Rating: 
Summary: Historically Incorrect, Very Unrealistic, And Simplistic
Review: This is movie represents the ignorance of Hollywood and their never ending quest to rip people from their wallets. This film is like riding a freight train through a time warp. It has totally distorted the image of the American Revolution and what makes it such an important era in American history. It is very incorrect historically, not to mention making the British forces seem more like Nazi forces in America. It is true that several rogue British officers did take it upon themselves to kill as many patriots as they could, but there was no account in the Revolution of burning of colonist's homesteads. They may have used their homesteads for quartering for the night, and even may have raped the women, but, under the orders of Cornwalis, all soldiers where to behave occurdingly and respect the colonists as subjects of the Crown. All in all, this film turned out to be a mindless action film, trying to replicate the great fil Braveheart, which I must mention is an awesome film which will never be beaten for its historical accuracy. But this one was just dumb, which not to mention was brought to you by the producers of Godzilla and Independence Day, two incredibly stupid films, let that serve as a warning.
Rating: 
Summary: Great battle sequences, but fails utterly as history...
Review: "The Patriot" has stunning battle sequences that show war in its full horrific reality, but displays a stunning lack of historical accuracy and moral courage. This is a film that shows people giving their lives by the thousands for freedom, but at its end, cozies up to the idea that some Americans (read: slaves) weren't all that unhappy not to be free.It's this hypocritical glossing over of historical fact that ultimately sinks "The Patriot", and that's a shame, because the film has many strengths, including its depiction of the brutality of combat, marvelous period feel and set design, and a very strong performance by Mel Gibson. If you've forgotten why war is a nightmare that must be avoided at all costs - all to easy to do in today's world, where war looks like Nintendo - consider "The Patriot" your wake up call. The Revolutionary War wasn't fought with smart bombs, Stealth fighters and TV footage...it was fought with vast armies of men that showed up together on a battlefield and proceeded to brutally kill each other with cannons, rifles, bayonets, knives, rocks, or anything else. More than any other film in history, "The Patriot" shows this old-style warfare in its utter brutality and scale. It's remarkable. Unfortunately for "The Patriot", the accuracy of its battle scenes doesn't make up for its utter ignorance of history or glossing over the greatest human rights issue in our nation's history. Gibson stars as Benjamin Martin, a widower and veteran of the French and Indian Wars. As revolutionary talk spreads, Martin would rather stay home and tend his plantation (yep, it comes complete with all-too-helpful and all-too-happy slaves). But Martin is drawn into the conflict when British officer Tavington decides to go on a Nazi-style mission of destruction against Martin, killing one of his kids, imprisoning another for the heck of it, and burning his house down. And wouldn't you just know it...Martin ends up being a one-man army of destruction against the Brits. Anyone who has even opened up a history book about the revolution knows that even in their worst moments, the Brits NEVER even approached the consistent level of indiscriminate, Nazi-style brutality portrayed in "The Patriot". Unfortunately, that's the impression that this movie gives, and in an age where kids can't remember when the Civil War was fought, such blatant historical inaccuracy is downright irresponsible. Then there's the depiction of slavery, which is utterly ridiculous and borderline insulting. First off, I have very little sympathy for someone who fights for freedom but owns slaves, and Martin is a slaveowner. For this viewer, that fact drained the Martin character of every bit of nobility, despite Gibson's excellent performance. One of Martin's slaves joins the revolution because George Washington has promised freedom for any slave who fights. So what's the first thing this newly-freed slave wants to do after the war's over? He wants to rebuild Martin's house. Huh? This guy is free and the first thing he wants to do is hang out with 'Massuh' and rebuild his house? Man, how much did they have to pay a black actor to buy into this racist apologist drivel? That's what I found most disturbing about this film: after showing us brutal battle after brutal battle, all fought in the name of freedom, "The Patriot" glosses over the fact that after the battles were done, millions of Americans weren't free at all. Talk about an opportunity lost...wouldn't it have been better to confront Martin with his hypocrisy after sacrificing so much in the name of freedom? Why couldn't he realize that when some Americans weren't free, NO Americans were really free? Now that would have been a ending with teeth...as it is, we get feel-good namby pamby. So there you have it, folks: "The Patriot" is a historical drama that honors history in its depiction of violence but ignores it in its depiction of the British, and glosses over the reality that freedom wasn't really freedom for many Americans.
Rating:
Summary: Rambo fights the American Revolution
Review: Well-filmed cartoon story which should have starred Stallone as the Great Anti-English Warrior. Somehow, when Mel Gibson manages to slaughter 20 English soldiers (single-handed) using just his flintlock and his trusty tomahawk, and winds up bare-chested, dripping blood, with a bandana wrapped around his head, obviously suffering from psychic distress (although very much alive), you expect him to shout "Napalm!" or something just as anachronistic. This is not the way the Revolutionary War was fought, to say the least.
