Entertaining fiction

Rating: Null/10 (12 December 2000)

I normally do not comment on films that have been reviewed to death, but I had to comment on "The Patriot". Part of the reason is because too many of the bad reviews on here have nothing to do with plot (which, yes, was a tried and true formula), acting (which was generally outstanding throughout) or filmmaking (I have finally been vindicated in my opinion that Roland Emmerich is a great director, as long as he doesn't write the script). Unfortunately, most of the opinions have to do with badmouthing America. I expected the Brits to be upset about their portrayal, but, unfortunately, I find the usual chorus of American whiners upset because the Americans are portrayed as good guys. Heads up: This is not the worst, most evil country in the world. Quit apologizing for everything some dunder-headed ancestors may have done.
Soapboxing aside, Tavington, though historically being a decent person and surviving past the Revolution, makes a great villain, and it is him and the character of Benjamin Martin that make this film. Otherwise, it is true that it would have just been beautifully shot fluff with some great battle scenes. The most glaring error I found (being a straight historian rather than an expert on military and footware minutiae) was that, since the director is German, he failed to portray the fact that it was German mercenaries hired by the Hanovers who were responsible for the real atrocities committed against the colonists. Also, the Tory sympathizers were worse than portrayed, and were traitors in the most heinous sense.

Still, the movie never claimed to be a history lesson, and succeeds as a big-budget crowd-pleaser. It also the best movie that Emmerich has made so far, and here is hoping that he wisely sticks with filming other people's scripts.