The Patriot Reviews

I'll start with the good things, the scenery, costumes and cinematography are fabulous, the battle sequences are very well staged and the score is wonderful. However, everything else didn't work for me. The film does suffer from a number of things(similar problems I had with Braveheart actually), and the historical inaccuracy is pretty much the least of its problems. This film does distort history, and badly, but it also suffers from too many subplots that prove superfluous in some cases, trite dialogue that make little impact and a truly pantomimic villain played by the usually excellent Jason Isaacs. The direction is nothing special, the pacing is too slow and the film is 10 minutes too long. The acting is lacking too, Mel Gibson tries hard with a very one-dimensional and unlikeable character but he struggles. In fact, only Heath Ledger gives a glimmer of hope and that is because he is the only character you feel sympathy for. Overall, I tried to like it, but too many flaws brought it down. 3/10 Bethany Cox

I had already seen this movie but since it was a while ago, I thought I might as well check it out again. This feature clearly stands out in Roland Emmerich's filmography since he had made so far some big SF features like 'Stargate' or 'Independence Day' but the end-result was not bad at all. Indeed, what he basically did was to take his usual massive actions scenes and moved them in a different time period and, within this interesting context, it was actually quite rewarding and entertaining. On top of that, with Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger, the first who was still a major a draw at the box-office and the second who was just breaking through at the time, he had some really talented actors and it gave this epic tale some extra  weight. To be honest, I don't really think that the story was really amazing and it was a typical plot with a predictable arc. Basically, it was the whole gimmick of the lethal warrior who doesn't want to fight anymore but, of course, he goes to war anyway because, otherwise, there wouldn’t be any story to tell. Sure, it was entertaining but it wasn't really deep whatsoever. Still, all in all, it remains a decent blockbuster and it is worth a look, especially if you like the genre.

Benjamin Martin (Gibson) vowed he would never fight in another war, but after the British army arrives at his South Carolina home and threaten what he holds most dear Benjamin decides that fighting may be his only option. His son Gabriel (Ledger) has already enlisted and he makes sure that he fights alongside his son. Benjamin leads a group of brave men into battle against the English Army

This film has a well structured plot and the dialogue is very well written compared to most films of this nature. The early portion of the film has a bit of humour, but ultimately this film is a very dramatic. Most films of this nature, lose their ultimate focus around the mid way point, but this one does not. It stays rigidly structured to the original reason Martin joins the conflict in the first place. There are three or four subplots that build around this, and all of them get the proper treatment they deserve as well as conclusions that help set up the final shots of the film.

When you look at the cast of this film, your standards are immediately set. It is impossible not to set high standards. Films that do this can sometimes let you down, because when you set unbelievably high standards no film can live up to that. However, both Gibson and Ledger live up to the hype, Gibson trying to keep quiet in the beginning but ultimately letting his emotions get the best of him as the film goes on. Ledger is fantastic the whole way through as well, you can see his characters bravery all the way through, he is young and wanting to make a difference. Gabriel’s subplot of falling in love just allows Ledger to show his youthful charm. The rest of the cast as well including Jason Isaacs and Tom Wilkinson played their respective roles wonderfully. They all made this film a little deeper and all of these performances drew in you and grabbed your attention.

A film which grabs your attention by its thrilling performances as well as the epic war scenes that are presented, The Patriot is one of the better war films in the past decade. There was some over the top violence as well as some violence that sent chills down your spine. The Patriot goes beyond where it needed to go in order to keep the audience engaged. The scenes of violence were as mentioned a tad explicit, but they added the substance that most films lack. When you watch the soldiers go all out to win the war and you watch the violence you get a feel for what went on. The reason these films must have one or two scenes of unnerving violence is to help you realize the ruthlessness of some people involved in the war. These filmmakers don’t add gratuitous violence just to see how many people will squirm, but they do it to add depth and emotion to a story that has already captured many peoples attention.

