Really Bad...

Rating: Null/10 (29 June 2000)

They are the only two words that I can use to describe my feelings on this film. There is no way that you can watch all 2 hours and 40 minutes of this film and impressed. I was laughing at the serious parts because they were so over-the-top and predictable that it was almost sinful.
SPOILERS!!!!! I may have gone into this film a little jaded because of my dislike of the director's (Roland Emmerich) previous works. (Godzilla, Universal Soldier and Independence Day) But there is no denying how bad this movie is. The fight scenes are poorly shot. Too busy, emphasis on the wrong elements of the screen, unbalanced. It might have been better if Roland just let Mel direct those scenes for him. The dialog is a drain mentally and physically. The scene where Heath Ledger's character (Gabriel) goes to recruit militia and his girlfriend gives a speech on patriotism is a joke. It is laughable. The dialog between Cornwallis (Tom Wilkinson) and his men is horrible, almost like it tries to make every sentence a catch phrase. There were tons of other things that aided in this movie being absolutely rotten. First, the scene where he hacks the Brit for a good 2 minutes. Pointless. Why was that necessary? I think we got the point after he killed 15 other guys. Second, the guys were able to hit soldiers from 50 yards away while riding horses with muskets. Ridiculous. Third, Mel is able to save his family from being killed by showing up at the right time with all his men, but nobody else can be saved. Silly. Fourth, his 6 year old daughter doesn't speak to anyone, she starts talking eventually and expresses a hate for her father that is unfounded and unexplained. Dumb. Etc..etc..etc.
I must say though that Mel and Jason Isaacs play their roles well and are the only ones that come across well in the movie. Their performances are hidden by the bad supporting cast and half-baked, historically irresponsible script.
Overall: Not a very good movie. No need to see this in theaters. If you are bored some time in the future go and rent it. But don't go into watch expecting to see another Braveheart or you will be very, very, very, very disappointed.