Horrible

Rating: 1/10 (18 December 2000)

This is a story about a revolutionary called "The Patriot", hmm...
The photography is impressive and especially the first battlefield is breathtakingly pictured. Here the sheer stupidity of warfare is shown, as well as the reason for why regulars were considered more reliable the militia (better discipline). All the little details are in place, the red coats, the "sleeping bag" for the soon to be married as well as references to various historical persons. The action is usually well co-ordinated, in particular the scene were they describe by pictures rather then words why Gibsons character is a man people used to fear. However his berserk rage cools quickly and he once again becomes the calculating guerrilla officer.

The actors fill their parts, Gibson is greying but still strong and honest, the son is handsome, and his love chaste and the rest (of the American part of the cast) have endearing features, even those that are somewhat unwashed.
So far the film comes together well, the first quarter or so is entertaining, then it falls apart. It really does not matter if you have all the details correct when the big picture is completely out of focus. That the only person in South Caroline who seems to own a slave is described as a despicable exeption to the norm, as well as the prejudice filled soldier who in the end comes to terms with his black brother in arms, comes across as somewhat false. There would be another war before black rights within the US were begun to be addressed and a hundred years from that conflict there were forms of segregation in many American states that had been outlawed in Britain before the start of the war for independence. The French aid (not only of a fleet, but also of supplies and troops) is downplayed and the sole Frenchmen is there more for comic relief then to be a hero. In all this rewriting of history (only a few examples give here) the fact that the colonists are portrayed with many very modern views and are nothing like the people I studied when I read about the period is almost to small a detail to mention.
This is a film about a war that were the start of a on the whole very positive thing, the United States, but the director seems afraid to say anything that might appear damaging to the "heroes" of the era. Instead they have created a fairytale story about a war fought on one side by heroes and on the other by scum and idiots. There are entertaining parts but on the whole it is only depressing. I could not help but think of ID4, especially the president's speech ("...today we celebrate our independence..."). The film is like that speech, only more the two hours long with only the occasional break for action. If you like "On Dangerous Ground" (Steven Seagal) because of its realism, "The Postman" (Kevin Costner) for its great story and think John Wayne the greatest actor ever to have lived this is a film for you. Otherwise hitting your head against a wall is more pleasant then living through this spectacle.