NOT AS BAD AS I THOUGHT.....

Rating: 7/10 (3 September 2000)

This film, despite its heavy handedness on the Yankee flag waving, was still a good film. If you can get over the flag waving, that is.
WARNING: A SMALL SPOILER OR TWO...?
Story revolves around an x-cavalry man who seeks revenge after his young son is shot by a Hitler-like English commander. And, of course, the American colonists winning their independence from the Red Coats, with the 'enlisted' help of the militia run by you-know-who and his French 'side kick'.
Mel Gibson played the part well, however (He was better in Brave Heart though). The fight near the beginning of this 3 hour long film, where we see him using a tomahawk to butcher the enemy, is almost reminiscent of Gladiator!
Scenes of what cannon balls can do to a human body, even those cannon balls that are 'duds', are also visually something. Scenes of cavalry men standing there blasting each other to pieces with bayonets made me think - duck! Why couldn't they use shields?
Unlike some reviewers, I did not feel that Colonel Martin was a one-man army taking on the English cavalry . He was supplying encouragement to the troops (with the all-important flag waving, of course).
I personally found the representation of the English over-the-top. It made me think: Vietnam? Horoshima? American Beauty, anyone?
Anyway, despite the flaws, the scenery and visuals are beautiful (less the battle scenes) and the story is not bad. My conclusion? Ignore the 'patriotism' and enjoy the film!