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"The Patriot'' is a fable arguing the futility of pacifism, set against the backdrop of the Revolutionary War. It is rousing and entertaining, and you get your money's worth, but there isn't an idea in it that will stand up to thoughtful scrutiny.

The British are seen as gentlemanly fops or sadistic monsters, and the Americans come in two categories: brave or braver. Those who have a serious interest in the period will find it a cartoon; those raised on summer action movies will find it more stimulating than most.

Mel Gibson stars, in a powerful and effective performance, as a widower named Benjamin Martin with seven children. He saw enough of battle in the French and Indian Wars, and was frightened by what he learned about himself. He counsels a treaty with King George. Asked about his principles by an old comrade in arms ( Chris Cooper ), he replies, "I'm a parent. I haven't got the luxury of principles.'' But he gets some in a hurry, after the monstrous British Col. William Tavington ( Jason Isaacs ), arrests Martin's eldest son Gabriel ( Heath Ledger ) and takes him away to be hanged, after first shooting another of Martin's sons just for the hell of it and burning down his house.

Since Martin had merely been treating the wounded of both sides in his home, this seems excessive, and in the long run turns out to be extremely unwise for the British, since Martin goes on to more or less single-handedly mastermind their defeat. There must have been many British officers less cruel--but none would have served the screenplay's purpose, which is to show Martin driven berserk by grief, rage and the need for revenge.

The following sequence is the film's most disturbing. Martin and his sons hide in the woods and ambush Tavington and his soldiers; eventually the battle comes down to hand-to-hand fighting (with Martin wielding a tomahawk). Gabriel is freed, and the younger boys get a taste for blood ("I'm glad I killed them!'' one of the tykes cries. "I'm glad!''). The movie's scenes of carnage have more impact than the multiple killings in a film like "Shaft,'' because they are personal, not technical; individual soldiers, frightened and ill-prepared, are fighting for their lives, while in the modern action movies, most of the victims are pop-up arcade targets.

The big players in the war (George Washington, King George) are far offscreen, although we do meet Gen. Cornwallis ( Tom Wilkinson ), a British leader who promotes a "gentlemanly'' conduct of the war and rebukes Tavington for his brutality. Still, when the Americans refuse to "fight fair'' and adopt hit-and-run guerrilla tactics against the British (who march in orderly ranks into gunfire), Cornwallis bends enough to authorize the evil colonel to take what steps are necessary to bring down Martin (by now legendary as "the Ghost'').

The movie's battle scenes come in two flavors--harrowing and unlikely. Two battles near the beginning of the film are conveniently fought in open fields visible from the upper windows of houses, so onlookers have excellent seats for the show and can supply a running narration. No doubt revolutionary battles were fought right there in the pasture, but would Benjamin Martin allow his kids to stand in the windows, or tell them to hide in the barn? The "real'' battles are grueling tests of men and horses, as soldiers march into withering fire, and the survivors draw their swords or fix their bayonets for blood-soaked combat in close quarters. These battles seem anarchic and pitiless, and respect the movie convention that bitter rivals will sooner or later find themselves face to face. The scenes are well-staged by the director, Roland Emmerich , working from a script by Robert Rodat , the same man who wrote "Saving Private Ryan,'' with its equally appalling battle scenes.

