Mel's back, better than ever

Rating: Null/10 (19 August 2000)

Mel is back better than ever with his latest movie, "The Patriot."
"The Patriot" surrounds a father and retired war hero who is thrown back into war after the death of one of his sons at the hands of an evil military officer.
Co-starring Heath Ledger, "The Patriot is an excellent look at the brutality of what war does to a family. Ledger is Gibson's eldest son who enters military service to follow in his father's footsteps.
Before I saw "The Patriot" seemed to me to be a sequel to "Braveheart," however, I was completely wrong. I'm glad I was because I hated "Braveheart."
I was very impressed with the maturity level of Heath Ledger because he turned out to be the perfect choice for the role of Gabriel. Ledger contained the qualities it took for a good performance such as integrity and screen presence. Ledger is destined to become a true star.
"The Patriot" begged the question: How far will you go to protect your family? The answer lies with each individual. The way "The Patriot" answers this question unlike anything I've ever seen before.
"The best part of "The Patriot" is the development of the relationship between father and son. I have never seen a movie of this magnitude who has so much devotion, love and protective instinct that Gibson has shown in "The Patriot." Gibson has shown that he is not just an actor but a family man as well.
"The Patriot" deserves every bit of success it gets.