Rating: 
Summary: Great film but be careful about the region code
Review: This is another great film by Mel Gibson etc etc etc. All that aside the problem I found with the disk is Sony have added a "Lock" that prevents playback on modified Sony DVD players outside of region 1. Why? to stop the puchase of DVD's from outside of the US I guess but because I want both a large range and high quality I only buy region 1 disks instead of the region 3 disks where I currently live. If you have a modified Sony player ( which is legal ) I'd suggest caution when buying DVD's produced by Sony.
Rating: 
Summary: PATRIOTISM....pass or fail?
Review: This year i have seen many good movies, I really liked this movie though i wouldn't consider it as good as Mel Gibsons previous movie braveheart. I left this movie with a feeling of patriotism which definatly shows that this movie not only accomplished its goal but superimposed feelings in my heart. I give it 4 out of 5. Excellent movie. Well worth buying.
Rating:
Summary: Not for the kiddies...
Review: Beautiful Sets. Wonderfully acted by Gibson, Ledger, and many others. One of Ledger's best. Seemed very realistic, but I was not there, so what would I know? :) Gibson played the parts of a father and a soldier very well. I would recomend it for anyone who can watch innocent die, blood and guts. Enjoy the movie!
Rating:
Summary: One great war movie on the American Revolution
Review: I really don't have much to say except only what you're going to read from all the other reviews of non-thinkers. So I'll say that and a lot more. The fact is that it was a great war movie, besides that fact it was on the American Revolution. Not all war movies coming out today are on that subject, more on the WWII, and Vietnam. Mel Gibson made his usual appearance and did a good job as usual. At the beginning it was pretty much the same as his Brave Heart appearance. At first he was kind and loving and loved his family. After things went bad and the red coats started "messing" with him and his family he started to get infuriated. The killing of the one red coat towards the beginning of the movie that his two youngest sons had to witness was aspecially cruel. The point is that he had some memories of obvious wars in his past.
Rating: 
Summary: entertaining yet predictable
Review: The Patriot? what did I think? I thought the production design, cinematograghy and acting were carried out impressively, yet Robert Rodat's screenplay was predictable of a standard hollywood script. While his use of symbols were imaginative, (toy soldiers, tomahawk etc), their role in the film was too obviously foreshadowed, making the film amazingly predictable. His dialouge is at times well thought out, at others, corny (e.g. "the american nation doesn't exist, and it is treason to say so" oh please!) This is sad coming from the scribe responsible for a brilliant BRILLIANT movie such as Saving Private Ryan. perhaps his next script will be better. The acting (Heath Ledger stealing the show) is compelling even when the script is at it's most flawed. the whole cast is competent, even if this isn't one of Gibson's greatest films. What ruins the film, and in this case the controversy holds water, is you guessed it, the one sidedness. Practically all of the British characters are pretty much fairy tale villians. Almost comparable to the wicked witch of the west. We never know what drives them. Obey the crown? Hah! The characters need a PERSONAL goal. What do they want that makes them so 'evil.' It could've deepened the story much if both sides had more contradictions. that there were some strengths in teh British characters as well as brutaltiy. The fact that all teh Americans are all such tragic victims and the finger is squarely pointed at the poms, goes to show this is really a vanity fair. It really seems to be America boasting about themselves endlessly. Even the absurd final confrontation with his child's killer, Gibson's charcter Ben Martin, sends an American flag through the horse of his nemises. What's that supposed to say? America will conquer all who oppose them. It so happens that Britian has a greater military record than America, and while it is good that American filmmakers like Roland Emmerich, take pride in their heritage, which I support, in this case however, it almost seems like boasting. All in all this is a reasonable film. It's entertainment. Not life-changing, nor is it even powerful. however, if you're willing to just sit back for a bit, it isn't too bad. It's an action flick, plain and simple.
Rating:
Summary: Mixed Emotions About the Patriot
Review: I have mixed emotions about the Patriot because on the one hand people like Jessie Jackson would not appreciate what our founding fathers did for all of us. It is filmed in south carolina where there is some prejudice so some people probably have the wrong attitude. On the other hand there is al lot of history for us to learn and people like Benjamin Frnaklin and George Washington and veterans of wars would like it more. This is their people who were figghting and the real Americans are shown coming to the defense of their country. If you can not appreciate the red white and blue, well then maybe this movie is not for you. If you like action and history then you will like it if you are a true Patriot and not a rebel without a cause.
Rating:
Summary: Great story, set in America's quest for freedom
Review: This movie is one of the best I have seen in a long time. Mel Gibson gives a great performance as Benjamin Martin, a former captain in the British army, who now supports the ideals of independent colonies, but is not willing to shed the blood of his family for those ideals. A series of events prompts Martin to form a group of rogues into a militia, specializing in unconventional warfare against the British forces of General Cornwallis. Battle scenes were superbly done, as were the cityscapes of 18th century South Carolina. Highly recommended.
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