Hollywood movies are at pains these days to provide a role for a heroic African-American or two. A role for a black sailor was found in the segregated U.S. Navy submarine corps in "U-571'' (he was a mess orderly). Now we have a black slave who fights beside white men (even those who hate him) because Gen. Washington has promised freedom for all slaves who fight for a year. Good enough, but why not go all the way and give this character dialogue and a real role to play--instead of demeaningly using him only to count down the months and days until his freedom? When the former slave finally gets two whole sentences in a row, at the end, he quotes Martin's son: "Gabriel said if we won the war, we could build a whole new world. We could get started right here with your home.'' Uh-huh. Why not get started with your own home? The movie offers light comic relief to ease the tension (Martin's handmade chairs keep collapsing beneath him), and a love story (Gabriel falls for Ann, a plucky colonial girl who catches his eye with a patriotic speech). Ann's father is a deaf man who misunderstands things. When Gabriel asks permission to write Ann, the old man at first takes offense. Then he says, "Oh ... write her! Of course you may.'' What did he think Gabriel had asked? Meanwhile, there's even female company for the hard-bitten Benjamin Martin, who asks the sister of his dead wife, "May I sit here?'' Her answer got laughs in the screening I attended: "It's a free country--or at least, it will be.'' These passages and others (including the Dead Man Who Is Not Really Dead) have been trucked directly into "The Patriot'' from the warehouse of timeless cliches. They betray the movie's lack of serious intentions. It basically wants to be a summer action movie, with a historical gloss. At that, it succeeds. I enjoyed the strength and conviction of Gibson's performance, the sweep of the battle scenes, and the absurdity of the British caricatures. None of it has much to do with the historical reality of the Revolutionary War, but with such an enormous budget at risk, how could it?

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film Credits

The Patriot (2000)

Rated R For Strong War Violence

157 minutes

Heath Ledger as Gabriel Martin

Mel Gibson as Benjamin Martin

Jason Isaacs as Col. Tavington

Joely Richardson as Charlotte

Chris Cooper as Col. Burwell

Directed by

Roland Emmerich
Robert Rodat

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The patriot, common sense media reviewers.

Exciting Revolutionary War tale has graphic battle scenes.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

The colonists' fight for independence promotes the

Benjamin is portrayed as a reluctant hero who disp

Frequent, explicit, unrelenting battle violence. F

Kissing. Gentle sexual references in a scene depic

Some use of "hell" and "damn."

Wine and whiskey drinking, but not to excess. A ch

Positive Messages

The colonists' fight for independence promotes the value of heroism, courage, and sacrifice. Other messages include the importance of standing up for what you believe in and that you can't escape the wrongs you've done in the past. The film has been called out for ignoring the realities of slavery in the American colonies during this period.

Positive Role Models

Benjamin is portrayed as a reluctant hero who displays tremendous courage and bravery when he feels he ultimately has no choice but to fight. His son Gabriel also displays courage and valor in the face of profound loss and cares enough for the cause of liberty to be willing to die for it. The members of the militia led by Benjamin are citizens from all backgrounds who put their lives at risk for what they believe in. A racist man who initially believes that Black men shouldn't be soldiers, much less earn their freedom by serving in the Continental Army, changes his mind when his life is saved due to the bravery of the Black soldier in his militia. That said, the movie essentially ignores the facts of slavery in the American colonies during this time, including that the real person Benjamin's character was based on was an enslaver (as were many of the United States' founders).

Violence & Scariness

Frequent, explicit, unrelenting battle violence. Fighting with muskets, rifles, swords, hatchets. Blood and gore. A solider is decapitated by a cannonball; other soldiers lose limbs from cannonballs. A man shoots himself in the head after finding his wife and child murdered in front of his home. Black characters are shown hanging dead from a tree. A horse is killed when stabbed in its underbelly with the spear of a flagpole. Dozens of characters are burned to death while locked in a church. Injured soldiers' limbs are hacked off by battlefield surgeons. Talk of eating dogs. The lead character discusses the atrocities he committed while a soldier: He hacked dozens of the enemy into little pieces and kept two survivors alive to bring the dismembered remains to their superior officers. Verbal reference to implied rape.

