There are also talent files and two deleted scenes. Though fascinating, after watching these scenes (With or without commentary from Director Ed Zwick), it will be easy to see why they were deleted. The picture and sound quality is excellent. My only gripe is that in some scenes the sound is a bit low. Glory is one of those movies that uses both images and sound to its advantage. Nevertheless, the film is still just as powerful, especially during the final scenes at Fort Wagner. All things considered, this DVD is excellent and would make a welcome addition to anyone's collection.
Rating: - An Important Film, A Must-Have DVD
Ed Zwick's "Glory" is a compelling, memorable film. On the surface, it's the historical telling of the Union's first all-black regiment, the 54th Massachusetts, and its role in the War Between the States (or, as my southern friends refer to it, "The Late Unpleasantness"). Beneath the gritty surface, finely woven strands of discord intertwine. There's the unease between the new regiment and its bigoted Union counterparts (led by Cary Elwes, thoroughly unlikeable in a fine performance), and the tension and distrust amid the former slaves themselves, as crystallized in two excellent performances (what else is new?) by Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington. Freeman, as Sgt. Major Rawlins, butts heads with Washington's bitter Trip in a battle for the minds and allegiances of their fellow soldiers. Self-determination is at the heart of this latter-day morality play, and the issues--particularly those broached by Freeman's character--are still pertinent today. Freddie Francis won an Oscar for his cinematography. The film is visually stunning, with horrific battle sequences. Excellent Grammy-winning score by James Horner. Denzel won a Best Supporting Oscar; too bad Morgan couldn't have received one as well. Matthew Broderick also gives a fine performance as the 54th's leader, Col. Shaw. Based on Shaw's letters home, "Glory" honorably represents a fascinating chapter of American history. It's certainly worth seeing, and the DVD is a must for any collection.
Rating: - Glory - DVD
Quite frankly the best Civil War drama ever made and one the best war movies ever made.When you see the DVD version even the preview grips you in and your hooked into this truly epic vison, from Edward Zwick.The film shines like a brand new film on DVD cinamatography is incredable the score from James Horner monumental. The story Starts with Col.Robert Gould Shaw leading his union soldiers into an important victory for the war.When he comes back he is haunted by memories of battle.He is given an assignment to command a group of African American soldiers into battle.One of them who is played with remarkable realizm as a slave (Denzel Washington) who won an Oscar for his performance. Robert accepts but the 54th is mistrusted by the Union soldiers.The 54th at first are given a proclamation to give in or they will be punished severly.But in one meraculous scene in the movie they all stay in hopes that they would be able to defend there country and die on the battlefeild. But they meet with an General who is seemingly bent on useing them for manual labor and not giving them a chance to fight.Robert demands from the union that these soldiers be able to fight.In there first battle they do almost superb with bearly any casultys proving that they have what it takes to go into war. The next morning a Genral shows Robert and the 54th there main opposition the stronghold FT.Wagner an almost invincible fortress that is heavily armed.Col.Robert says that he will lead his army into the first attact on the fort even knowing that the price of his soldiers will most ceartainly be death. The morning after Col. Robert readys his men for battle and finally we see that the soldiers have earned the respect of the union soldiers.Robert tell a reporter ''If I, should fall you remember what you saw here today''.But the most powerful line in the movies was Robert telling them if one person should fall who will carry the flag. The final battle scene at Wagner is heartwrenching and heroic bravery.We see that there is fire all around them but what makes them soliders is they don't care they wan't to continue in the one of the best battle scenes Hollywood has ever made.We see them charging to the fort men dying all around them horribly.Shaw tells them to remain in a trench.When Shaw decides to make another attack he is killed by gunfire, in the most harrowing scene of the hole movie as one of the soliers picks up the fallen flag they make a brave charge for the fort and you see that these men are no longer soldiers there MEN. James Horner's score is incredable in this scene it does not let up.As the men race to take the fort still heavy casuiltys and they are horribly met at the entrence by confederate soldiers killing them.In the final scene we see the confederate soldiers lifting the body of Col. Shaw and throwing him in the trench in the saddest part of the movie we see almost all of the 54th have lost there lives. If you do not cry at or at leat think the ending of Glory is sad then you don't know what sacrifice is.A truly moving and heroic masterpeice one of the best movies of the milleniuum. By ross
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