Rating: 
Summary: What is "realism", really?
Review: What makes a film "realistic"?Well, that depends on the subject matter. If the film is intended as a historical recreation, then it needs to be exact in terms of both events and aesthetics. If, on the other hand, the purpose is entertainment, then the standard is different. Everyone knew going in that "The Patriot" was a fictional story. Given that, it's sole burden to "realism" was to capture the feel of the era as accurately as possible. It did so with remarkable skill. If these people had really lived, this is certainly what it would have been like. The truth is, almost every negative review this movie has gotten is from one of two sources: (1) defensive Brits trying to to avoid some kind societal guilt (something akin to racism) for the actions of their ancestors and (2) people who dislike the messages Mel Gibson has put into his more recent movies (especially since he's now even daring to make a movie about Jesus!).
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and Interesting
Review: I missed the chance to see this movie on the theatre mainly because I thought it was another Godzilla, but having Gibson as the lead. However, after getting the DVD as a gift, I'm sorry I hadn't the interest to see it on the silver screen. Any movie with a great sound, excellent performances and transparent special effects is worth the effort. This is the case. With impressive hand-to-hand combat scenes, a thrilling soundtrack and a first-class cinematography, this is a DVD that you'll enjoy more than one time, despite some cardboard characters and pseudo-historic melodrama.
Rating: 
Summary: The American Revolution as you've never seen it before.
Review: This movie was slow to start and then very long, but worth it.
This movie was slow to start and then very long, but worth it.
Mel Gibson is a single father of seven children, so the last thing he needs is to go to war. But when his young son is killed, and then his older son, there is no stopping what Mel Gibson will do for 'the cause'. Battles abound, fierce fights between the English and the colonists all the way up until Cornwall surrenders. This movie takes you through many edge-of-your seat scenes, so be prepared. It's loaded with action, blood and gore, and sadness.
Rating:
Summary: I give it Two Thumbs Off
Review: This is a movie to watch especially around the 4th of July. Gibson does an admirable job of being a father beset by the loss of his son and having to decide between loyalty to a country he fought for and the land he lives in. There is some gore in the movie. However, like braveheart, you may get a sense of reality and being in a battle that is around you. This is a movie where a father cares for his family, alone, yet he has an extended family and his fellow countrymen and women who he can rely on. You get feeling in the movie that it is okay to fight oppression and greed and there is a time to make a stand for what is a good and proper cause. One interesting thing about this movie, not many movies have been made about the Revolutionary war and never have I seen one from the perspective of the South. Most of our history has been oriented toward Washington, the Delaware and Philadelphia. This movie give a view that the war was much larger in scope and had a myriad of events and situations, battles, outcomes and even murder. This is a movie of the triumph of the human will to be free.
Rating:
Summary: The Reality of War
Review: This is one of the best movies I have ever seen. Mel Gibson is great, yes, the story is great, yes,(although not an actual historical event), but the best thing about this movie is the point it makes. As much as we might want not to fight, sometimes we must fight, not just out of revenge, but because it is right. Sometimes when we have a passion to fight, it may appear to be out of revenge to the bystander, but in the real world, it takes much more courage to risk one's life to fight for what is right, than to be a coward and do nothing. This moral principle makes this a TIMELESS FILM! You NEED to own this film! (By the way, the extras on the Superbit version are WELL worth the extra money!)
