I'll keep my review of the second half of the mini-series brief. Suffice it to say that the excellence of the first half of the mini-series continues, unabated, here. In fact, special credit should go to the excellent manner in which Civil War battle scenes are staged, and how the authors and producers showed enough battles to get the essence of the dramatic suffering the Civil War caused. In fact, I don't recall a film or television series that better en-capsulized the glory and suffering as well. It's exceptional.
There were a few cast changes here. Parker Stevenson does very well as one of the younger members of the Hazard family in the fray of battle. Lloyd Bridges joins the cast as Jefferson Davis, and does very well (although the authors and producers apparently decided not to portray Davis as emotionally challenged). It's wonderful to see Olivia de Havilland as a "head nurse", particularly considering her starring role in GWTW. James Stewart and Anthony Zerbe have good turns here, the latter as U.S. Grant.
Terri Garber continues -- unfortunately -- to play her character as if she was the reincarnation of Scarlett O'Hara. But if I had to give a worst actor award, it would certainly be to Wayne Newton (ugh!) who is sickening in his portrayal as a sleazy head of one of the South's most infamous prisons. Of course, his character pays for his sins, but it would have been better had Newton paid for his, as well. His performance alone is going to cost this part of the mini-series one star.
Nevertheless, I highly recommend this mini-series. Probably the best depiction of the "big picture" of the Civil War, without getting mired down into battle after battle.
There were a few cast changes here. Parker Stevenson does very well as one of the younger members of the Hazard family in the fray of battle. Lloyd Bridges joins the cast as Jefferson Davis, and does very well (although the authors and producers apparently decided not to portray Davis as emotionally challenged). It's wonderful to see Olivia de Havilland as a "head nurse", particularly considering her starring role in GWTW. James Stewart and Anthony Zerbe have good turns here, the latter as U.S. Grant.
Terri Garber continues -- unfortunately -- to play her character as if she was the reincarnation of Scarlett O'Hara. But if I had to give a worst actor award, it would certainly be to Wayne Newton (ugh!) who is sickening in his portrayal as a sleazy head of one of the South's most infamous prisons. Of course, his character pays for his sins, but it would have been better had Newton paid for his, as well. His performance alone is going to cost this part of the mini-series one star.
Nevertheless, I highly recommend this mini-series. Probably the best depiction of the "big picture" of the Civil War, without getting mired down into battle after battle.