... The last film of his I saw at the cinema was "The Patriot", released in 2000, not one of his best films but certainly worth watching for reasons I will sum up later.
Synopsis
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The year is 1776 and the war for American Independence is well underway stirring up young ... Read review
Aimed directly at a mainstream audience,The Patriotqualifies as respectable entertainment, ... more
but anyone expecting a definitive drama about the American Revolution should look elsewhere. Rising above the blatant crowd pleasing ofStargate,Independence Daya...
Postage & Packaging: Check Site. Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
As a former war hero of the French and Indian War, Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) is ... more
determined to renounce his notoriously violent past in order to raise his family in peace. The last thing he wants to do is return to battle against the savage British r...
Aimed directly at a mainstream audience,The Patriotqualifies as respectable entertainment, ... more
but anyone expecting a definitive drama about the American Revolution should look elsewhere. Rising above the blatant crowd pleasing ofStargate,Independence Daya...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
In the emotionally-charged adventure The Patriot Academy Award winner Mel Gibson stars as ... more
Benjamin Martin a reluctant hero who is swept into the American Revolution when the war reaches his home and threatens his family. A hero of the fierce French...
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When a mysterious 'plague' strikes the heart of a remote western town, it's up to local ... more
rancher, Wes McClaren (Steven Seagal - Executive Decision), to find a cure.With the army moving in to segregate the population, local militia resorting to violence and close friends dying, McClaren races against time to outsmart his opponents and save the day!
Relive this spectacular epic starring Academy-Award-winner Mel Gibson (1995 Best Director, ... more
Braveheart) and Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain, A Knight's Tale) in this all new, digitally re-mastered, Extended Cut that features brand new additional footage.Former war hero Benjamin Martin, who has renounced fighting forever - until the Revolutionary War arrives at his front door, is faced with the harsh reality of fighting to protect those he loves. Martin takes up arms and commands a brave rebel militia in fierce battles against the well-armed English army, fighting for his family - and his young nation's freedom.
What does it mean to be English? What does it mean to be British? Is the cross of St ... more
George a proud symbol of a great tradition, or the badge of a neo-Nazi? In a world where British citizens can lay bombs to kill their countrymen, where religious fundamentalism is on the increase and where the BNP are somehow part of the democratic process, what does patriotism actually mean?
Postage & Packaging:refer to website Availability:in stock
Production Year: 1996 - Action/Adventure - Director: Tom Clegg - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Daragh O'Malley, Oliver Cotton, Jason Durr, Sean Bean, Allie Byrne
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Production Year: 1995 - Action/Adventure - Director: Tom Clegg - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Sean Bean, Daragh O'Malley, Allie Byrne, Oliver Cotton, Emily Mortimer, Michael Cochrane
Advantages: Action-packed Adventure Disadvantages: The Horrors of war
...their favourite male actor and the name Mel Gibson will crop up time and again. I'm as susceptible as any woman; the combination of his good looks, startlingly blue eyes and his acting talent makes him a favourite in my eyes. So it's no surprise that over the years I've probably seen every film he has made. My video collection houses about 50% of all his films, I dread the day when I finally have to go over to DVD because to replace each film would ... ...to the cinema is no longer a pleasure to me with cramped seating and long films with no intervals. The last film of his I saw at the cinema was "The Patriot", released in 2000, not one of his best films but certainly worth watching for reasons I will sum up later.
Synopsis
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The year is 1776 and the war for American Independence is well underway stirring up young people across the ... more
If you take a cross-section of women and ask them who is their favourite male actor and the name Mel Gibson will crop up time and again. I'm as susceptible as any woman; the combination of his good looks, startlingly blue eyes and his acting talent makes him a favourite in my eyes. So it's no surprise that over the years I've probably seen every film he has made. My video collection houses about 50% of all his films, I dread the day when I finally have to go over to DVD because to replace each film would cost a small fortune, but times have changed and going to the cinema is no longer a pleasure to me with cramped seating and long films with no intervals. The last film of his I saw at the cinema was "The Patriot", released in 2000, not one of his best films but certainly worth watching for reasons I will sum up later.
Synopsis ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The year is 1776 and the war for American Independence is well underway stirring up young people across the South to join up to the rebel cause. Benjamin Martin is a landowner and a widower with seven young children, a respectable family man with a haunted past. Hailed as a hero for his actions in the French-Indian war all he wants is a quiet life but when his elder son Gabriel joins up against his wishes his past is destined to catch up with him. While he second eldest son Thomas longs to follow in Gabriel's footsteps, Benjamin struggles to keep out of the war and keep his other six children safe. When Gabriel arrives home wounded Benjamin strives to keep him safe but the arrival of Colonel William Tavington, a malicious and cruel man in the British army, sets off a train of motion, which not even Benjamin can stop. When Tavington finds out that Gabriel is a dispatch rider he sentences him to death by hanging and as Thomas bravely flings himself upon the colonel he is shot down in cold blood.
