Rating: 
Summary: Mel Gibson proves his acting skills once more
Review: My boyfriend and I watched this movie for a second time last week, and even sitting at home I was completely drawn into the film. This is the kind of movie which makes me forget I'm even *here*; the living room disappeared, and the images on the television screen absorbed me in a way that few films are able to.Mel Gibson has cast away any remaining doubts I previously held regarding his ability to act; while his "Hamlet" and "Braveheart" roles certainly showcased his range, his Benjamin Martin blows me away. His anguished eyes as he tries to cope with "Legends of the Fall"-like tragedy convey emotion that I have not often seen, and
his grim determination in the battle sequences is unparalleled. Heath Ledger delivers another strong performance, and gives me faith that another excellent leading man is in the making here. Eight-year-old Skye McCole Bartusiak gives a surprisingly skilled and intense performance as Susan, and I really look forward to seeing her in future roles. In this film, she was one of those rare children's roles that I absolutely fell in love with. Other really enjoyable players were Chris Cooper (in a role completely unlike his performance in "American Beauty,") Tcheky Karyo (as yet another incredibly likeable Frenchman,) Jay Arlen Jones (as the loyal, illiterate Occam,) and Jason Isaacs (as the blazing-eyed, cruel Tavington.) While those roles certainly stand out, nearly everyone in this film gave their all, and on the whole, it's a wonderful piece. The depiction of the battles of the day is gut-wrenching; the research the filmmakers performed pays off with realism in such scenes as the horrifying surgical tents, and the cannonball rolling through the troops. While there is a fair amount of blood and death, it is not gratuitous; much like "Black Hawk Down," it is simply another element of the story which is neither overdone nor brushed aside. There are few, if any, glaringly obvious anachronisms or plot inconsistencies that I saw - if they existed, I was too wrapped up in the story to notice. There are many emotional moments, but most of the cast doesn't go over the top and stray into the overly-melodramatic. There is suspense, action, betrayal, battles, romance, loyalty, and the best and worst of human traits. I very much recommend this film for nearly everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: O.K. you British people STILL need to get over it, YOU LOST!
Review: O.k. this is a GREAT movie, but my real point for writing this is to put down all the British people writing reviews calling this movie "historically inaccurate" when in fact, THEIR reviews are inaccurate. We DID win the war, the British did not "lose because of fighting France" or because King George III was crazy, and they definately were not outnumbered 10 to 1 by us, in fact, WE were outnumbered by the British in almost every battle. We won because instead of fighting European style in long lines like the British did, we used more gorilla warfare tactics as The Patriot portrays. Instead of standing there waiting for orders to shoot, our boys ducked behind trees and rocks and picked the Brits off one by one while they just stood there listening for their commands. THAT my friends is why we won the war. The Brits' own idea of "battle field honor" was their downfall. As for the slavery issue. . . well, this was not a movie about slavery, it was about a family caught up in the American Revolution. True it was corney that Gibson's character had paid workers since that was almost unheards of, but yet I did say ALMOST unheard of. So, there may be a few historical innaccuracies, but overall this is a GREAT movie. As for my British counterparts writing their reviews about what a terrible movie this is and how your ancestors "let" us win the war . . . it sounds like its been 225 years and you STILL haven't gotten over the fact that you LOST the war, and you weren't even around back then so why do you care? Oh well, its a GOOD movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Shameless
Review: This film was a shameless display of blind nationalism and made me want to vomit. No decent, intelligent human being would ever consider buying this film. The film is historically inaccurate and as a result extremely insulting and racist towards english and black people. It also completely ignores slavery and the director of this film should be reminded that black Americans did not get their independence until the 1960s. Mel Gibson has shown again that he has no integrity and is totally avaricious. The inaccuracies in this film are appalling. Firstly, why on earth would a black man fight for freedom in South Carolina, a slave state?! After the Americans won the war they continued the slave trade for over a hundred years. However, in the film black men are fighting for 'freedom' with the white Americans, which is a little strange as anyone with even a speck of historical knowledge would know that black Americans only gained their freedom forty years ago. This film was rightfully criticised by Spike Lee who pointed out this appalling 'white-washing' of history. It is also important to point out that the 'hero' portrayed by Gibson was in fact a serial rapist, who kept slaves and hunted native Indians for his own amusement. Gibson's character is based on Francis Marion who actually committed atrocities much worse than those performed by the British in this movie. This kind of movie making is especially dangerous, in that America is an extremely insular nation with a jingoistic media and the 'histories' depicted in these movies, will come to be taken as fact. I can't wait for Gibson's next film 'We Were Soldiers' where I fully expect the entire history of the Vietnam War to be re-written and the Vietnamese to be portrayed as inherently evil. If America really wants to change the way the world peceives them, a good start would be to stop making jingoistic, right-wing trash such as this. The only war being fought in this movie, is a war on historical accuracy and individuality. I felt violated after watching this film - don't make the same mistake. This is a vile film and Roland Emmerich is a shocking film maker.