Rating:
Summary: A fictional story with truthism
Review: From the reviews I've read when the movie originally appeared in theaters and since and when it came to home video, quite a polarizing piece of work. I'll take the defense of the movie first. The story is loosely, yes, very loosely, based on several real people. Our villain, Cornel Tavington, (Banastre Tarleton), and the hero, Benjamin Martin (hero of the French-Indian War). Cornel Tarleton, 'The Butcher,' was known for shooting surrendering troops, somewhat shown in the movie when a Lieutenant asked what to do with the Rebel wounded...'Kill them.' The movie did a good job at explaining the American Revolution started out slowly and was NOT enthusiastically supported by most Colonists. Our well to do farmer, Mr. Martin, resisted war, warned that war would be brought home to family and children. While the Declaration of Independence does close with ...'we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes...' that was not a common sentiment with affluent Colonists of means who relied on Britain for commerce and trade. Mr. Martin opposes war until it is conveniently, and violently placed at his doorstep. The gorilla warfare tactics shown, where the Colonists had the upper hand, was also a truism. Like most movies, there are images and symbolisms, and this movie is filled with them, and some of them are true and quite telling. There is a scene, near the end of the movie, when Mr. Martin buries his son, when he pulls out the US flag, all torn and soiled. He then changes his tune and joins back in the fight. As corny as this may seem, there is truth to it, how so many Colonists were dragged into the fight because it had meant so much to somebody else close to them. As uncivil as it seems to us the modern, Colonists and regular British army lined up on opposing sides and fired point blank at each other. This is the second bloodiest war in US history. While relations today between the British and the US have been solid, and rightfully so from World War II on, it should be remembered that the US and Britain were not always on cordial terms for much of early American history. Most alive today can't remember that era. As recently as the European War (World War I), from an American point of view it was NOT clear the US would join the Allies. American businesses saw the British blockade as an act of war and that Britain had no right to interfere with US commerce. Constant German missteps helped push the US into the Allied camp. OK...now, just to point out a few of the inaccuracies. First, our villain. He says his father squandered his wealth, in reality HE squandered his family fortune through gambling, women and booze, to name a few. Lord Cornwallis articulated the British policy the best. In general, Cornel Tavington's actions were NOT the norm, as the British practiced civilized war (if there is such a thing). The burning of the church is one that really got the professional reviewers upset. The producers of the movie defend this by pointing out Tories committed many of these acts of atrocities, and if you look, the hand which throws the torch is of a Tory. But, the record should reflect, the British displayed very much restraint on the burning of private buildings (Mr. Martin's home not withstanding), and practiced the same in the War of 1812. While they did burn public buildings, private homes were pretty much off limits. It should also be remembered, and I'm an American, that US troops did NOT show such restraint to our friends to the North in the War of 1812. US troops that invaded Canada burned buildings indiscriminately. The slavery issues is side stepped. While it is littered throughout the movie, it is never taken head on or developed in any real way, and the backdrop is in slaveholding South Carolina. The African-Americans working on the Martin plantation were 'freed men.' While there was some of that, it is conveniently placed here rather then dive into the slavery issue more candidly. Evasive treatment to issues like slavery and literary license to history will drive some viewers of this movie crazy. I grant, some of dialogue thin, flag waving and 'Hollywood production' feel coats the film. But, again I say, the movie did show how a reluctant warrior became a Patriot. It also showed personal sacrifice that were borne by the Colonists for an idea. It did showed how the Colonists, even neighbors in the same Colony didn't speak with a uniform voice (such division existed AFTER the war as well, as some Colonists wanted a loose federation of states others wanted a Federal government of states). Also, some who have panned this movie seem to forget, yes, there was a time when civil people of the West, lined up opposing each other and shot at point blank range...repeatedly. Unfortunately, this would not be the last.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie, impeccably accurate!
Review: Not a detail in this movie is inaccurate! what are you talking about?! There have been a few one-star reviews stating that this is "revisionist history." There is, however, not one concrete example that I could find! This movie is quite violent, but I do not see any inaccuracies whatsoever!
Rating: 
Summary: This is entertainment...
Review: ...seems many people here don't get that. Look, Gibson is a good actor, and he did a nice job in this movie. Not great, good. And the characters and actions and battles in this movie are -- at best -- only vaguely accurate. The movie itself, while fairly entertaining is NOT a big part of how the revolution took place. This does not make me anti-American, it makes me sentient. Some of you need to wake up and smell the coffee. This is Hollywood, not Colonial Charleston.... People it seems, need to get out more / read a few more books on this topic.
Rating:
Summary: DA BEST MOVIE
Review: If you want to learn about the American revolution buy this movie. There are real battles that really happened and the costumes are real so are some of the names. There military weapons are authentic it is a well thought out hard worked movie. The graphics are great and so what its bloody thats what war is if you want to watch a movie about war it should be bloody. buy this movie the best american revolution movie you can find i watched it for 20 times and i am not kidding i don't get tired of it.
Rating: 
Summary: When does lack of historical accuracy become a lie?
Review: This film distorts history so much that it verges on being sinister. How or why a slave owning turncoat was turned in to a hero is beyond me... I know "it's only a movie"; except this sort of film does colour peoples perception of history over time. There is some cinematic quality to this film so my one star may seem harsh but I feel strongly that hollywood is re-writing history bit by bit.
| 
