A shameful distortion of history.

Rating: Null/10 (5 February 2001)

I was in Australia when I first watched The Patriot and again I was fully prepared for a bit of anti-English bashing , because Mel just couldn't resist to give that winning formula up after Braveheart.I sat down and as the film unravelled , the most impressive aspect of the movie was clear , the special-effects. As the film trotted on and the American Revolution broke out , we had Mel Gibson babbling on about replacing one tyrant with another , therefore Im going home and others can risk their necks so I can live in freedom , our hero was born. A big battle breaks out and soldiers from both sides are assisted by Mels "slaves" in his farm , and the victorious British Army ride in , saving there own men but killing the American Revolutionaries...well something had to be done. Mel then goes on a personal war of vengeance(any commander worth his salt would've restrained such a man) and as the story unfolds we are given the distinct impression , that Mel comes to his senses and kills the Brits thereby winning the war of independence. There are many points to this film that is quite simply nauseating , the way Blacks were compliant "Uncle Tom's" was one of the worst , but the burning down of The Church...well Ive seen Come and See aswell. This scene put British soldiers on par with the SS Einzsatgruppen squads in Russia...This was a disgusting spectacle served up by all concerned , but more importantly , why didn't the British Actors remonstrate with Mel Gibson , The producer and the non-British cast? OK it adds villainy to a film , but the War of Independence in 18th century as seen from Britain's point of view , was very much a polarized issue. The Battle of Saratoga was a better demonstration of what each side did in that conflict , and it was the hallmark of honour in conflict as British troops , though defeated were treated pretty well after surrender and each side respected the others rationale. What Mel and the boys quitely forget or want you to forget , is that one of the true heroes of the War of Independence was Thomas Paine who wrote The Rights of Man and Common Sense and he was English. Also the Earl of Chatham (the most respected British politician of his age) implored George III to let the New World go...even the arch-conservative philosopher Edmund Burke supported American Independence. The Patriot can only be summed up as a shameful distortion of history , that simply rips up the concept of poetic licence and puts in its place lies and more lies. This film is worth no more than 2/10...Special-effects considered.