The Patriot (DVD, 2000, Special Edition)

I'm not a fan of war movies in general, so knowing that this was about the Revolutionary War made me less inclined to watch. However, it wasn't at all like a 'typical' war movie and I was glad I had watched. The Patriot is story- and character-centered.

I purchased it because Heath Ledger had just died and I wanted to see all of his films; this was the first to garner him substantial notice in the movie industry. It should be noted that Heath's role was secondary.

The star of this movie is Mel Gibson. Love him or loathe him, Mel Gibson is magnificent in the flick as a seemingly peaceful widower with six children who must unveil his secret brutal past when the war infringes upon his family.

Taking place in South Carolina's forests, swamps, and on some of the large open green spaces in addition to the lovely old plantation estates housing rich folks and their slaves (slavery is referenced, but only in a rudimentary and idealistic manner), the film becomes gory and raw. It explores the depths to which mankind sinks in war. If you cannot stomach gruesome, bloody fight scenes, suicide and mass murder (among other horrors and imagery), then you should not watch The Patriot.

However, none of the gore is gratuitous; it portrays the reality of men's fighting style during that period--in straight horizontal lines, facing each other, then shooting simultaneously--and the beginnings of ambush methods that the Revolutionaries used on the English.

One will experience great rage and equally deep sorrow with the needless deaths and backstory of Gibson's family's struggles in evading the British as his character becomes the British Army's most-hated Revolutionary insurgent. The movie becomes about how the English utilize morbidly evil acts to draw Gibson and his fighters out to do battle and finish them off.

Again, this wasn't a 'typical' war-type film. It left me with a better sense of history (a subject I'm terrible with!) and was well crafted enough that I became engrossed, experiencing a vast emotional spectrum throughout and coming away better for it.

One of directors Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, Stargate, etc) best
movies, the plot opens on widower Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) who wants
nothing more than to live in peace and farm his land during the Revolutionary
War. But when a cruel British officer (Jason Isaacs) brings the war to
Benjamins door and threatens what he cherishes most, the former war hero
is forced to take action. With the help of his son, (Heath Ledger), Ben
becomes a feared militia leader. Great battle scenes early in the movie
as the American army is driven constantly while trying to slug it out with
the British. An even better battle scene however, near the end of the movie
shows the Battle of Cowsills N.C. where the American Army stops the British
Invasion of the Southern States during the war. Great special effects as
the cannon balls and shells almost scream at you and bounce through the lines
of battle of the armies. Cavalry charges and musket fire abound in this movie
and deservedly the movie was nominated for an Academy Award in 2000. A very
good movie that you can watch over and over and enjoy.

There are a few versions of this. There's an extended version with
deleted scenes added back to the movie. This Special Edition one that I
purchased has those scenes also, but you view them separately and it
also includes commentary telling you why those scenes were removed.

As for the movie itself, it's one of my absolute favorites. Mel Gibson
does a phenomenal job of bringing the character of Benjamin Martin to
life. The story almost seems to take place over a year in the movie (Because
the characters don't age), but it takes place over several of the 8
years that the actual Revolutionary war lasted. The story is not a true
story, but it draws on actual history, people and events throughout the
8 year period. It was no easy task to gain independence, individual
freedoms and liberty and no easy task for families to live settled lives
during that time. This movie is the story of the Martin family's
challenge and the challenges of other families as people stepped up to
defend their rights and win independence from oppressive rule. This
story takes place in the Carolina areas at the time that George
Washington was leading battles in the north. Although Washington did
battle in the south at times and commanded the entire Continental Army,
he is only breifly seen in this story. There is a strong realism to the
characters and the (ficticious)story. This is just a great action drama
on its face, but the time period and historical nature of this makes it
that much more interesting.

"A THUNDEROUS SPECTACLE..."THE PATRIOT'PACKS A WALLOP." IN THE EMOTIONALLY-CHARGED ADVENTURE THE PATRIOT,(MEL GIBSON) STARS AS BENJAMIN MARTIN, A RELUCTANT HERO WHO IS SWEPT INTO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WHEN THE WAR REACHES HIS HOME AND THREATENS HIS FAMILY. A HERO OF THE FIERCE FRENCH AND INDIAN CONFLICT,MARTIN HAD RENOUNCED FIGHTING FOREVER TO RAISE HIS FAMILY IN PEACE. BUT WHEN THR BRITISH ARRIVE AT HIS SOUTH CAROLINA HOME AND ENDANGER WHAT HE HOLDS MOST DEAR,MARTIN TAKES UP ARMS ALONGSIDE HIS IDEALISTIC PATRIOT SON,GABRIEL(HEATH LEDGER) AND LEADS A BRAVE REBEL MILITIA INTO BATTLE AGAINST A RELENTLESS AND OVERWHELMING ENGLISH ARMY. IN THE PROCESS,HE DISCOVERS THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT HIS FAMILY IS TO FIGHT FOR A YOUNG NATION'S FREEDOM.

Mel Gibson stars in this action-packed historical drama from the director of INDEPENDENCE DAY and GODZILLA. Gibson portrays Benjamin Martin, an unassuming South Carolina widower who is forced to join the American Revolution when the British threaten to take his farm away from him. YES -- What a film !! I really got into this one !! It has all the features of a wonderful story! It has a little humor, love and lots of action. This is pretty much like it was back then and a very interesting story!!