Dumb Historical Epic

Rating: Null/10 (27 October 2000)

Criticism of this movie is probably pointless, lots of people will go and see it and no doubt it will make a great deal of money but believe me it is not very good, not as history or as an example of movie making. There is some great Carolina scenery and some effective (and gory) action but there are also some long dull patches and some pretty bad acting. Mel Gibson's facial expressions when emoting are often more comic than dramatic and Heath Ledger seems completely bored by the whole thing although the girls will undoubtedly go for his beach boy good looks. The women in the cast (surprisingly well groomed for rural, colonial housewives) just simper prettily in the background as their men go to war. The British come off best in the acting department even in the small roles, probably because villains are notoriously easier (and more fun) to play than the saintly types.

I have heard some mothers say that they are going to rent the video as a history lesson for their kids. Be careful. The historical inaccuracies have been well documented by now and there's some very bloody moments. All you may be teaching, as you see Mel Gibson training his sons to kill, is that kids can look pretty cool with guns.
I give it three out of ten.