this is a truely awesome awe-inspiring film. the fight scenes will have the men wanting to be knights, and the women wishing that their men were knights. This film is such an adrenaline rush it is unbelieveable. Although it is a long film, some three hours, mel Gibson seems perfect for this role. But how could he? thats twice he's killed off us english singlehandedly! Comparisons to braveheart are aplenty, with a story line that isn't disimilar to braveheart in that gibson, this time an american in the american civil war, has a child killed by the english redcoats, and then goes on a mission of revenge. following the idea of history in that the english lost decisively, it may have been glammed up a bit to make the american audience feel more patriotic about the film, but it still makes fascinating viewing. the acting is superb and mel gibson steals the limelight for his virtually flawless role. if the fight scenes don't get you're heart pumping that little bit faster, then the emotions of a man losing one of his sons will certainly pull at your heart strings. well directed and acted, with a great story line to keep you hooked, this film is a must see! If you liked braveheart, you will love this! one flaw though is that the dvd itself doesn't come with any extra features that really stand out. although it has the benefits of a clearer picture and crisper sound quality, the added options don't make it that much different from the normal video cassette