Flag waving at it's best/worst (depending)

Rating: 5/10 (27 March 2004)

This movie is yet another example of blatant American flag waving (perhaps ironically, the lead role is played by raised in Australia Mel Gibson). Instead of giving a remotely balanced view of the war and why is was fought (it is very briefly mentioned it has something to do with taxes), the English are made out to be brutal savages, executing children, burn people alive in a sealed church, and numerous other atrocities. The reason for this cheap plot device is simple enough - it makes us hate the English, and root for the American's. That's all fine if you're an American, I suppose - "USA, USA , USA" and all that. As a non-American, I can say I wasn't convinced. Actually it's the much same stunt (in fact much the same movie) Gibson also gave us in his own "Braveheart", again an anti-English propaganda film. It's all entertaining to sure, but balanced? I don't think so.
5/10