Setting
Many of the scenes from Gettysburg were actually filmed in Gettysburg National Military Park and the surrounding areas, making the filming areas very historically accurate. One example of inaccuracy here was that the Battle of Little Roundtop Hill was not filmed at this hill, but several miles away (Making of the Film Documentary). One of the film's historical consultants even mentioned that some of the scenes were shot in Los Angles or South Africa. But to the film's credit he also adds, that almost every single one of his nearly 400 corrections of the script for historical accuracy were addressed in the final script (Civil War Memory).
About 5,000 reenactors were used, short of the number in Pickett's Charge (The War Movie Buff). The use of reenactors in this movie as extras was an excellent choice and truly contributed to its quality in that far more attention to detail was pushed, from accurate pins on the uniforms to professional usage of cannons, and the choreography of the battle scenes was performed remarkably well. However, this authenticity in some cases was neglected among some of the props provided by a few of the reenactors, like very modern drums and modern American flags with far too many stars on them.
Another repeatedly critiqued aspect of wardrobe for the film is the beards (Making of the Film), which many believe reflect the low-budget nature of the film. However, when headshots of actors are brought up alongside their real-life counterparts the likeness is stunning and the extreme facial hair seems far more justified.
Two areas of effects repeatedly critiqued as being unauthentic and lackluster are the absence of blood and gore and the lack of notable damage to the surrounding area and vegetation. Blood and gore were not present in the movie due to its initial release as a PG-rated mini series on the History Channel. Vegetation and landscaping were intentionally undisturbed because the unprecedented use of Gettysburg National Military Park as a movie site required an explicit clause in the contract which forbade damage to any property, including ground and vegetation.
About 5,000 reenactors were used, short of the number in Pickett's Charge (The War Movie Buff). The use of reenactors in this movie as extras was an excellent choice and truly contributed to its quality in that far more attention to detail was pushed, from accurate pins on the uniforms to professional usage of cannons, and the choreography of the battle scenes was performed remarkably well. However, this authenticity in some cases was neglected among some of the props provided by a few of the reenactors, like very modern drums and modern American flags with far too many stars on them.
Another repeatedly critiqued aspect of wardrobe for the film is the beards (Making of the Film), which many believe reflect the low-budget nature of the film. However, when headshots of actors are brought up alongside their real-life counterparts the likeness is stunning and the extreme facial hair seems far more justified.
Two areas of effects repeatedly critiqued as being unauthentic and lackluster are the absence of blood and gore and the lack of notable damage to the surrounding area and vegetation. Blood and gore were not present in the movie due to its initial release as a PG-rated mini series on the History Channel. Vegetation and landscaping were intentionally undisturbed because the unprecedented use of Gettysburg National Military Park as a movie site required an explicit clause in the contract which forbade damage to any property, including ground and vegetation.