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.

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.

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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.

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.

The house belonging to Charlotte (Martin's sister-in-law) was the same house used in "Forrest Gump".