Glory is an exciting and intriguing adventure that combines together drama and real history to form a truly entertaining movie. The movie revolves around the United States, which is going through one of the most brutal periods of time in its history. In fact, the United States is currently going through its famous Civil War, and the country is divided now like it never has been before. In fact, it is after one of these battles, the Battle of Antietam to be precise, when Colonel Shaw is offered to a high position to become an even bigger part of this war. While it may seem like accepting this position is an easy task to make, there's no denying the fact that it comes along with plenty of tough challenges. The offer to Colonel Shaw involves being offered to command the 54th infantry of Massachusetts, which is the first all-African American regiment. This means that, as a white man, Colonel Shaw would have to put aside the criticism and prejudice of others to stand up and fight for what is right, both in the Civil War and for the African American soldiers that would serve under him. However, Colonel Shaw does not hesitate and quickly decides to accept this officer, which is why he has become such a memorable figure in history. Together, Shaw joins together with an old friend to make this new group of men trained soldiers, and he aids in their the group's attempt to gain experience and become more professional. As Colonel Shaw tries to defy all odds with his leadership of this regiment, he begins to place his mark on history as he creates a proudly noble unit, which consists of soldiers that greatly range in physical ability and education. Some of these soldiers consist of an escaped slave and a clever gravedigger, but regardless of their past, all soldiers become unified over Shaw in their attempts to help change the tide of the war. 
 Glory proves to be a truly action-packed adventure that might very well be the best Civil War movie to ever be created. In fact, the movie is a true classic within itself. The movie has just about it all, including a thorough and well-composed plot that helps to fuse together a story with compelling characters, charismatic concepts, and the ability to portray real history in a manner that genuinely appeals to viewers. The beginning of the movie does a brilliant job of introducing audiences to some key concepts, including what the country is going through during this time, and this helps to put audiences in Colonel Shaw's shoes, which makes his bold decision to become the head of the 54th infantry of Massachusetts that much more memorable. The middle of the movie does a marvelous job of progressing the plot along and does an excellent job of presenting new and exciting conflicts for all of the characters, which are far more complicated than just people fighting in the Civil War, and this results in heaping amounts of emotion and personal drama acting as a bonus to the film. The enticing ending of the movie may be slightly predictable for some, especially those that know the real history of the movie before watching it, but there's no denying the shear fact that the movie is able to awe viewers with its reveal of what exactly happened to the 54th infantry. 

 Glory greatly benefits from a star-studded cast that oozes with talent, and all of this talent is put to good use as history becomes a truly awesome thing to behold. Matthew Broderick is superb as Colonel Shaw, and as the main character of the movie, he is able to bring so much emotion and passion to create a truly likable and captivating protagonist. Morgan Freeman is fantastic as John Rawlins, and whenever he's on-screen, his character is almost certainly one of the most appreciated. Denzel Washington is spectacular as Private Trip, and his portrayal is serious, profound and impactful in all of the right ways. All three of these actors are able to bring the people they are portraying to life, and while there are plenty of other notable roles, especially in a film like this where every character has an important position, Broderick, Freeman and Washington all thoroughly shine. 

 Glory has just about it all, and as a history buff classic, this movie instantly becomes a great fit for any history or social studies class. This film is perfectly suited for teenagers of all ages, as well as those older, and while the movie may be slightly too mature for those of a younger audience, the real events that are portrayed in the movie are so important and well-executed that they must be seen. This is a true hidden gem that needs to receive more recognition and praise. It's an absolute must-see. The real soldiers of the 54th infantry of Massachusetts would definitely agree.