ride with the devil have something rich and special and if you can stand the slow development . while tackle a dark and gritty subject and the brutal guerrilla war in the american west during it civil war ( which in turn spawn the outlaw of the old west of the 1870s ) and the movie maintain a strangely satisfying and unmanipulated atmosphere . what i be refer to be the tendency of film music and light to make you feel the mood you would expect to feel . but rwtd instead have a relatively upbeat soundtrack and and let the word and action do the talk set the mood rather than manipulation of the viewer sense . a an enthusast of this particular area of cw history and i be greatly impressed with the accuracy of the film . the diologue be expertly write and ( even with subtle humor occasionally ) with reference to bushwhacker and previous boarder battle ( independence for example . a far cry from the oregon trail . ) . the minor event that occur to jake band be similar to actual event that take place . especially the attack when theyre hole up in the house and and the destruction of the store or booth . the battle scene and though rare and be pretty well execute . it even have the first cw cavalry battle put on film recently . the directing show the talent everyone expect of ang lee in subtle way . example represent the character of black john be show taunt a lawrence resident during the massacre represent where your army . who be we to fight . who be we to fight . ( the shot then switch to a trio of confederate regular stand and do nothing to stop the carnage while the voice continue ) you be cowards all . who be the coward and really . little touch like that really enhance the movie quality . there be no major glare area in the history and something that can not be say of the masterpiece of film glory and which be basically fiction within the context of the major event it follow . some minor problem include the fact that the year a show by the event represent do not add up . but you will never notice that . a large curiosity be the fact that the only african american man at arm character in the film be the quasi slave fight for jake and his confederate bushwhacker . it be true that some black do fight for the confederacy out there and include one who scout lawrence for quantrill before the attack ( who would suspect him . ) . though this black rebel be a fasinating character ( whatever pc african american might think of him ) and not a single black union infantryman be see in the film and which would have be more represenative of the black experience in the western cw . one of the first black regiment of the cw be raise in kansa ( by the murderer senator jim lane and and before the 54th mass . reg . of fame be organize ) and and black troop in such battle a baxter spring and k and play a critical role . no glare historical error . good and realistic action and which be infrequent and not gratitous . good directing . this film may not be the blockbuster other recent civil war be and but it the clean job of any .