THIS IS JUNK

Rating: 1/10 (19 March 2002)

It's shiny. It's got lots of effects. It's got big stars. It's junk. Throw-away, mindlessly manipulative hogwash from director Roland Emmerich. A fair minded and truthful view of history does matter, when making a film against a historical backdrop. Also, the homespun, lowbrow corniness of a couple of scenes; truly made a bad situation worse.
THE PATRIOT plays like a quickie (and very stilted) morality play, that might have been well plucked from an old, cartoon POPEYE THE SAILOR short. Poor meek Mel goes through all of this sheer, hellish barbaric treatment at the hands of Colonel Tavington. Well, you know, even meek Mel has his breaking point, and everyone knows; you don't wanna go there, girl. (They used terms like this in 18th century New England, didn't they?)
Eeghads...those rascally British types have just "offed" another of Mel's family. Cue Mel. "That's all I can stands, 'cause I can't stands no more!!!" Cue Mel and spinach can. Furious "whoop-azzzz" follows. Roll credits. Roland baby, we're outta here. Time for some knockwurst.
Seriously, not since Charles Bronson in DEATHWISH (and the subsequent and seemingly endless sequels), has someone so mercilessly lost their family members and mounted such stunning revenge.
THE PATRIOT is heavy-handed, manipulative, dishonest (in it's view of well-known and documented history of the Revolutionary War of The American Colonies) and corny, to boot. This is junk to be avoided at all costs.

NOT RECOMMENDED.