The Patriot

Rating:
Summary: Very High production values; Just Average screenplay.
Review: There was a little too much of "Braveheart" in this movie for my tastes. The props and cosumes were, of course, changed and the issues modified to tie in with the concerns of the period but other than that, the movies were roughly interchangable.

The very simple story was tediously overstated again and again. The backstory -- Benjamin Martin's dark side -- was also overstated and then it wasn't even used in the film's gory climax. The movie was watchable and entertaining, but can't see it becoming a classic. In the end, it's really just another movie.

Even though the movies have almost nothing in common, I can't help but compare "The Patriot" to one of my favorite period films, "Gettysburg," which I can watch multiple times and from which I still get new information and entertainment.

Amazon's own reviewer Jeff Shannon hit the nail squarely on the head when he opens with: "Aimed directly at a mainstream audience, The Patriot qualifies as respectable entertainment, but anyone expecting a definitive drama about the American Revolution should look elsewhere." I would have to say that I agree with that assessment just about 100%.

Rating:
Summary: It don't get much worse than this
Review: The Patriot is absolutely one of the worst movies I've ever seen. Its like a bad spaghetti western in fruity pants. Bad dialouge, slap-dash direction, moronic script, historical inacuracies galore, see-through CGI special effects... all the typical Hollywood ingredients for yet another "action/adventure" crowd-pleaser that could only please crowds that have an IQ in the double-digit range.

Rating:
Summary: Well based, yet not as realistic as the real Revolution.
Review: When I saw this movie, I thought that it would be like "Braveheart," but I was proven wrong at the mildness of it. Mel Gibson did very well and gave an awesome preformance, though. I really liked this movie, which overruns "Mission: Impossible II" and "X-Men" by a million. If you liked "Braveheart," but would rather a milder film, I highly recommend "The Patriot."

Rating:
Summary: A look into the past and how it might have been.
Review: A great tale of heroism and passion. One mans love for his family and a haunting past that he is sure will come back to haunt him. I found that this movie contains all the excitment and drama that a great movie should have. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry. It will fill you with hate and love. But it will also make you proud to be an American. It may be a Braveheart 2 but a riviting and exciting tale as well. I recomend seeing this movie. You wont be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: History that is alive on the screen
Review: Cast as a widower with seven children who, in spite of wanting to stay out of the war, gets totally involved as soon as it gets up close and personal, Mel Gibson's complex outstanding performance is just part of the epic sweep of this film which captured me at its very first frame and kept me weeping throughout.

Every emotion I have was stirred and I couldn't take my eyes off the screen for one moment during the video's 158 minutes, never looking at my watch once, and using up a half-dozen paper towels to wipe away my tears. There was action throughout -- love, heroism, and big, bold and bloody emotion-grabbing battle scenes. I don't ever remember being so caught up in a film.

Of course it has its flaws. The movie is set in South Carolina and yet I didn't hear any southern accents. And could there really have been such a beautiful unmarried and loving woman just waiting for Mel Gibson? The attempt at political correctness seems a bit contrived. The British are depicted as cruel monsters. And there's little about the real politics that were going on at the time.

However, and this is a BIG however, none of this matters as to the enjoyment of the film which bombarded all my emotions and set me right in the middle of the action. Yes, it was sensationalism all the way. Heroes and villains. Some of the most bloody battle scenes I have ever seen. And history that is alive on the screen rather than just words in a book. I loved it with all its faults. And in wouldn't change a word of dialogue or a single frame.

I give this video my highest recommendation. It is truly the best I have seen this year.

Rating:
Summary: Mel Always Makes 'em Good
Review: Mel Gibson's portrayal was, as always, great. He makes this movie a good one. However, there were parts of this story that were very disconcerting, e.g. the burning of the church. Now, we all know this didn't happen, but movies make history so "alive" that we tend to put a great deal of stock and feeling into what we see on the screen. This scene really sickened me, especially when I knew it didn't happen. The development of the character of Tavington, however, I believe was probably right on. Banstre Tarleton was despicable. There were some very nice visual spots in the movie, e.g. Charleston. I think Roland Emmerich used far too many shots where the soldiers were shot and it seemed like the camera was in the "right place at the right moment" to catch the blood spurt. Not that that isn't or wasn't reality, but I think creating a more truthful story line would have been in order. Mel, however, always makes the human side of a story so real. So, "hats off" to Mel for another great job of acting.

Rating:
Summary: Great Movie & DVD!
Review: First of All; The Patriot is a great film! The DVD has all the extra's you would expect in a SPECIAL Edition. One feature I really found enjoyable was the 'Visual Effects Interactive Featurette', which showcases 5 scenes from the film and shows how they were created step by step. Commentary by Director Roland Emmerich is also insightful and the 2 'Making of' featurettes are very entertaining. If you are a fan of Mel Gibson or you like a good tale with 'Passion' and 'Idealism', Buy this DVD! A good one for your collection!

Rating:
Summary: Skip this movie
Review: This movie is like Braveheart "Lite". I'm a big Mel Gibson fan, but this movie was boring. You can appreciate the depiction of what it may have been like to be internally conflicted over going to war with mother-England, but that is about it.

The battle scenes don't make it interesting. The love stories and all characters are undeveloped so you don't really know why they are doing particular things or even care. Of course, historically, you don't gain any insight either. (Braveheart at least made you want to read more about the actual people and compare the movie's depiction of them.) Overall, it is really shallow and not the least bit believable. Skip this one.

Rating:
Summary: don't worry
Review: This is a great movie, no-one claimed it was meant to be a documentary, movies are about entertainment and escapism, and this certainly delivers both. Hollywood provides fast paced entertainment, and leaves historical fact to the museums, this has always been so and I don't understand why people are suddenly complaining about factual accuracy. Braveheart was a huge success and it was wildly inaccurate to anyone who has even a passing knowledge in Scottish history, but it was hugely entertaining at the same time, and may have inspired many people to seek further information on what really happened; this may also be the case with the Patriot, so if it needs to justify it's existence that should fit the bill.

P.S. to anyone who has tried to watch any region 1 DVD on a modified player and it seems not to work, simply refer to your modification instructions and look for how to set region 1 manually, and you will be able to play your DVD

Rating:
Summary: Great Movie!
Review: Some people call this an "American Braveheart". Give Mel a break! It's a good movie in it's own right. Don't watch this movie for it's historical accuracy. It romanticizes the American Revolution and was deliberatly crafted toward that end. Any one who has studied history knows where the writers and such used heavy artistic license, but hey, it's a great fun and really makes you want to join the Army or something. It's a great war film and Mel is outstanding as always. The final battle is classic. I mean, could you have stood still while you let groups of trained killers shoot at you more or less point blank? People did it (whether they wanted to or not, but that's another story and will be told at another time) Worth seeing. If you don't buy it, rent it.