By Al Griffin Mel Gibson has a message he wants to communicate, which is that the English throughout history have displayed a tendency to steal, oppress, and generally act like a bunch of bastards. Although this news was the driving force behind The Patriot , it was more artfully conveyed in 1995's Braveheart , Gibson's epic weepie about Scottish hero William Wallace. The film manages to keep on its feet for its full three hours, delivering the goods on many levels, such as the beautiful Scottish Highlands settings and the elaborate, absorbing battle scenes. Paramount gets thumbs up for its high-quality DVD transfer.
Colors look rich without appearing oversaturated.
And when the action dies down, subtle naturalistic effects like raindrops and bird chirps kick in from the surround speakers. Extras include two trailers, a making-of documentary, and director Gibson's commentary.