British Campaigns: D-Day - The Secret Battle DVD

Advantages: Good action movie
Disadvantages: History re-written to suit the story

...The Patriot, like Mels earlier film Braveheart, has the potential to be a very good film, and in many was it is. What lets both these films down is the fact that they try to pass themselves off as stories set against a factual historical background and both fail on that score. First a brief run through the plot. The film opens in 1776, the American War of Independance as it became known is raging and the Declaration of Independance is being drafted. Mel is a widower, Benjamin Martin, head of a large family, estate owner and a man who holds in a dark secret from his youth. His headstrong son, Gabriel, played by Heath Ledger, has come of age and against his fathers wishes goes off to join the Continental Army (Americans) to help oust the British from the colonies. After a short campaign Gabriel finds his way home,injured, and carrying... Read review

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Advantages: Fighting sequences, length of film
Disadvantages: None, it's Braveheart man

...'s the last we see of them. William then has to go and live with his uncle who is a travelling man. About 20 years later he returns full of wisdom and peace, and love for the girl/woman he left behind. After a whirlwind romance they get married- in secret, so they can avoid the law which lets the local lords sleep with new brides. After a clash with the local guards, his new wife is executed, which brings out the 'Hulk like' anger in him, and so he starts a campaign of revenge and a chance to be free from the English tierany. After a few battles and a knighthood later, the Scottish lords (including the other fabled character Robert of Bruce/Robert the Bruce- who's desire to be King of Scotland over weighs his desire for freedom) turn on him causing him to loose a battle. The ending (which due to complaints I had to remove)is pretty gruesome... Read review

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Advantages: dougray scott
Disadvantages: bit far fetched towards the end

...Enigma won't have you on the edge of your seat, unless you've dropped something during the film and you're looking on the floor for it of course. I read the book a few years ago (Robert Harris) and it's a really gripping read. Perhaps my enjoyment of the film was spoilt knowing the plot already? The story is set during World War II in Bletchley Park, home of the British intelligence code cracking service. Historically this is true, there was such a centre which cracked German codes and it did make a tremendous effort in helping to win the war, particularly with tracking u-boat movements and during the desert campaign in North Africa. Tom Jericho (Dougray Scott) plays a mathematician who having fallen in love with Claire (Saffron Burrows) has a breakdown when it all goes horribly pear-shaped and is shipped off to recuperate. He... Read review

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