I wouldn't consider The Patriot a realistic war movie. It was a good flick though.

This one is rated PG 13, there is blood and gore, but not to the extent of Saving Private Ryan or Blackhwak Down or even Glory.

I don't particularly care to see people's heads taken off with cannon shells or watch soldiers drag a torso out of the street either. Unfortunately most movie makers are trying to shock the audience.

I much prefer to read about war stories than see them. Some very good books about the cival war are Bruce Catton's Army of the Potomoc trilogy:

Mr Lincoln's army

Glory Road

A stillness at Appomattox

I picked up all three at a used book store for $10. Hard cover, with dust jackets. What I really liked about them was it gave you a broad view from the General's point of view, and then dropped you in the march with the soldiers. Very well written. I like Catton's writing as much as I like Stephen Ambrose.

-Steve G.