The expected war themes are present and accounted for along with some atypical ones, such as fighting and dying for your own emancipation and gaining respect when there are no common backgrounds.  All themes conveyed achieve full emotional pull.

  Matthew Broderick’s performance is somewhat surprising and substantially creditable.  Like the real Col. Robert Gould Shaw, a fledgling officer who shouldered the task of molding a reduced class of men into efficient solders, Broderick must convey that feat plus carry the film from start to literal finish.

  One of the more noteworthy modern film scores - it adds sensation without becoming intrusive.

        » Brent Chastain, Top3films.com