I really wanted to like this movie...

Rating: 5/10 (25 October 2000)

I just finished watching the Patriot on DVD (well almost) and going into it I was pretty optimistic about it.For the first half I was pleased w/ an entertaining relatively intellegent flick about the American Revolution. And then.... SPOILERS FOLLOW DO NOT READ ANY FARTHER IF YOU HAVEN"T SEEN THE MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...there was a scene in which a soldier, who up till now had been portrayed as a tough battle hardened vet, discovers that his wife and children have been killed by the British and kills himself. From this point on the Patriot takes one of the biggest hour long nose dives in any movie I have ever seen. Characters cease to exist as real individuals and become mere items used to move the plot forward and to "tug at your heart strings". This movie was soul less and manipulative, I turned it off w/ about 20 minutes to go I couldn't take anymore.