Rating:
Summary: How America Gained Its Freedom
Review: Excellent movie, with some historical facts and hollywood hype added. Gun control advocates should see this movie for a lesson on the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and why the right to bear arms is of a great benefit to this country. All Americans should see this movie for a history refresher as to how this country became the great nation it is today. Good action and acting, see the movie.
Rating: 
Summary: Historical Garbage plus Braveheart
Review: This film was historically inaccurate.... Although war is horrible and many atrocities and war crimes take place, it is wrong to place them into a movie you portray as historical. The action scenes were good and at times unpredictable, but the story was a little too like "Braveheart." Mel Gibson was the only reason this movie made money. See the movie but don't purchase it.
Rating:
Summary: Carbon Copy Mel?
Review: Mel Gibson has made a career out of playing characters seeking justice against those who have been wronged him (MAD MAX, THE ROAD WARRIOR, LETHAL WEAPON 2, BRAVEHEART ... hell, even WHAT WOMEN WANT). In THE PATRIOT, he stretches little creative muscle ... he just adapts it to the time period of the American Revolutionary War. That said, THE PATRIOT is a marvelous film, epic in scope, thanks largely to the aid of CGI technology. Director Roland Emmerich, famous for such popcorn flicks as STARGATE and INDEPENDENCE DAY and GODZILLA, makes a dramatic turn here and succeeds admirably. While the film may not be entirely historically accurate, it still delivers the 'stand-up-and-cheer' patriotism you would expect based on the title alone.
Rating: 
Summary: what a waste
Review: Historically accurate or not, this movie stunk. When it first came out in the theater I was looking forward to seeing it because The Revolutionary War is a very interesting subject and hasn't been adressed on film. Then I found out Mel Gibson was the star and it seemed like a sure thing. But to my shock and disappointment I found out Roland Emmerlickme of Godzilla, Independence Day and Stargate was directing it. So I waited for DVD and I got what I expected, I pile of cliche-ridden fecal matter. I'm an American but I didn't need to be force fed how bad the British were. They should have put scrolling text on the bottom of the screen reminding anyone watching who forgot "remember people: American=good, British=bad". Forgot? Ok lets go burn some women and children. Let's make the villain as ridiculously inhuman as possible, as if this is a fun James Bond movie. Some people have complained about how the subject of slavery was treated, and I see where they're coming from. However slavery is so immense it needs it's own movie, you can't possibly adequately address it here so I understand why Roland only threw in a few token moments. Unfortunately those few moments were ridiculous anyway. Good points: Gibson was good and the cinematography was beautiful. The Patriot was long, tedious, cringe-inducing, and did not make me feel patriotic in the least. Roland go make a German movie and leave the flag waving to us Americans.
Rating:
Summary: Mel Gibson's performance of a a lifetime!
Review: This was a spectacular movie. Mel Gibson's BEST WORK, indeed. And the thing I liked about it....it wasn't "predictable" at all....the writers weren't there to PLEASE everyone....they were there to write a damn good movie, and that's it. And it worked! It is a movie that I will not ever see too many times. I think I have seen it about 6 times now. Never get tired of a great movie like this one. never. GREAT WORK!
Rating:
Summary: Sickening
Review: Glory, pride and an easy win, Typical! Like any other history loving person this film just makes me wanna gag, not only is it incredably inaccurate as far as every historian is concened, it also (as usual) makes us brits look like butchers! We had the most highly trained and well diciplined army in the world, the only reason the Americans won was because of the fact that we were already fighting a war with France, spain etc and as a result only a quarter of our army were actualy over there.
I am 15 and considered gullable to this yanky propaganda, well i say anyone who is taken into this film should be considered dumb or racist as we are portayed as nazi type figures and its so WRONG!!!!! Please send me your thoughts on this review.
Rating:
Summary: Great Revolutionary War film
Review: I found the Patriot to paint a good picture of what the Revolutionary War could have been like for a number of American families. I think this movie is worth your time.
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