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THE
PATRIOT review by C.J. Henderson
REVIEW: All I can say is, this has been a hell of a summer for movies, and we're not even into July. "Gladiator" was one thing, but Columbia's epic "The Patriot" is an astounding work that will be packing them in for weeks. Lots of folks might be surprised to learn that the film was produced and directed by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, the same team responsible for such films as "Star Gate," "Independence Day" and the 1998 version of "Godzilla." Folks may wonder why they thought to tackle such different, more weighty, material. In many ways, this movie isn't all that different from their previous successes. Devlin and Emmerich have always told stories about incredibly large events by focusing on the lives of the ordinary people living through them. The American war for independence may not be science fiction to us, but it was at the time. No people in all of recorded history had ever fought to establish a democratic society. For men to dare to think they could rule themselves, to forego the safety of the divine rule of a king or emperor, was thought to be more than science fiction, it was thought to be utter madness. By focusing on the character of Benjamin Martin, the filmmakers are able to highlight the meaning of the revolution to the common man--the man who had done his duty, the parent with too much too risk, the moralist plagued by questions of conscience. And, by getting Mel Gibson to play the role, they capitalize on a career spent perfecting the reluctant hero. >From the "Mad Max" films to "Braveheart," Gibson has created a string of conscience-driven warriors who stride across our memory with a nobility second to none in the modern cinema. "You don't have to go very far to realize that history quickly repeats itself," Gibson told us. "Century by century, decade by decade, it's different players but the same story playing itself out, with all its ugliness and glories, all its victories and defeats. This kind of story has been told since people have been dwelling in caves ... it's that combination of the ordinary and the divine that inspires us and makes something really hit home for us, I think. Those are the kinds of stories that I like." Mel's not the only one. Audiences have ponied up plenty to see his past performances when they dealt with such archetypes, and it's a safe bet they'll be doing so again. Of course, there will be a lot of comparisons between "The Patriot" and "Braveheart." Try not to read them. They'll only give away too much of a movie you simply have to see for yourself. Yes, there are similar moments in both pictures, as there are similar moments in many movies about pre-1900 wars. Getting to the point, you simply don't want to miss "The Patriot." Yes, the battle scenes are as graphic as those in "Braveheart." Swords spray blood, bayonets pierce chests, bullets shatter limbs, cannonballs take off heads. War is like that. For those who find such things too much to bear, it's understandable that you might want to sit this one out. For everyone else, however, this is the picture to see right now. The special effects are stunning. John Williams' soundtrack is powerfully evocative. The panoramic shots of bays filled with tall ships, of Southern grandeur and of staggering battles are nearly impossible to take in during a single viewing. OFFICIAL
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SYNOPSIS:
The scene is South Carolina. The year, 1776. The movie opens on
the home of Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson), a former hero of the French
and Indian War who has renounced his violent ways to raise a family
and live out his days in peace. His wife dead for several years,
his hope is that he will be able to raise his seven children without
her. But, rebellion is in the air and a far greater war is in the
offing. And, if he were to fight this time, it wouldn't be as a
British officer against untrained savages. This time it would be
as one of the savages facing the British--the mightiest army on
the face of the Earth. Martin wants no part of another war, but
the conflict is inevitable, and bit by bit the one-time warrior
sees his family torn apart until he has no choice but than to take
up the cause of freedom and fight once more.