I loved The Patriot (The Patriot (DVD))

Member Name: poet831

Product:	The Patriot (DVD)
Date:	06/04/09 (37 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: history lesson, well acted, excellent special effects

Disadvantages: Definitely not suitable for kids - some battlefield scenes are much too gory

I can watch Mel Gibson any time, and yet again he's made another brilliant movie. Seems as if he's really picking his parts now. This was definitely an enjoyable two and a half hours watching yet another of his epics. This time, "The Patriot". It was brilliant. And there were a few twists that were totally unexpected - where you think you know what's going to happen because of the pre-movie synopsis. I was thinking, ok this is where this happens - and it didn't!
This was filmed on location in South Carolina, where I now live, and it brought American history to life in all it's gory reality. The stupidity of the old-fashioned way that men fought wars, lines of infantry marching towards each other. The brutality of what men will do to each other if pushed far enough. Or if he relishes the act of killing. The strengths that can be found deep within people if their belief in what they do, is strong enough and even the fact that deep-rooted prejudice can be turned to respect.

With credits, for factual information, going to The Smithsonian one must assume that this is a fictionalized account of certain events that truly happened. I'll be looking up a few facts in the library and on the internet though, as it's piqued an interest. As we live in South Carolina, now, we're also going to visit the Charleston area soon to see the places where the filming was done ( and locations where the real battles took place). There were some excellent special effects (albeit rather gruesome). I think that overall, the cast of this movie, and all the people behind the scenes, should be well content with the final product.
It has an R rating, I believe for the violence. I would make sure if I rented it that smaller children were not in the room. The sight of people being dismembered, and of various hackings with sharp implements, would be enough to give them sleepless nights. But that is the reality of war when hand to hand combat is a major part of the equation.

I give it a definite 5 stars!! Loved it!

Summary: great movie