A 3-hanky emotionally draining superbly acted movie

Rating: 9/10 (28 June 2000)

I really hate going to see a movie and not being able to sob out loud for fear of embarrassing my family and friends seated next to me. The Patriot offers many opportunities to empathize with the characters. Mel Gibson's performance as an anguished father was quite believable and his interaction with his children really drew this viewer into the story. The panoramic shots were spectacular, the battles gory and also glorious when Old Glory leads them into battle. There were some delightful lighter moments and, in case you didn't already know it, the Williams score let you know when the villain entered the scene. A must see, but, as with most movies relating to wars, not for the faint of heart and deserving of the R rating for the realistic battle scenes. I'll have to see it again, if only to see if I duck the cannon ball a second time.