Glory (1989)

Movies should be cinematic, dynamic and most of all, entertaining. Films, shows and series are projects that fall short of what we expect from an experience we call a movie. Glory was able to encompass all these aspects into almost a whole different experience itself. The history, informative documentary, genres, hollywood factor, the politics, the productions and actors, the story, etc. were well thought out and beautifully executed.The story is a journey through the experiences of military men back in the civil war days. Two basic groups of men, the privileged and the rest. It starts off with the horrifying realities of war, death. But as we journey through the story we realize that death is not the worst part. The movie tries to show the conflicts between men of power, race, and loyalty while fighting a war. The fighting of arms is the backstory, but the real fighting is amongst themselves.We see two different cultures working in different ways to ultimately unite as one. Some of the most incredible scenes were not really the battles but by the interactions of the men. The camp fire scene was denzels highlight. He even managed to shed some tears, impressive. It was spiritual, memorable and entertaining. His role and performance symbolized the moral of the story.One other powerful scene was when the sarge slapped trip for using the n word against his own. One of many powerful and memorable scenes.Ive worked in West Baltimore for 35yrs. Im korean and own a corner grocery store. I still cringe when i hear youngens still using that word as a term of endearment. They would never dare say it in front of the older generation regardless of what it means or spelled. Watching a movie like Glory reminds us of all the horrors of bigotry and racism has caused in our country. Thats right, my country is America and I am proud to have moved on from those dark times.I go out of my way to thank Glory and all those who fought for our very freedoms we enjoy today. We can not forget our history and we must learn from our mistakes as a nation of diversity. We have diversity only because we were able to unite first. These types of truths is what created real freedom in America. Glory is a great example of how struggles and suffering can bless a whole nation and they do it in such a powerful way. It wasnt just a great movie, it was a powerful message of unity vs. diversity and truth vs. freedom. Its a movie that educates not just of history but human nature. Racism can never be understood fully if you havent been a victim of racism first. A black man can never be understood fully by a white man or a korean man such as myself. And vice-versa. Fortunately we have a movie like Glory to give us the next best thing. Glory is a movie told through the eyes of several types of men. Several stories wrapped in one. Although they were different, they were still able to triumph fighting as one, even if not victorious in the final battle, they were able to claim victory in more important ways.

Glory allows people to develop an understanding of the issues of the time. The men of the 54th regiment have dealt with slavery, sacrifice and the fight for freedom and respect. It is exciting to watch the growth of the characters throughout the movie. Two examples of characters that showed significant growth are Shaw and Trip. Robert Shaw begins as a captain in the Battle of Antietam who has trouble handling the outcomes of war. By the end, Shaw has advanced to colonel of the 54th massachusetts infantry who is willing to do anything for his men both in and out of battle. Trip starts off as a bitter runaway slave, who through the help of Robert, Rawlins and others, later learns to open up to his fellow soldiers and be a true leader for all. The strength and courage of the 54th regiment allowed them to overcome previous stereotypes and earn the respect of many. This movie is a great representation of the historical events that formed our nation and I would highly recommend it.

I haven't seen very many Civil War movies, but this is definitely the best. I am not generally interested in such topics, but this movie really kept my attention and was very enjoyable. There are many memorable scenes and it was great to see what soldier would have had to experience back then.

"Glory" provides insight into a an aspect of the civil war which is rarely talked about. This movie tells the story of the first all black units of the Civil war. It shows the struggles and challenges in which they faced. Very entertaining and interesting. The language use, which is relatively vuglar, contributes to the historical accuracy and works together with other aspects of the film to take the viewer back in time. The themes instilled with the story, such as perseverance amd bravery, are applicable to today's world.