A grieving father, Benjamin watches as his house and fields are burnt to the ground and his (freed) slaves are marched off against their will. While the younger three children are sent away to stay with Charlotte, their aunt, Benjamin takes his two younger sons with him to ambush the party taking Gabriel away. Gabriel is saved but in the process Benjamin shows just why he once was a feared man and his children see his savagery for themselves. Now he is a hunted man with vengeance in his heart, his only way to fight is to round up a band of militia carrying out swift and secret retribution on the English Redcoats. He teams up with a Frenchman, Jean Villenenuve, and so the fight for survival begins with ill-equipped and inexperienced men, but what they lack in fighting skills is more than made up for by their courage.
Dubbed as "The Ghost" Benjamin has a price on his head and Tavington has a personal score to settle with him before the turning point of the war. To add more would to be spoil the plot for anyone who hasn't seen the film, expect many surprises along the way but beware, this is a film with a lot of gore and some harrowing scenes before the end.
Personal Appraisal ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I've seen many films where Mel Gibson plays the role of a half-crazed man but usually with a lot of humour thrown in as in the "Lethal Weapon" series. There is little humour to be found in this film, it's a rather stark look at war and the brutalities that occur when men become little more than fighting machines. There are some moments of light relief with some love interest between Charlotte, the sister of Benjamin's late wife and also Ann, Gabriel's wife. But apart from Mel Gibson the children really steal the show with convincing performances by very young actors. It's hard to imagine the impacts on such young performers but no holds are barred when the true horror of war is unleashed.
The part of Colonel Tavington is a meaty role loosely based on General Cornwallis's right-hand man and I can only imagine how such atrocities were allowed in a war where British soldiers were supposed to act under a code of ethics. A special mention has to be paid to the role of Jean Villeneuve a Frenchman whose role was to keep up morale whilst waiting for the French fleet to arrive. I was surprised the film was only rated as 15; the battle scenes are very realistic with body parts being blown off and mass slaughter of women and children. I found the whole film a dark look at the lengths men will go to when their family are slaughtered in front of their eyes, how would I react, I'm not sure?
Credits ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
The film was directed by Roland Emmerich, a German director with such credits to his name as Independence Day and Godzilla. Writing credits are by Robert Rodart, his main other screenplay being "Saving Private Ryan". Cast ^^^^^^^^^^ Benjamin Martin….. Mel Gibson Gabriel Martin……...Heath Ledger Colonel William Tavington……Jason Isaacs Jean Villeneuve……..Tcheky Karyo Thomas Martin………Gregory Smith Nathan Martin……….Trevor Morgan. Charlotte Selton………Joley Richardson Ann Howard………Lisa Brenna.
You may recognise Jason Isaacs from some of the Harry Potter films. I haven't listed all the cast only the main players. Musical score by John Williams. Nominated for 3 Oscars but only picked up some minor awards.
Summary ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I did enjoy the film although I wouldn't class it as a blockbuster; it's more the sort of film to watch at home with a takeaway and bottle of wine or some beers. The action is fast and holds the attention but somehow it lacks the impact of such films as "saving Private Ryan" or Gibson's "We were soldiers." Nevertheless, Mel Gibson gives a fine performance as the family man turned avenger. Gibson is a family man so the part he played added that extra appeal, I don't think another actor could have played the role better. What spoilt the film was the blatant use of American propaganda towards the end of the film, spearing a man with a rebel flag was just too over the top for me.
Trivia ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Originally the film was cast as Martin having six children but Gibson decided to add another one to match his own family of seven children.
Robert Rodart played a very minor role in the film.
The house belonging to Charlotte (Martin's sister-in-law) was the same house used in "Forrest Gump".
Prices ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You can pick up a copy at Amazon at £7.97 or team it with another DVD such as "Braveheart" for about £13. As usual e-bay offer many bargains either as a single DVD or as a pair. My recommendation drops one star due to the rather clichéd ending.
Advantages: GREAT movie Disadvantages: not much extra stuff
I have not long finished watching the Patriot on DVD and I thought I may as well write an op, and tell everyone what its like. But just as important earn myself 10p!
