This Is NOT about the American Revolution!

Rating: 8/10 (5 July 2001)

This is fiction people! And for the most part it's good fiction. Yes, it does feel as long as it is (unlike "Braveheart", whose pace made it feel a bit shorter). And yes, there are some cliches, but the vast majority of "The Patriot" is highly entertaining.
All those whining about historical inaccuracies should realize that this movie is not about the American Revolution. I mean, think about it: Do we hear the shot heard 'round the world? Does anyone ever say, "Don't shoot till you see the whites of their eyes"? Where's Paul Revere? No minutemen. "One if by land; two if by sea"?
"The Patriot" is about a man seeking revenge and redemption. The memories of the atrocities he committed in wartime haunt him as much as the memory of his dead son. His country happens to be at war, and that is where he directs his rage. The story would be exactly the same if it had happened during the Civil War or the War of 1812 because the movie is about the man and his mission. You can't say the same thing about "Braveheart" or "Saving Private Ryan" because those movies were about specific people and/or specific wars. "The Patriot" is about humanity, and it happens to be set during a war. So enjoy it, and stop worrying about what type of canon balls they should have used.