Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6392 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-04-17
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Collector's Edition, Dubbed, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Icelandic, Dutch, Finnish, Romanian, Danish, Hebrew, Spanish, Hindi, Czech, Norwegian, Portuguese, Bulgarian, English, Swedish, Arabic, Turkish
• Dubbed in: Spanish, Czech
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 158 minutes

Amazon.com

Peaceful farmer Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) is driven to lead the Colonial Militia during the American Revolution when a sadistic British officer murders his son.

Plot Synopsis

The movie takes place in South Carolina in 1776. Benjamin Martin, a French-Indian war hero who is haunted by his past, is a patriot who wants no part in a war with Britian. Meanwhile, his two eldest sons, Gabriel and Thomas, can't wait to go out and kill some Redcoats. When South Carolina decides to go to war with Britain, Gabriel immediatly signs up to fight...without his father's permission. But soon, Colonel Tavington, British solder infamous for his brutal tactiks, captures Gabriel and sentences him to be hanged. As Gabriel is taken away, Thomas tries to free him, only to be killed by Tavington, in front of Benjamin. Now, seeking revenge for his son's death, Benjamin leaves behind his five other children to bring independence to the 13 colonies.

Synopsis
Mel Gibson stars in this action-packed historical drama from the director of INDEPENDENCE DAY and GODZILLA. Gibson portrays Benjamin Martin, an unassuming man who is forced to join the American Revolution when the British threaten to take his farm away from him. Together with his patriotic son, Gabriel (Heath Ledger), the pair faces the vicious Redcoats with a heroism that reflects the stubborn pride of a young country's most dedicated supporters. THE PATRIOT is a sweeping epic adventure that sheds light on America's past, and at the same time entertains audiences.

Customer Reviews

Thoroughly Enjoyed It
I am an American/British dual citizen and I cant say as I even marginally agree with the reviewers saying this film is thoroughly anti British, it may have an aspect of that but how many TV series have the English made which make the French look evil. How many films have the English AND Americans made about the Germans being evil? This film is made from an American point of view you cannot expect it to portray the British as the most wonderful people ever. In the film there is only one British man that is `evil' and the troops under his command kill innocent Americans under his orders and with objection. Mr Gibson is painting one man as evil not a nation so stop with your feeling hard done by and griping over nothing. Overall I think Mr Gibson makes the British look like a very noble nation through the gentlemanly actions of their high commander and other commanders, infact you could rightly argue that the British are overall portrayed as much more honorable than their American counterparts.

I am especially baffled by the fact that a self proclaimed history lecturer is so narrow minded, I hope that if I ever have children you are not the one teaching them. I would have hoped that someone entrusted with teaching new generations about history would be more open to the fact that you can never KNOW for sure what happened. Finally to the omnipresent reviewer who said that s/he was sure the British had never burned a church. I am sure and couldn't agree more that in the many years of the British Empire nobody innocent was hurt and that no rogue commanders ever ordered their men to slaughter innocent people (that was sarcasm the British have and had just as much capacity for being evil as the Americans, Germans, French and Mel Gibson).

These reviewers are however right in regards to the fact that the black people portrayed in this film do seem very unrealistic when compared with historical accounts of what it was to be black in those times. They are all treated well and all seem really happy with life, doubtless a few of them were but I do find it very strange that there was only once that one was mistreated.

I personally think that this movie is brilliant. There are a couple of points where the American pride is cringe worthy but it wouldn't be a classic Mel film if there wasn't. Trust me when I say this is a great film and unless you are super uptight you will not be offended. Take a step back and enjoy it, this is a fictional movie and it never claims to be based solidly on fact.

If you are British watch this brilliant movie, get past some of the laughable Americana like Mel running with the flag at the end and see if the British really are portrayed badly. If you feel they are then give me a negative review though to be honest I doubt very much that you will. The people writing that this film is anti-British are the exact type that probably watch movies on how the British defeated the `evil' Napoleon and think it is wonderful. Thank you for your time for reading my longest ever review and enjoy.

Epic and Entertaining
I wish people would stop rating this film badly due to bad history. It is obvious that that the bias in history was intentional, so as to create a tense and interesting story. If one actually takes the film at face value, one would realise what a brilliant film it actually is. In fact it is quite stirring at times, even though I am British myself! Who cares if he is making the British look evil (i.e. there is just 1 'evil British man' in the film anyway!, the film is great to watch . . . honestly, just buy the film, you will not regret it!

Total Propogandistic Fiction!
This film is competently made but it must be borne in mind that 90% of its content is utter fiction. Worse than that, it once again re-introduces viewers on a global scale to those ever-so repellent and downright evil British imagined by Mr Gibson. The film is total propoganda. I am a history lecturer so I think I know my facts. I must point out to Peader, the reviewer from Ireland that this is NOT an accurate depiction of events. I didn't catch the part in the film where the British had promised if they retained rule in many of the 13 colonies then slavery would be abolished and that a huge black slave mutiny took place that was cruelly put down by the American "patriots"! In fact the founding fathers were only too keen to propogate slavery to boost their own economy. Isn't it strange how any slaves that are seen in this movie are ever-so happy with their lot? Also, the British were extremely lenient in prosecuting this war. Indeed, many of the British conducting the war knew the insurrectionists personally as friends & didn't want to fight it at all! Most of the brutality that did occur came from the French who were funding the rebellion in an effort to weaken British power and who also hoped to re-claim some of their lost lands in America. Propoganda such as this film is dangerous as it will be swallowed without question by most viewers and it is a slur on the British nation. This is an added shame because I feel Mr Gibson is actually a hugely talented man. I just wish he could be a little more open-minded towards the British!