Not history, but still a just a movie.

Rating: Null/10 (30 July 2002)

Okay, the Patriot is not a great historical document, and it sits better to watch it realizing that it is just a movie and not a history lesson. This movie's main critics seem to concentrate on its historical inaccuracies, which are indeed plentiful. When it comes down to it this is indeed just another Mel Gibson vehicle, but like all of his action flicks there are some meanings embedded into the story as simple as they may be. Like Braveheart this one tackles rebellion from an oppressive power. In both Gibson is of course cast as the hero, but it is notable that both portray historical rebellions, albeit in an historically inaccurate light. Contrast this fact with the thousands of action flicks with the same righteous rebellion theme which mindlessly occur in the future, or in a galaxy, far, far away. At least Mel & Co. have the guts to stand up and admit that people HAVE fought for real causes, even if those causes are unclear from this flick. Another criticism of this movie concerns its soft touch on the slavery issue. Thematically this is explained by the statement of the son while repairing a torn US flag. The country they are fighting for, all of them be they black or white, will grow from the ashes of the old world (an obvious reference to slavery, the principal US inheritance from its British roots) This process was not instant, and the movie does not suggest it was. It merely foreshadows the advances made to the present. As far as the evil British go, it is a shame the movie chose a cookie cutter snarling "Tavington" bad guy. Indeed, the real "Tavington," Bannaster Tarleton, was a reckless and murderous daredevil who executed prisoners left and right, and it would have been better to see his alter ego here commit such acts with the suave air of the gentleman the real Tarleton bore. Propaganda? Sure! but in the end just a movie, and not half bad at that. Many, even here in the US, complained of Mel's character arming his sons for battle. Children have always engaged in war, and our revolution was no exception, take our former president Andrew Jackson, who lived the truth represented here. As a boy he engaged in the guerrilla war in the Carolinas against Cornwallis etc. and he wasn't the only one. What the movie lads are shooting down aren't people (real soldiers wouldn't behave under fire as they did) they are figurative representatives of imperialism, monarchy, oppression etc.