Braveheart in America -- NOT!

Rating: 5/10 (14 July 2000)

Let's get something straight. When someone makes a movie similar to another movie with the same type of plot and the same actor, there are bound to be comparisons between the films.
"The Patriot" almost too well puts Mel back into "Braveheart"'s freedom fighter, William Wallace -- except sending the hero forward into time to the American Revolution. Yet, the film bares a similar theme: normal, everyday man gets his life ripped apart by tyranny of war -- and has to fight. No problem, though.
What bothers me about "The Patriot" is that director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, Stargate) seems jarred by Robert Rodat's (Saving Private Ryan) script; or is it the other way around? Many scenes either seem paced, or seem cut to raw bone plot. Characterization is largely disregarded -- save for its heavy concentration on Mel's character, "Benjamin Martin."

Furthermore, the English seem to be cast as "the bad guys," which, to me, seems passe. Enemies they are, but they aren't inhuman entities! We are never given a clear reason why our infamous Bad Guy Brit, Col. Tavington is clearly psychotic, going beyond being a millitary opportunist, even endangering his own career infront of General Cornwallis for the thrill of being brutal.
Thrown into the script are random scenes of emotionally manipulative drivel, which are totally unnecessary, blurring the focus of the film.

I would like to say it would have been better if Mel had more to do with the technical side of the film, but I cannot even give the film that honor. Mel's directing in Braveheart was much more inspired, but Braveheart's script was, as well, brilliant. The Patriot, which seeks Braveheart's glory, doesn't even come close to it.