Rating: 
Summary: Excellent account and story
Review: This is a very well done movie. It told the story of the American Revolution in a way that anyone can understand. It was not just a retelling of events, but brought the viewer inside a family to reveal what was taking place all around. Our 2nd grader really enjoyed watching this with us. She was able to receive a history lesson, while being able to better understand what goes on during a war. You may want to take a little precaution in watching it with children,as some of the scenes are a bit graphic, but the value of the movie outweighs that.
Rating:
Summary: War is not pretty, but this film was Grand
Review: While it is a little graphic (scenes of head and leg being blown off by cannon balls - this was a war you know) It is beautifully filmed and edited. I love the way it sounded on my home theater surround sound. I let my 10 year old son watch it with me. I thought it accuratly portrayed the real cost of freedom and war. Well made and highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent story about the American Revolution
Review: I have always been facinated by the American Revolution. I think that the movie does a great job in showing the reality of the American Revolution. It wasn't a war that we won easily; it affected the lives of many adults and children. One of my favorite scenes in the film was an overview of a battlefield. It showed the fighting formation of the British Army; everyone was lined up in rows and marching forward. It looked like something from the board game Stratego. While there were numerous sad parts, there was also some humor. All in all, this was a very good movie and I would strongly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Worst movie I saw last year...and I saw some awful movies
Review: Panning a film this bad is so easy, its fun. Lessee, where do I begin? How about the atrocious dialogue? As near as I can tell, the writers wanted the characters to talk like people these days think people back then talked. Alas, noone has ever talked like that in the history of any country. At first hilarious; then, after a while, just dreadful. And it's not like their waxing eloquently on patriotic philosophies. On no, only the most mindless pap will do for our forefathers. The actors look terribly uncomfortable spouting this drivel. Actually, the actors look terribly uncomfortable doing just about anything in this movie. As if even the least involved extra can see right through it all for the typical blockbuster nonsense it is. Mel Gibson, an Aussie who still speaks with a slight aussie accent, plays a patriot during the revolutionary war. He's not much of a patriot. He refuses to fight at 1st then "fights" by savagely slaughtering British soldiers as revenge. In fact, Gibson's character is ONLY motivated by bloodthirsty revenge. He has no honor, no goals, has no interest in helping to create a separate nation, and no sense of duty. A travesty of a role model. The Brits are depicted either as cruel barbarians or just plain stupid. Neither is even remotely true. Merely a Hollywood convenience. While there are atrocities in every war and the Brits did have a rep for violently and mercilessly quashing any colonial rebellion, the scenes herein of British officers shooting lil kids and burning churches full of non combatants are just simply absurd. The movie is historically accurate in only the loosest possible sense of the term. One wonders why the makers even bothered setting it during the Revolutionary War. The costumes are wrong, the events are wrong, historical characters are either nonexistent or incorectly portrayed, and the bit about the loyal slaves staying to fight along a kind former master is just rascist politically correct BS. If Gibson's character is so comfortable with black people, how come he seems to have had no qualms in keeping them as slaves before the revolution? Its either one or the other. You either accept others as equals and live alongside them or you see them as inferiors and you subjugate or eliminate them if you can. The numerous battle scenes are violent and gruesome without being even faintly entertainly. Poor choreography and uninspired filming leaves one either confused or just simply annoyed. A plethora of problems. A Revolutionary War version of Braveheart this ain't.
