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**1/2 out of ****
Length: 166 minutes, but with previews and credits, it was 3 hours even. Hit the restroom before you enter the theater or else the DTS cannon fire will give you regrets. ;(
Credits:
Writer: Robert Rodat
Director: Roland Emmerich
Cast:
Mel Gibson as Benjamin Martin
Heath Ledger as Gabriel Martin
Jason Isaacs as Col. William Tavington
Set during the war of the American revolution. (I am not giving you the dates!)
The theater where I saw the film was a gorgeous classic movie house, The Oriental Theatre, which sort of puts you into a prebirth nostalgic mood.
The musical score John Williams composed for the film was rich and classic John Williams. The Braveheart comparisons are inevetable, so let's skip that. The people, battles, and landscape were modeled after the real thing, but with the modernized contrivances that were forced into the story, a fair amount of damage was done to what could have been an excellent film. The Swamp Fox that Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) was modeled after was nastier than portrayed, the sociopathic Col. Tavington was modeled after the real behavior of the leader of the Green Calvary dragoons. That one colonel has been called an individual responsible for Great Britain loosing the rebellion.
Laughable battle errors include when a volley of musket fire knocks down many men in the first line, but absolutely nobody in the line behind them is touched! Also, Cannon fire is absolutely devastating, and the Red Coat artillery are firing from 6 to 10 feet in front of their own men! The end of the battle when Cornwallace orders artillery to be fired into the field with his men still on it, that really happened. The order of battle was as shown, but the field was only half as wide. Any film that could truly demonstrate the horrors of humans organizing to kill each other en masse would probably earn a rating of "NC-infinity," which would kind of cut into ticket sales. More depth could have been given to the way Benjamin Martin was haunted by the demons of his past. His son Gabriel certainly could have been made less flat. The vast majority of the atrocities were committed by the Rebels and the Loyalists against each other. Most of the Red Coats were just there to do a job. Nobody ever yelled "the British are coming" because the Rebels, the Loyalists, and the Red Coats were all British. That is why the patriotic flag waving scene was so hokey.
Over all, it was still a good film. It showed some of what was going on during the American Revolution, and focused on the southern colonies that usually do not get as much attention. The symbology of Benjamin Martin making weapons out of his murdered son's toys to show the exorcising of his own demons was an interesting choice.
Soundtrack: this score was composed by John Williams
1. Patriot, The
2. Family Farm, The
3. To Charleston
4. Colonial Cause, The
5. Redcoats At The farm And The Death Of Thomas
6. Ann Recruits The Parishoners
7. Preparing For Battle
8. Ann And Gabriel
9. First Ambush And Remembering The Wilderness, The
10. Tavington's Trap
11. Burning Of The Plantation, The
12. Facing The British Lines
13. Parish Church Aflame, The
14. Susan Speaks
15. Martin Vs. Tavington
16. Yorktown And The Return Home
17. Patriot, The - (reprise)