Review of The Patriot (2000) by Dan Z — 15 Oct 2012

While the film is visually appealing and the open field battle scenes are amazing, this film sadly suffers from two things: overly forced chieftain overtones, 20th century warrior pathos in the late 1700's and worse of all, Mel Gibson playing his "I can do no wrong" token hero.

You know the film is not doing its job when you want and expect the Americans to win, but by far find the British the most interesting characters. No only does the film lack the balls to paint a culturally realistic view of our grey history of a nation, the film blatantly reverses issues like slavery, just to give the illusion that American (and in this case Southern PLANTATION owners who didn't build their wealth through slaves) in one instance a slave fighting for Gibson's militia is fighting for the promise that by serving the continental army, he will be given his freedom. this was something the British army was promising as the Americans didn't want to arm their slaves. but whatever, this is one or those films that goes out of its way to change history just to re-enforce Gibson's "I can do no wrong" narrative.

Then we have to deal with his son, who is so sappy, he makes Mel look like his character has depth!

All and all the best part so this film are the Battles Scenes and the the British and colonial supporting characters. outside of that its like any other Mel Gibson war movie: "I am a good christian father, and I don't wanna fight... but I am going to do it anyway because I am Mel Gibson the messages of my movies never make sense.".