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty Good
Review: For one thing, I'm glad the movie industry is trying to raise interest in the Revolution. After all, it was the most important war we ever fought in, and should be given some screen time. The Patriot was an ok movie...costumes were great, battle scenes, all the visually appealing stuff was...visually appealing. The story was even well told, despite the overly done cliches and some very, VERY big inaccuracies. Yet, the best part of the movie for me, were the supporting characters. Chris Cooper was excellent as Col. Burwell, and personified American leadership at that time...brave, confused and unsure at times, but above all, willing to die for the cause. Tcheky Karyo (probably misspelled it, sorry) was also great as Maj. Villeneuve, and showed just how much the French sacrificed to help the Americans win. Gibson has never been a favorite of mine, and his character was just a little predicatble. The same applies Heath Ledger, who seems to have been cast for eye candy only (Though he does play his part passably). My two major complaints are the sugar-coating of the Revolution...I think they should have just made Gibson's character into Francis Marion, instead of trying to make him into this peace-loving, family minded farmer. Of course, it would be un-PC to show a Patriot who wasn't a saint, but that's the way things were...it's how we won the war, anyway. I really think they should have spent more time on the actual Revolution, not just Gibson's personal problems. My second and biggest complaint was the ANNOYING sister-in-law who's sole purpose seems to thrust her heaving bosom into the camera. She had no point, and totally detracted some value from the movie. But, overall, a good film about the Revolution that will hopefully spurn more
Rating:
Summary: Quality DVD, average movie
Review: Nothing really special about this movie, it was just a different version of Braveheart. The movie got really long at times and was disappointing in the area of origniality. The plot seemed too predictable and the theme of revenge got used in every seen. I think if the movie had been a little more complex, considering it was 3 hours long, more people would have enjoyed this film. It seems this movie was a mix of Braveheart, The Last of the Mohicans, and Glory all blended into one movie and set in the 1770's. Sound Quailty and Picture quality are both excellent features. The movie is fairly enjoyable and not a bad choice to rent if you have a nice DVD 5.1 set-up. I would not reccommend to buy this movie, but you should rent it. B-
Rating:
Summary: boo! boo! hiss! boo!
Review: I am a mel gibson fan. Have been one since mad max days. As you can tell by my stilted language, it has had a profound effect on me. Let me give you a quick story. Man is asked to fight the british (who are ruthless). Man says, no, wants to farm, and raise his family. British kill member of his family. Man kills lots of british. Man forms group of inspired fighters, and without any real support, wage battle against the "ruthless" british, beating the heck out of them. Now, tell me, was this "Braveheart", or "Patriot?" Kinda hard to tell, ain't it? Look, also, for similarities between Frances Marion, the Swamp Fox, and Benjamin Martin (last name, headquarters, state militia, left behind to harass the british, etc.) If you want a better movie, same story, get Braveheart. If you do get this one, then use it to throw at the British the next time they are picked as mel's mortal enemy.
Rating:
Summary: Good - But too long
Review: This film has good acting, great special effects, and battles that will blow you out of your seat. But underneath all this is a movie that carries on too long. I have no problem with long movies, but at 2 and 1/2 hours watching a film by the same team who made "Godzilla" is unfair. Mel Gibson is not at fault here, who plays a retired soldier raising his several children by himself. He does his best withe the material he was given. After something terrible happens to a loved one, he starts a vigilante war against Great Britain. There is too much going on in this movie, with his oldest son falling in love for the first time and Mel's budding relationship with his dead wife's sister. It just seems there is not enough justification to drag this movie on like the producers did. What made me give this film 3 stars is that even though Roland Emmerich is not what I consider a good director when it comes to character interaction, he did do a fine job on the battle sequences, much like in "Independence Day", another film he did. This a film you may want to see once, but not again and again, because there is too much distractions going on during the main story. One earlier reviewer was right though by saying that scacrifices were made during the Revolution for the greater good of the Colonies, not for a single person to seek vengeance. And the notion that the children would not see anything wrong with their father seeing their aunt is totally ridiculous. No way does this compare to "Braveheart", like so many other reviewers has said. It is a popcorn flick, nothing more. I'm not saying don't see this movie, but rent it before you pop 25 bucks down for this "epic".
Rating:
Summary: finito
Review: My hardest negatively hit review has now been vaporized. This is the editing of my first review from a few months ago, so this is the spit out shell. I am going to add a few facts about the Patriot to fill in the gap. First, the soundtrack. There are 3 things in the films score that really are outstanding. They are in order, 1, 2, and three on the cd. But the downside...John williams has become as redundant as James Horner in His Film scores. Both composers are masters, but it is just time for originallity. In the background you hear, Jurassic Park, the Lost world, Born on the Fourth of July, plus others all in the mix. I loved the "Family farm" sequence in the movie because the music inspired me and plunged me down into the time period. It looks and sounds gorgeous on dvd. I won't hack this movie because of the score, because its fitting and doesn't hurt in any way other than cd form in redundancy. Any way good stuff, my first dvd a few months back. Hope the review add!ed a little to your outlook. Click yes if it helped!
Rating: 
Summary: Above average content and excellent DVD technicalities
Review: The story and acting is above average. The DVD production is as follows: 1) video: above average 2) audio: excellent The scene where the fighting was nearing their property produces a pretty accurate sound map. The sources of the artillery firing was accurately positioned and you can actually tell which direction the distant rumbles were coming from. That sort of heightens the tension and realism of the situation.
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