Formulaic, predictable, historically questionable, but fun

Rating: Null/10 (26 October 2000)

Okay, let's get the criticism out of the way. This film was about as historically accurate as Braveheart. That is to say, there WAS an American Revolution, and it was fought against the British. The film is formulaic - it's the retired gunfighter being forced out of retirement by dire personal tragedy, forced to commit heinous crimes in the name of justice story. John Wayne did it, why not Mel Gibson? Also, except for minor plot points, this was an off the shelf script, about as predictable as the orbits of the planets. Those are the bad points.
I enjoyed the movie. I liked it, and as an example of cinemagraphic excellence, it shines. Seamless CGI effects make the viewer feel as if they were really on an 18th century battlefield. Mel is a capable and personable enough actor to carry off this grand a story with relative ease. Oh, and do they make one HATE the British! Mel must have a personal grievance against the English. The Bounty (where you again can see Mel in a ponytail) was not complimentary to Her Majesty's navy, Braveheart showed us the evil Longshanks, and now The Patriot's Colonel Tavington (Jason Isaacs) makes William Carey seem like Mother Teresa! All in all, an enjoyable film, as long as one doesn't intend to accept it as historical fact.