Saturday, April 23, 2011

American Revolution "The Patriot"

"The Patriot" is a movie about American revolution starring Mel Gibson. Written by Robert Rodat and directed by Ronald Emmerich. It is based in 1776 South Carolina and Benjamin Martin (Gibson) is French-Indian war hero  who haunt his past and lives with his family of 4 boys and 2 daughters is a widower father. He wants nothing else than live peacefully and raise his children in a plantation. He do not want any part of war with England. But his two oldest sons are eager to join the Continental Army. When S.C. decide to join rebellion against England Gabriel his oldest son  signed up immediately with out Martins permission and left with the army.  Days after he return wounded and then there was a small battle in front of martins house. The next day Martin was helping wounded soldiers of both armies when Colonel William Tavington a British Colonel came and killed all the Continental soldiers and killed Martins second oldest son Thomas, and were going to hang his Gabriel and destroyed Martins plantation and burned his house down. After this tragedy Martin find himself Torn between Revenge on colonel and protecting his family. So martin took his other two sons to fight with 20 soldiers who were going to hang Gabriel. he killed all 20 soldiers and no body saw him. the word got around that ghost killed those 20 British Soldiers and rescue Gabriel. he then took all of his children to their aunt. Then he went and joined continental army and formed a militia who started doing guerrilla attack on British army.
Well the movie was very suspenseful and entertaining and emotional at most points because it relates to children and common man. The historic event are portrayed in this movie are good enough to overcome Gibson's bad performance. he never found right tone for his emotional scenes especially the one where he have to cry I say he looked bit foolish. I guess he was just trying to hide his Australian accent. Although it seems like movie was just based on ACTION it has romance going on the side. Gibson with his  dead wife sister and his son Gabriel with a local girl from their village. The movie has shown the power of family  and how it could be important to even to a soldier and how it effected their cause.
The other bad thing in this movie was over exaggerated slow motion scenes. It shown in numerous time in battle field and when the house was burning down. And its not only the slow motion but its super slow - mo. I mean it was  really slow motion to the point where u can see blood splattering and head getting chopped of by those  bomb kinda balls or what ever they are or leg Gerti chopped of I seriously understand that me and m several other people like me would  root for that kind of stuff but when i watched it with family all of them were grossed out. But on the other hand it was directed by the director who also made Godzilla so it didn't matter to him much. 
There were massive blasts in the movie. I think there were more blasts in the movie then there would have been in real. I get its an action movie and we love to see explosion in action movies but also keep in my mind that it was based on 18th Century war tactics. And  i am kind of guy who just love to see explosion in movies. Still, for all its adherence to formula, "The Patriot" is certainly handsome and effectively rousing in small but resounding ways, like the scenes in which Martin smelts his dead son's toy soldiers into musket balls, or when he rallies farmers and villagers to arms, resulting in a motley militia of "colorful" roughnecks from central casting.
The makers and crew did a great effort for recreating the look and feel of 1700's. It is a very good , Good versus Evil drama which will keep you on your toes most of the time. Its two and a half hour historical action movie is not just a time pass it a very good entertainment which is totally worth spending your time over. IT IS NOT JUST AN EXCUSE FOR FANCY COSTUMES at least it was not for me . :)