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The Patriot Customer Reviews (28 - 30 of 119 Reviews)

re: Historical Fact
I thought this movie was somewhat simplistic but entertaining. However, in response to the people saying it has "no basis in historical fact," (especially William D. Shingleton) the massacre by the British is probably based on the Waxhaw Massacre of surrendered American militiamen by British troops under Banastre Tarleton, who is probably the inspiration for Col. William Tavington, the British "bad guy" in this movie. Tarleton was accused of massacring captured soldiers a number of times, and was said to ordered a dead American officer to be dug up, then forced the man's wife to serve him a meal. There doesn't appear to have ever been a massacre of an entire village as was in the movie, but this is a movie, not a documentary. If you don't mind some facts being wrong, this movie is an entertaining popcorn epic.

Worth watching
Set in 18th century Carolinas, this is a movie that captures the dilemma of an ordinary citizen to participate in the Revolutionary War against the British. The movie is visually stunning, and the painstaking recreation of that period is evident in every frame of the film.

Whether the movie is historically accurate has been a subject of debate, but if you side-step this fact, the film provides a strong sense of what it must have been like to live in the 18th century, and the sacrifices that many ordinary citizens made to fight for the freedom of this country. From that perspective the title of the movie is aptly chosen and the artistic liberty that the director took in making the movie should be factored in.

Historical aside: Cornwallis, who was the British general in thew war is widely known for his failure to capture Yorktown, but he went on to become the first Governor-General of British India. So, when people talk about the world being flat today it is important to remember this was a phenomena that took place in the 18th and 19th century when trade drove the British to operate from various parts of the world to control the trading of commodities.


This movie is worth watching.



You'll either love it or hate it!
As a history buff, I appreciate the attention to detail employed by the filmmaker---but by the same token, that is what's frustrating about this high gloss, Hollywood melodrama would-be epic. You might enjoy it more, oddly enough, if you watch the Commentary track FIRST...perhaps then you will be swept up in the filmmakers' enthusiasm for their project.

Why did the screenwriter feel he needed to fictionalize everyone but Cornwallis!? Like TITANIC, there are plenty of fasconating REAL characters of import. This is like RAMBO VISITS LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE. Any second I thought Nellie Oleson would ride into the scene. Mel Gibson acts all over the place, seeming to be looking for that Oscar. Jason Isaacs does everything but twirls a handlebar moustache as the villain. Only Chris Cooper and Tom Wilkinson manage to turn in performance that strike realistic chords, rising above cliche. John Williams seems to have scored this one in between appointments...very generic, unremarkable melodies. The cinematography and special effects, however, are top notch....although every time the action drfited into Slow Motion, I kept thinking how LONG it already was at 2:40:00. In fact, the story itself doesn't pick up until close to the second hour.

More about vengeance and less about patriotism. Still, if the genre appeals to you it will bring you viewing pleasure. Personally, I'd prefer a good documentary on the Revolutionary War.

Pet peeve: the subtitles do not accurately match the dialogue.

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