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Posted By: Wolfbrother Jul 06, 2000 - 08:05 am

Who has seen "The Patriot" yet? I have to say that is one of the greatest movies of all time. It was written by Robert Rodat, who also wrote "Saving Private Ryan," so gore is to be expected; but don't let that take away the beauty of the film's intention and it's outstanding story. Mel Gibson gives a tremendous performance as Benjamin Martin-a father of seven who was a warrior in the French and Indian War-who is forced to defend his country by leading militia to battle Lord General Cornwallis' army, including the Green Dragoons, led by the brutal Colonel William Tavington, played by Jason Isaacs with a marvelously sadistic touch. "The Patriot" has, as well as some of the best acting and wonderful storyline, the best cinematography since "Schindler's List," thanks to Caleb Deschanel, who is guaranteed to give you goosebumps, especially with the added musical brilliance put together and composed by John Williams. All this is pieced together excellently by director Roland Emmerich and producer Dean Devlin. The team of Deschanel, Williams, Emmerich, and Devlin makes "The Patriot" one of the greatest films of it's genre, right up there with "Braveheart." If you've not yet seen it, I suggest you go soon so you can have the experience of seeing it with all the emotions the rest of people in the movie theater gives out. This is not one to "wait until it comes out on video," or "give it a few weeks to let the crowd die down." Part of the experience comes with being part of the crowd.

Posted By: sonjajason Mar 19, 2001 - 10:43 am

My name is Sonia and I have to say that I have seen this wonderful film twenty times because it is the best film I have ever seen. Everything is perfect but the best one is the extraordinary perfomance of the Liverpudlian actor JASON ISAACS, whose character was really bad, although I did not mind the brutality of the tactics he used to use. Everything was perfect in JASON. I must admit that I am platonically in love with him, he is so cute and seems to be a very witty man.

Posted By: Coyote Jun 10, 2001 - 01:05 am

I've come to expect good movies from Mel Gibson, and "The Patriot" was no exception. From the action sequences to the tug on the heart strings, all the way to the triumphant feel-good end, this was an enjoyable tale. The only critisms I might have are minor, in the direction of believability, such as the tomahawk bussiness when he freed his endest son. But then I watch movies because they give me a break from 'reality'.

Posted By: Pat0214 Nov 15, 2004 - 10:11 am

The Patriot was ok but it could have been called Brave Yank in my opinion. Braveheart was much better.

Posted By: Magus Nov 15, 2004 - 12:46 pm

I liked the Patriot. A fine and entertaining movie. Braveheart was awsome... awsomer? Anyways, I liked both of them, Braveheart maybe a little more.

Posted By: Pat0214 Nov 15, 2004 - 12:57 pm

I just thought that The Patriot was nothing more than a copy of Braveheart.
The final battle scene was awesome that is true. You don't see such battle on film so often. When comparing other movies of the late 18 century or 19 century with battle scene, this one was one of the best I ever saw. In scale it was close to what was done for the 1956 film War & Peace by Gore Vidal.

Posted By: Magus Nov 15, 2004 - 01:14 pm

No... I wouldn't go that far. It's definately similar, both events in history being similar. But I enjoyed both.

Posted By: Pat0214 Nov 15, 2004 - 01:24 pm

I just didn't get into the story as much as I did for Braveheart.
One part where I was really touch was when the British round everyone in town inside the church and then set fire to it. That part really got to me. It was as hard to watch as the one in Braveheart where we see his wife being kill by the British soldiers.

Those two films sure did not paint a nice picture of British soldiers :-)

Posted By: Magus Nov 15, 2004 - 02:16 pm

Well, at the time Britain was pretty imperialistic. They conquered and oppressed the Scottish and just plain oppressed the Americans. It doesn't look like they're too good at holding o to their lands, however.

And that scene was a very moving one. I used it as a visual on my presentation on Machiavelienism last year.

Posted By: Pat0214 Nov 15, 2004 - 02:25 pm

Magnus,

the problem with most empires is that it's not easy to hold on to them. Still the British did a better job at it than most others. You could almost consider the Commonweatlh as being the final extention of the British Empire.
Then again I know many people will disagre with that, many in my own country Canada and others certainly from Australia :-)

Posted By: Magus Nov 15, 2004 - 02:30 pm

Yeah, empires are rather hard to control. And British, in that respect, did better then many who came before them.

Posted By: Safire_slash Mar 17, 2005 - 07:54 am

hehe, i was going to say, Australia is not an extention of the British Empire!! The Patriot was brilliant- fantasic acting, moving and although i may be biased here- Heath Ledger!!

Posted By: Pat0214 Mar 17, 2005 - 08:10 am

Safire_slash, believe me many in Canada would also not agree that Canada is an extention of the British Empire. ;-)

Posted By: MerleZ Mar 17, 2005 - 11:42 am

The Patriot is based on a real Revolutionary War battle, the Battle of the Cowpens. It was a great victory for the Continentals, and indeed Tarrington's Dragoons were captured and ceased to be a force in the war. Tarrington himself was not killed, as in the movie, but rather after the war returned to England. The History Channel has an excellent episode on this battle on the series Battlefield Detectives.

Posted By: Magus Mar 17, 2005 - 04:36 pm

My dad bought a book on tape about American history. It's a Pewlitzer and Nobel prize winning book, and 25 1/2 hours long or so. But it's REALLY good.

Posted By: aldan Mar 17, 2005 - 07:33 pm

Mag, it's Pulitzer.
"many in Canada" would probably be in one of the Eastern provinces... *Aldan lets out a cough sounding strangely like Quebec*

Posted By: Pat0214 Mar 18, 2005 - 05:05 am

Well yes mostly Quebec and a good part of New Brunswick aldan :-)

Actualy I was raise in French but my father is English (he married a French girl, a bit scandalous way back when) and he care's very little about the Queen one way or another.

Speaking for myself, I think it's actualy a nice sort of tradition, a link to the past. The only think is it might be better if her children weren't so freaky. Still I think William might actualy be a good King, a good example to follow.

My opinion anyway.

Posted By: Magus Mar 18, 2005 - 01:16 pm

Pardon me if I'm mistaken, but didn't he cheat on Diana and then marry his mistress?

Posted By: MerleZ Mar 21, 2005 - 05:45 am

Who, William? He's Diana's son. You're thinking of Charles, who divorced Diana and now intends to marry his mistress.

Posted By: Safire_slash Mar 21, 2005 - 09:04 am

William would be a hell of a lot better than Harry! Actually i think Charles is still next in line to the Brittish throne, and i'd rather him than either of his sons!

Posted By: Bmat Mar 21, 2005 - 09:18 am

The conversation has drifted from the topic. To continue the present conversation please move it to off-topic.

Posted By: Magus Mar 21, 2005 - 02:47 pm

So, yeah, it's all about King George III again.