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Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Joely Richardson, Jason Isaacs, Chris Cooper ... see more see more... , Tcheky Karyo , Rene Auberjonois , Lisa Brenner , Tom Wilkinson , Donal Logue , Leon Rippy , Adam Baldwin , Gregory Smith , Mika Boorem , Skye McCole Bartusiak , Trevor Morgan , Joey D. Vieira , Jay Arlen Jones , Beatrice Bush , Shannon Eubanks , Peter Woodward

Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin, the director/producer team responsible for such sci-fi blockbusters as Independence Day, Stargate, and Godzilla, take a step back in time with this drama set during th... read more read more...e American Revolution. Farmer Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) was born and raised in South Carolina, and fought bravely during the French-Indian wars. But since the death of his wife, Benjamin has renounced violence and quietly tends his crops, raising his seven children alone. In 1776, over Benjamin's objections, his oldest son Gabriel (Heath Ledger) joins the fight against the British. Gabriel returns from battle seriously wounded, with Lord General Cornwallis (Tom Wilkinson) calling for his arrest. A skirmish breaks out on Benjamin's plantation, and one of his children is killed as Gabriel is captured by Col. Tavington (Jason Isaacs) and sentenced to hang. Benjamin sets aside his vow of pacifism and rescues Gabriel; with the help of his former comrade-in-arms Harry Burwell (Chris Cooper), the father and son form a regiment of Carolina patriots whose cunning and ruthlessness make them heroes among the colonists -- and wanted men by British troops. Loosely adapted from the true story of Francis Marion and filmed on location in South Carolina, The Patriot was the first feature film made with the cooperation of the Smithsonian Institute, who advised the producers on historical accuracy. Joely Richardson also stars as Charlotte, Benjamin's sister-in-law who helps him care for the children. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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390,310 ratings

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62% liked it

132 critics

R, 2 hr. 48 min.

Directed by: Roland Emmerich

Release Date: June 28, 2000

Keywords: action, epic, war

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DVD Release Date: April 25, 2006

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Stats: 21,265 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (21,265)

  • spielberg00
    November 26, 2011
    spielberg00
    Appallingly bloody but nevertheless greatly poignant epic stars Mel Gibson as Benjamin Martin, a hero in the French and Indian War, but preferring to just be a farmer. He is shocked to find that his son Gabriel (Heath Ledger) will soon enlist to fight in what we now know as the ... read moreAmerican Revolution, and in protection of his son, Benjamin diffidently returns to fight for freedom from the brutal British.

    If you're looking for a war film that is beyond simply decent, I would highly recommend THE PATRIOT. At the Oscars, it was nominated three times (Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Sound), and the only thing that truly cuts it down from absolute supremacy is its running time--165 minutes in length, as well as an extended edition released with an extra ten minutes.

    Full Review: http://wp.me/p1Urcx-vi
  • moonrivers
    October 2, 2011
    moonrivers
    "Yay! Let's get all patriotic and misty eyed!" And that appears to've been the goal in this Braveheart redo, American style, only revenge is the rationale given for freedom here, for patriotism. Sumptuously filmed and grandly staged, it certainly looks impressive though.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    August 27, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    The Patriot directed by Roland Emmerich is an impressive war film set during the American Revolution. If you hate most of Emmerich's films, then you may want to see this one. The Patriot isn't your normal "Roland Emmerich film". The film is very different from his others, as this... read more is of course, not a disaster picture. The Patriot tells the story of Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) a veteran of the French and Indian wars. He seeks to find peace, but when the war that is being fought on American soil is brought to his doorstep and with one son captured by the British and his other son murdered by Colonel William Tavington in a brilliant, and ruthless performance by Jason Isaacs, he is forced to take up arms. The Patriot follows the same path as Mel Gibson's Braveheart. What makes the film very good is the diverse talent involved in the project, and the drama throughout the conflict, which like Braveheart, was phenomenal. The Patriot also has incredible battle scenes, costumes and amazing soundtrack by John Williams The film may be Braveheart set during the American Revolution, but this is still an impressive drama war film. The cast do a fine job and Roland Emmerich has probably made his masterpiece with this film. A truly unique film, even though it's nothing new. The film is still impressive and worth watching. Of all the films that Roland Emmerich has made, I'd have to say that The Patriot is one of favorites, and along with Independence Day is his best film. But the only difference is, is that there's more human elements to this story, and it makes for a terrific viewing.
  • fb619846742
    June 12, 2011
    fb619846742
    Cliched to the max but still undeniably likable due to Emmerich's sound direction (the only time I can say that, since his other movies are mostly terrible) and a star performance from Mel Gibson. Heath Ledger also gives a memorable turn as Gibson's oldest son. Sure, the battle b... read moreetween Gibson and bad-guy Isaacs is completely Hollywood-ized, but the end result is absolutely satisfying. The acting is a cut above the norm, thanks to four terrific talents such as Gibson, Ledger, Chris Cooper, and Tom Wilkinson being in the cast, and the result is a well-constructed American epic that deserves a view.
  • DreamExtractor
    March 27, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    A respectable movie with great production, acting, and battle scenes. What it lacks is a story that drags you in.
  • ythelastman89
    December 11, 2010
    ythelastman89
    It's a lot cooler than people give it credit for. While it's not a flawless epic, it's extremely fun and has Mel Gibson in full rage mode. It's an easy to follow story with great visuals and a very realistic quality. Jason Isaacs portrayed a villain that will have to go down in m... read moreovie history as one of the most evil. Historically inaccurate it may be, but frankly I don't need to see something that's 100%. They took the Revolutionary War and shaped it into a really interesting and powerful narrative.
  • matertenebraum
    November 8, 2010
    matertenebraum
    The Patriot is technically a good movie. Nicely made with good characters, good acting, a strong storyline and fabulous cinematography.

