Strike the Tent

The story is based on a true person (although only a corporal in real life portrayed as a captain). The family connection of the writer and actors was appreciated. The movie had unnecessary cursing and a sex scene, all of which could have been omitted and the story would have been enhanced. These "modern" devices insult the imagination and taste of viewers like me. My Christian family could have enjoyed it without these elements. The story and action stalled about three quarters of the way through, kind of like a sermon gone too long.

Appreciated the inclusion of a "Copperhead" character, a Northerner who had sentiment for the Southern society and cause. There were a multitude of these "Southern sympathizers" throughout the North, but one would be hard-pressed to find such facts in history books. Good movie except for the elements already mentioned.

When I sat down to watch the 2005 movie "The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams" (aka "Strike the Tent"), I must admit that I was expecting a bit more of a war drama. Sure, I wasn't familiar with the story upon which the movie is based, so I didn't know what I was in for here. But I was expecting a tad more than what directors A. Blaine Miller and Julian Adams delivered here.

Sure, "The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams" was watchable, and it provided adequate enough entertaining for a single viewing. But this was hardly an outstanding or memorable movie set in the time period of the American Civil War.

The acting performances in the movie were actually good, but it was just a shame that the characters in the movie were a bit too bland and generic. They were simply lacking more spark and more dimensions for me, in order to feel like wholehearted and complete characters in the story.

I will say that the sets, props and atmosphere in "The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams" definitely felt like it took place during the American Civil War, and that was something that added to the overall enjoyment of the movie.

I am sure that this 2005 movie will provide adequate entertainment for viewers familiar with the story, or for viewers looking for a love story set within the American Civil War. However, I was expecting a bit more warfare and action, so I was somewhat disappointed with this movie.

My rating of "The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams" lands on a mediocre five out of ten stars. This is not a movie that I will be returning to watch for a second time.

A noble cause in wanting to make this film by the family of John Adams, but uh boy, there are serious script flaws, lack of believability in some of the characters due to sub-par acting (by Julian Adams, mainly), continuity problems, and a wardrobe that at times looks like it came out of a cracker-jacks box. This film is billed as being filled with passion and being "explosive", according to one IMDb reviewer. I think dead people are more passionate and explosive! I don't know why this film is getting so many positive reviews, it's really not good at all. I'm only giving it 3 stars myself out of consideration for the family's desire to tell the story of their heritage (assuming it is all true, but I've found nothing on the history of Robert Adams anywhere else but in this film, so who knows how much of the movie is historically accurate).

Even if you're a civil war history buff, this film will likely barely hold your interest (if at all).

Sorry, Adams family. Nothing personal, I'm just calling it like I see it.

Because of my sympathy for the Cause, and a glowing review I had read elsewhere, I was prepared to love this movie, but I can't. I can recommend it, but with the following qualifications: It is a good story, but not well told. The principal problem is the story is chopped up into numerous flashbacks, to the point where the "unity of time" is lost. Not only is this mildly confusing at times, but it prevents the full power of the story from developing.

The acting is average at best. The script, surprisingly, does not seem to have much room for a wide range of emotions, but rather most scenes are executed with the same solemn sincerity. I wasn't yawning, but I was surprised by the lack of vitality in some scenes that really called for it.

The cinematography was very fine. The story was not greatly partisan; it could have made much more of Union Army atrocities against Southern civilians, but took the high road and chose to illustrate, but not dwell on them. It leaves me with a strong sense of the tragedy that was the War, and I think and hope that was one of the makers' main intentions. So it is successful on some levels.

The Last Confederate is a film conceived and brought to the screen by its star Robert Adams. Apparently with considerable help from the South Carolina Film Commission and state government. It certainly presents the Confederate cause in the best possible light, something of particular interest to South Carolina since it was those folks who were the first to secede and get the drums beating out a fast tempo.

After saying that it's also a good romantic film showing the love of star Adams's great great grandfather Julian Adams and his Yankee sweetheart from Pennsylvania played by Gwendolyn Edwards. With flashbacks to the Ante Bellum period we see Adams in the last days of the war knowing full well the cause was lost, but as he says it they're now fighting for a way of life. Of course the question of slavery is kind of glossed over as you would expect.

As romance however the film is first rate. After being taken prisoner and spending time in Elmira, the Union's Andersonville Adams and two friends escape and go to Pennsylvania because that's not what his captors would think he would do and because Edwards has fled there to be with her grandfather, an aged Mickey Rooney. Rooney his scenes mostly in bed delivers a fine performance, a man you can watch live almost his entire almost century life on the big and small screen.

The romance has some real poignancy to it. The film was shot on a lot of actual locations for the story. As history many will find it suspect.