Very enjoyable film, but don't expect a history lesson.

Rating: 7/10 (1 April 2001)

An exciting movie in the rare film setting of the American revolution. This film is more about family than the war though. Family is the reason Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) wants to stay out of the war, and family is the reason he eventually gets involved. The acting by everyone is very good, especially Gibson and Heath Ledger. Their developing relationship is very believable. I would have liked to see a little more on the philosophical reasons for the revolution itself which were pretty much glossed over in the movie. The violence tends to get a little gratuitous, some scenes more for shock value than plot advancement. The violence aside I enjoyed the movie and would recommend it to any adults who feel they can handle those kind of scenes.