INFO
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Movie Runtime: 158 mins
Director: Roland Emmerich
THE STARS
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Mel Gibson - Benjamin Martin
Heath Ledger - Grbriel Martin
Jason Isaacs - Col. William Tavington
Tom Wilkinson - Gen. Cornwallis
THE MOVIE
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The movie part of the DVD features a Wide Screen playing of the film in either English or Hungarian. Capable of relaying in surround sound. The norm for DVD's.
Benjamin Martin was a viscous war hero and ruthless killer turned into a heavily devoted family man with the aid of his late wife.
Now with seven children he opposes a call to arms against the British 'RedCoats' in the Revolution War in the late 18th ...
SimonGii 09.07.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Patriot DVD
Advantages: tells of various political factions and who is allied to whom Disadvantages: why does house and family have to be involved?
Patriot Games is a combination thriller and political sideshow.It
is fast moving film dealing with the factions of international discord
and cliques. The storyline is heavily involved in the domino effect
in which one scene of mindblowing disaster is interconnected with
the intertwinnings of another cult wanting money or powerful demands.
Side issues and how to illiminate them or move them on to someone
else is what gives the main character his status and street cred.
Home and hearth are his true assets. He can call in favours to
protect his family which drives the story to a hightened climax.
Governments do not talk to other governments unless they have to.
Surveillance is the key and how it is used.Watch for little side bits
of getting one guy ahead of the other. ...
Advantages: Decent storyline; accurate and involving set-piece battle scenes; OK special features on the DVD Disadvantages: Mel Gibson's heroics can sometimes get out of hand
period history will know better. I think Roland Emmerich has done an admirable job of keeping the well-filmed battles historically accurate, where others before him have spurned this in favor of action that appeals to a wider audience. In addition, advances in computer graphics enhance the whole experience. Ricocheting cannonballs shearing off heads and limbs, scenes that I had never seen before in a full-length picture, are not merely inserted to increase the gore and violence, but were frequent occurrences on period battlefields, and are essential to a realistic portrayal.
The only flagrantly unrealistic combat in “The Patriot” is that directly involving Mel Gibson. Not once do we see him fire and miss an enemy target, despite the woeful inaccuracy of the musket that is touched upon time and time again in the DVD’s ...
Marechal_Grouchy 17.01.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Patriot DVD
A reformed American soldier is forced to abandon his happy rural life with his family when they are personally threatened by the British during the American Revolution. He and a group of others contribute in a major way towards the cause.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date
08/01/2001
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
CDR 30441
Barcode
5035822044135
Production Designer
Kirk Petruccelli
Screenwriter
Roland Emmerich, Dean Devlin, Robert Rodat
Editor
David Brenner
Composer
John Williams
Executive Producer
Gary Levinsohn, Bill Fay, Roland Emmerich, Ute Emmerich
Animated Menus, Deleted Scene, Feature Length Commentary By Director And Producer, Filmographies, Stills Gallery, 4 Featurettes The Art Of War The True Patriots Conceptual Art To Film Comparison Visual Effects, 2 Trailers Teaser International, Scene Selections
Aspect Ratio
2.35 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital Surround
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 English Dolby Digital Surround Hungarian
Professional reviews
Review
"...Gibson shows an on-screen comfort and expansiveness he has not revealed before..." (New York Times, pp.E1-E6, 28/06/2000)
"...Who can deny a movie that features enough bloody fights, burning houses, and grandiloquent speeches to fill three sequels to GONE WITH THE WIND?..." -- 3 out of 5 stars - A Satisfying Rental (Premiere, p.97, 01/12/2000)
"...THE PATRIOT has 'hit' written all over it..." (Rolling Stone, p.134, 08/06/2000)
"...THE PATRIOT deserves a salute as the first Hollywood epic about the American Revolution to successfully blend ferocity and feeling..." (Rolling Stone, p.145-6, 06/07/2000)
"...Spectacular battle scenes..." (Sight and Sound, p.46-7, 01/09/2000)
"...Viscerally historical....THE PATRIOT makes a big bang..." -- 3 out of 4 stars (USA Today, p.2D, 28/06/2000)
DVD Description
Mel Gibson stars in this action-packed historical drama from the director of INDEPENDENCE DAY and GODZILLA. Gibson portrays Benjamin Martin, an unassuming man who is forced to join the American Revolution when the British threaten to take his farm away from him. Together with his patriotic son, Gabriel (Heath Ledger), the pair faces the vicious Redcoats with a heroism that reflects the stubborn pride of a young country's most dedicated supporters. THE PATRIOT is a sweeping epic adventure that sheds light on America's past, and at the same time entertains audiences.
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