Movie reflection

Original 1939 poster for Gone With the Wind

My Honest First Impression

I’ll be honest I had never seen Gone with the Wind before this, and I didn’t really know what to expect. I’d heard it was “a classic,” but usually when I hear that, I think old, slow, and overly dramatic. And yeah, that’s pretty much how I felt watching it. I can respect its place in movie history but personally it just didn’t click with me.

My First Reaction

From the opening scene, I could tell this movie was from another time not just because of the clothes and accents but the pacing. Everything moved so slowly. I found myself waiting for something exciting to happen and it just didn’t. I know it’s supposed to be an epic story of love, loss and survival but to me it felt more like a very long soap opera. I actually had to check how much time was left a few times, which probably says enough.

Two of cinema’s most iconic characters

Still, I have to admit, the set design completely impressed me. The costumes, the giant houses, the war scenes all of it looked so real and carefully done. For a movie made in 1939, the production quality blew me away. It really did feel like stepping back into the 1800s. The accuracy and attention to detail in how they portrayed that era were probably my favorite parts.

The Characters and My Lack of Connection)

I wanted to connect to the characters, but I just couldn’t. Scarlett O’Hara, played by Vivien Leigh, was frustrating. She’s selfish and dramatic almost the entire time. I know she’s supposed to be strong and independent, but I just couldn’t bring myself to like her. Rhett Butler, played by Clark Gable felt more interesting but even he came off as arrogant.

Mammy, portrayed by Hattie McDaniel, was honestly the only character who stood out to me. She had personality, humor, and common sense, unlike most of the others. Even though she didn’t have a huge role compared to Scarlett or Rhett, she felt like the only one who actually kept the story grounded. McDaniel’s performance was so powerful that she became the first African American to win an Academy Award she won Best Supporting Actress in 1940 for this role (Academy Awards Page). That moment was groundbreaking, even though she still faced discrimination; she wasn’t even allowed to sit with her white co-stars at the Oscars ceremony.

One of the film’s most famous scenes

The Good and the Bad

Even though I didn’t enjoy watching it, I can see why Gone with the Wind is so famous. The movie looks incredible, the cinematography, the grand scenes, the costumes, all of it feels like a huge accomplishment for its time. It won ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Victor Fleming), and Best Actress (Vivien Leigh) (IMDb Awards Page). For a film that’s over 80 years old, that’s impressive.

But at the same time, it’s hard to ignore how outdated it feels. The way the movie romanticizes the Old South made me uncomfortable. It completely ignores the real horrors of slavery and instead presents this picture-perfect version of history that obviously wasn’t true. It felt strange to watch a movie that treats such a dark time like a backdrop for romance.

My Final Thoughts

To be completely real I probably won’t ever watch Gone with the Wind again. It’s just too long, too slow, and too far removed from what I usually enjoy. But I can appreciate what it accomplished. For its time, it was groundbreaking. The film captures the style, fashion, and mindset of its era almost perfectly. It’s like looking at a time capsule something to study and respect, even if you don’t love it.

Watching Gone with the Wind in 2025 was like walking through a museum beautiful, detailed and fascinating but not something I’d go back to for fun. It’s a piece of film history that deserves recognition for what it achieved but for me personally, it just didn’t hold my attention. I respect it but I didn’t enjoy it.