Shenandoah (1965, U.S.)

James Stewart plays a widowed farmer with many children who lives in the Shenandoah Valley during the Civil War, and he doesn't participate in the war because he doesn't think it is "his" war. When his youngest son, Boy, is mistakenly captured by the Union, he and his whole family become very active in the war, searching for Boy no matter who falls in their paths.

Of course the scenery was beautiful, even if it was probably Oregon or Washington rather than Virginia. (You can't trick a resident of the Valley!) The writing was good, and it was really insightful on the subjects of war and peace, race and family, love and marriage, honor and duty. And James Stewart was just phenomenal, funny in a serious way, if that makes any sense. (I hate to compare him to Billy Burke in Twilight, but that's the closest thing I can think of.)

This is a really good western and "war" film. (I use quotes because it wasn't a war film in the sense that it had lots of fighting and action but because it was about war. Think Gone with the Wind-style "war" film.) I really liked this one.

Rating: 4.0