    But, to say this movie distorts history would be an understatement. And that is extremely sad in a movie that sells itself as an accurate portr... read moreayal of events during the revolution. The Patriot, unfortunately, crosses the line and try's to portray as 'actual fact' a film which is predominantly fictional. Hence, the 'real life' equivalent of Benjamin Martin actually used to scalp Native Americans in his spare time (a fact neatly overlooked by the director).

    This 'rose tinted' view of history is at its worst during the church-burning scene where a British Army officer ordered the murder of many innocent civilians by locking them in a church and setting it alight. This event never took place and yet, thanks to The Patriot, a whole generation of Americans will believe that the British Army actually committed this horrendous act in South Carolina -- when in fact history shows that it was not the British Army that burned a church full of people in 1776 but the Nazis that did during WW2.

    As a Brit, I don't so much mind Hollywood always portraying us as the 'bad guys' -- after all it is American money making these films -- I'm more concerned that some Americans actually believe what they watch. This is especially true in movies like The Patriot which 'pretend' to be real.

    It's a shame that in such a technically competent movie, which pays such attention to minutiae detail like the costumes, that something as significant as the accuracy of the screenplay could have been so grotesquely overlooked.
  • cosmo313
    August 19, 2010
    cosmo313
    It seems odd to me that this was directed by Roland Ememrich, as it is far removed from the rest of his filmography. It's certainly not a great movie, and don't get me started on how it treats history, but the performances are not bad, and the action scenes are well done. Still t... read morehough, I should probably shit all over this movie, and I want to, but that might give the impression that this should be avoided, which it shouldn't. Just treat it like mindless violent fiction and it's awesome...mostly.
  • FilmFanatik
    December 21, 2009
    FilmFanatik
    Nice action set piece.
  • stormyweather980
    August 15, 2009
    stormyweather980
    When I first heard about "The Patriot," I knew it was going to be a good movie because its previews reminded me of "Braveheart" and it stars Mel Gibson. "The Patriot" isn't anything like "Braveheart", but it is a great movie nonetheless. Colonel Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) decid... read morees not to enter into the American Revolutionary War because he has a family to protect. However, after a British commander kills his son and his oldest son goes into the war against Benjamin's will, Benjamin does what he has to do and takes part in the war himself. While leading many people against the British, Colonel Benjamin Martin keeps his eye on the British commander that killed his son because he has a lot of revenge for him and Benjamin wants to take that revenge and make use of it.
    "The Patriot" succeeds in every way as a great movie. It has great acting by everybody, especially Mel Gibson and the brutal and unforgiving British commander that is in charge. The movie's plot is easy to follow and it'll be hard to take your eyes off the screen the whole time you're watching the movie. "The Patriot" also has decent special effects and the battle scenes couldn't have been done any better. If you like great movies, and especially if you like war movies, you'll like "The Patriot." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. I was being generous. I liked the movie enough, but it really wasn't one of my favorites, even of the genre or of Gibson's library. Rather overrated.

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Critic Reviews

Mick LaSalle
June 18, 2002
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Emmerich's battle scenes may look authentic to anyone who has ever stared hard at a history book, but in every other way the film is long, empty and bogus. Full Review

Liam Lacey
March 22, 2002
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Make no mistake about it: The Patriot is a cartoon, even if it does have real people playing the parts. Full Review

Andrew O'Hehir
August 9, 2001
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

A grand yarn with a sense of the weight of history and an awareness that the winners are often those who have lost the most. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 10, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Deserves a salute as the first Hollywood epic about the American Revolution to successfully blend ferocity and feeling.

J. Hoberman
January 1, 2000
J. Hoberman, Village Voice

A movie of cornball sentiment, humorously anachronistic dialogue, and expensive Colonial Williamsburg sets. Full Review

Michael Wilmington
January 1, 2000
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

The Patriot is a huge, bloody, 2-hour-and-40-minute battle epic, lavishly appointed and beautifully shot.

Kenneth Turan
January 1, 2000
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

Yet for its real virtues, The Patriot is never completely satisfying. Full Review

Hap Erstein
January 1, 2000
Hap Erstein, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A rip-snorting good flick that breaks the cinematic jinx against Revolutionary War stories. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
January 1, 2000
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

As long as it stays on the battlefield, The Patriot is a brutishly compelling broad-canvas entertainment. Full Review

Sean Means
January 1, 2000
Sean Means, Film.com

The rules of summer movie-making wreck The Patriot.

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Facts

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    • Benjamin Martin: Vive le france?
    • Major Jean Villeneuve: Vive le liberte.
    • Colonel Harry Burwell: Wars are not fought only by childless men.
    • Benjamin Martin: I have long feared that my sins would return to visit me, and the cost is more than I can bear.
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The Patriot Trivia

  • In which movie have you heard this being said: "A shepherd must tend to his flock, and at times, fight off the wolves."  Answer »
  • Name this actor by the movies listed: A Knight's Tale The Patriot 10 Things I Hate About You Casanova The Brother's Grimm Ned Kelly  Answer »
  • Name The Actor that has starred in all these movies? Flightplan, The Island, Don't Say a Word, National Treasure, Patriot Games.   Answer »
  • Who is the actor who has starred in these films? 10 Things I Hate About You A Knight's Tale The Patriot The Brother's Grimm Brokeback Mountain   Answer »
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