Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

The Patriot
165 Minutes
Rated R
Columbia Pictures

The Patriot was and is an amazing movie. The great effects put off by computer nowadays is quite breath taking. Most of the movie was filmed in South Carolina, as is the place setting of the movie set in 1776. On a lone plantation lived a man named Benjamin Martin who lived there with his eight children. His wife had died at some point, I just don’t know when. The children are mostly boys, the oldest being 18 and the youngest, roughly being 4. Abigail is what we call a nanny, a free black woman who cares for the younger children. In fact all the workers on the plantation are all free and are even paid workers. Novel concept back then. When war is declared against the English, Benjamin Martin stands back and refuses to fight. He fought the French & Indian war and once peace was brought to the Colonies he swore to live in peace and raise his family. Well until the British killed his second eldest son, Thomas and declared that Gabriel would be hanged. Tavington killed Thomas in cold blood, a child trying to help his older brother. Tavington then orders the captain to remove all the British soldiers and send them to camp for medical attention, then he orders the senseless death of each soldier that the Martin family struggled all night to save. The house and barn are burned and all the live stock taken under British control. Tavington is one man you will quickly hate, but that is the point. Tavington pops in and out of the movie, and is mainly seen at the beginning and the ending.

Benjamin and his next two oldest sons, whom I would guess were 5 and 7, Nathan and Samuel attacked the British soldiers who had Gabriel hostage. They ambushed them and Benjamin killed them all off. Gathering his children he rushed them to their Aunt Charlotte’s home. (Wife’s sister) Once the other children were safe, Benjamin and Gabriel headed to camp. There Benjamin’s history with the military granted him just about anything he wanted, which included heading the militia and having his son under his command. The two split up and recruit across the area and meet at an underwater abandoned cemetery and church. More swamp like if you ask me. There they gather their forces and ambush every single British group. Not the whole Army mind you just a small band at a time. And since nobody lived to see it was Martin running the militia, he was just called a ghost. The British higher ups were really not like being bested, especially by the lowly militia.

There are of course bloody scenes and cold dead bodies sprawled all over South Carolina. Both sides adding to the casualties daily. Really this war that lasted so long only spelled across 140 minutes roughly. The majority of the movie is mini-battles. There are two love stories circulating thru. One being Gabriel and Anna and the other are Benjamin and Charlotte. Once the British get ‘upset’ (another word is not allowed) they begin going after the militia’s family. Some did not make it in time to help.

This movie is well worth the watch and I am glad I did see this movie in the theater. It added to the intensity. So when you watch this movie at home do so in the dark. You will understand when you do so. So hard to explain. Please do give this star-studded cast movie a try. I bet you will be glad you did. Mel will not let you down.

Cast & Crew:

Director- Roland Emmerich
Producer- Dean Devlin
Writer- Robert Rodat
Editor- David Brenner
Music- John Williams

Mel Gibson - Benjamin Martin
Heath Ledger - Gabriel Martin
Gregory Smith - Thomas Martin
Mika Boorem - Margaret Martin
Trevor Morgan - Nathan Martin
Bryan Chafin - Samuel Martin
Logan Lerman - William Martin
Skye Bartusark - Susan Martin
Joely Richardson - Charlotte Selton

Jason Isaacs
Chris Cooper
Tcheky Karyo
Rene Auberjondis
Tom Wilkinson
Lisa Brenner
Donal Logue
Leon Rippy
Adam Baldwin
Jay Arlen Jones
Joey Vieira

My Final Two-Cents:

Whether or not you like history. No matter if you are a history buff or not, you will enjoy this semi-all star cast. Not entirely historically accurate. The best have joined together to make one of the best American Revolution movies I have seen. Mel Gibson portrays his part to the hilt as he did in Braveheart. Both were heart wrenching at times and then you also caught yourself cheering him (Mel Gibson) on. No how many actors do this nowadays? Not many, yet when they do it is a memorable movie. Is it not? All in all once I saw this movie in the theater I knew it would join our library once it was released. And it did, we love this movie so much we also bought the DVD version when we bought our DVD player. This will truly be a classic someday, but until then take a peek at a wonderful movie put off by Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger. I would say that kids 13 and up could watch this movie depending on their past history with movies of course.

Also Recommended:

* Braveheart
* Hollow Man
* Air Force One
* The Mask of Zorro
* First Knight

Not Recommended For:

* Bloody scenes
* American Revolution buffs
* Multitude of needless deaths

Recommended For:

* Mel Gibson or Heath Ledger fans
* Enjoyed North & South
* Enjoy other American Revolution movies





Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older