There were scenes in this film that had grabbed my attention because of their dramatic effect and there were scenes that had my attention because of their ability to lighten the mood in a film that was intended to be dramatic. There are scenes where Ledger is able to play up the comedy a bit, especially since his character of Gabriel is full of youth and full of energy. The best scenes are the interaction among the characters. Yes the war scenes capture the essence of what is happening, but the most powerful scenes come from emotional interaction between the characters. Benjamin and Gabriel were always away, and when they came back to be with their family or even got a moment to talk together, you were instantly paying attention to their thoughts and feelings that are left unexpressed during their long war scenes.

The Patriot is a solid film from start to finish. Watch it, Mel Gibson is fantastic and so is Heath Ledger.

Benjamin Martin é um herói do violento conflito entre Estados Unidos da América e Inglaterra. Viúvo e com sete filhos, desde o término da guerra ele renunciou a luta e resolveu viver em paz numa fazenda com sua família. Em 1775 se inicia a guerra que pode dar à independência política aos Estados Unidos da América e ele é chamado para combater, porém se recusa.

Entretando, quando o exército britânico invade sua fazenda e mata um de seus filhos, Martin muda de atitude e se apresenta para combate em busca da vingança pela sua morte. No decorrer dos combates a guerra se torna mais do que uma vingança para ele, torna-se um dever patriótico.

Extraído da Wikipédia

''I have long feared that my sins would return to visit me, and the cost is more than I can bear.''

Peaceful farmer Benjamin Martin is driven to lead the Colonial Militia during the American Revolution when a sadistic British officer murders his son.

Mel Gibson: Benjamin Martin

Films exist for lots of reasons but especially - to entertain as well as educate. In this regard, The Patriot does a fine job in thrilling us. The acting is excellent, and all the characters were well cast in their respective roles. The pacing was generally good, and I was never tired due to the unrelenting drama and action which unfolded. The battle scenes were exceptionally brutal, which must be typical of combat situations throughout history. Most war films depicting the American Revolution are fairly sanitized or rely upon drama and acting to carry the story. Not so with Patriot - I'm surprised they didn't try to depict the carnage that undoubtedly resulted from firing grapeshot or cannister shots.

Although realism is not typically a word I would choose for any film, I felt that the depiction of combat here was probably much more realistic. Many history books will try to teach us that warfare in the 18th century was a bit of a gentleman competition of sorts, where quarter was given if asked, and honour was observed in such matters as the beginning and end of conflict, prisoner exchanges, and the like. This may have sometimes been the case between fully professional forces like those of England and France, but such countries seem to have held a different opinion entirely of rebel forces. These were apparently regarded not only with disdain, but outright contempt. Afterall, those guilty of treason have traditionally been treated much more harshly than other enemies.

''You know, it's an ugly business doing one's duty... but just occasionally it's a real pleasure.''

With Patriot it seems to take this probability and run with it. The colonists who fought against England in the American Revolution were regarded as traitors, and were likely treated very harshly if captured or engaged in battle. The British in general were portrayed as pompous and at times villainous, but this is certainly not out of line for the way they undoubtedly felt about the rebels. Concurrently, I'm certain that the colonists who took part in the rebellion had a great deal of contempt for the British as well, but particularly for the Loyalists, or those colonists who remained loyal to and fought for Great Britain.

My criticisms revolve around the flow of the movie. There are many, many tragic scenes that were obviously a plot device to hammer home the horrors of war. I felt that one or two would have sufficed to make such a point, but instead we receive multiple such scenes. Some chopping would have definitely been appreciated.
Jason Isaacs makes for a wonderfully sadistic, villain whom loves being unmerciful and brutal, and the late Heath Ledger excels as Benjamins son. Mel Gibson replicates his hero role from Braveheart, and he really plays reluctant father turned war hero very well.
Overall, Patriot is an intense, interesting take on a theater of the American Revolution that is not often depicted in film. I would recommend it to those who appreciate the genre of historical drama, perfect costumes and for bloody climactic battles.

''Before this war is over, I'm going to kill you.''