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Sex, Romance & Nudity

Kissing. Gentle sexual references in a scene depicting the colonial custom of "bundling bags" for courting couples.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Wine and whiskey drinking, but not to excess. A character chews tobacco and spits some of it on the floor.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Patriot stars Mel Gibson as a South Carolina farmer who joins the cause of liberty in the Revolutionary War. While characters demonstrate courage and sacrifice, the movie is extremely, unrelentingly violent, with many graphic battle scenes. A character shoots himself in the head after his family is killed. A solider is decapitated by a cannonball; other soldiers lose their limbs to cannonballs. There's blood and gore throughout, as characters fight with muskets, rifles, swords, cannons, and hatchets. Dead Black people are shown hanging from a tree, and dozens of characters are burned to death while locked in a church. The atrocities committed in a past battle are vividly described. Other than the violence, there's some use of words like "hell" and "damn," and characters drink wine and whiskey and use chewing tobacco. Characters kiss, and there are gentle sexual references in a scene depicting the colonial custom of "bundling bags" for courting couples. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Community Reviews

Parents say (22)
Kids say (84)

Based on 22 parent reviews

Not that bad

A not so historically accurate, revolutionary war film., what's the story.

THE PATRIOT stars Mel Gibson as Benjamin Martin, a veteran of the British army who was a hero during the French and Indian War. Twenty years later, he has no love for the monarchy but some skepticism about the alternative. He asks, "Why should I trade one tyrant 3000 miles away for 3000 tyrants one mile away?" and says "I haven't got the luxury of principles." More than that, his memories of the atrocities of war -- his own as well as the enemy's -- and his passion for protecting his seven children won't allow him to fight again. But when Benjamin's son is killed by a British soldier, he throws guns to his younger boys, straps several onto himself, and goes off to fight his own personal war, sort of like Robin Hood crossed with the Terminator .

Is It Any Good?

It's not perfect, but this is a very enjoyable popcorn movie, sumptuously and excitingly filmed, and rousingly entertaining. The action sequences play well, and Gibson delivers, as always. He's utterly compelling in The Patriot , whether he's grimly dispatching an enemy, looking tenderly at a tiny daughter who won't speak to him, or agonizing over his past sins. Fellow Aussie Heath Ledger is superb as Benjamin's oldest son Gabriel, at first impatient to join the fight and later a brave and mature soldier and an ardent suitor.

There's a long Hollywood tradition of reluctant heroes being forced into violence, thus giving us the best of both worlds: a hero whose heart is in the right place but whose muscles and gun are, too. So Benjamin has to find a reason to fight. It would have been better if that reason had something to do with liberty and democracy, but instead it's about revenge. (The only heartfelt struggle for independence in the movie is teenage rebellion.) It's worth noting that producing/directing team Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich play fast and loose with historical facts here. Not only is villainous Colonel Tavington so reprehensible that he enjoys burning down a church filled with civilians, but the film in no way acknowledges that the character of Benjamin was inspired by a real-life colonist who hunted Native Americans and kept enslaved people. In fact, while one racist character showily learns the error of his ways after being saved by a Black solider, the film pretty much ignores historical race relations and slavery. So The Patriot may be exciting, but it's definitely not an accurate history lesson.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the history of the American Revolutionary War. How accurate do you think The Patriot is to what actually happened? The movie has been criticized for omitting the fact that the real-life person Benjamin was based on hunted Native Americans and kept enslaved Black people (and for ignoring the realities of slavery during this era). What impact does that have on the way viewers perceive the movie's characters and messages?

Do you think the movie's violence is necessary to convey a sense of the reality of the war? Do different types of media violence have different impact?

How do the characters demonstrate courage ? Why is that an important character strength ?

Movie Details

In theaters : June 28, 2000
On DVD or streaming : October 24, 2000
Cast : Heath Ledger , Joely Richardson , Mel Gibson
Director : Roland Emmerich
Inclusion Information : Female actors
Studio : Columbia Tristar
Genre : Action/Adventure
Topics : History
Character Strengths : Courage
Run time : 165 minutes
MPAA rating : R
MPAA explanation : strong war violence
Last updated : July 3, 2023

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June 28, 2000 FILM REVIEW A Gentle Farmer Who's Good at Violence By ELVIS MITCHELL Photographs by Andrew Cooper/ Columbia Pictures Mel Gibson as Benjamin Martin, a colonial family man who goes to war in "The Patriot." Related Articles • Current Film Video • Video: Selected Scenes and Trailer From the Film 'The Patriot' ADD YOUR THOUGHTS Discuss "The Patriot" and see what other readers are saying in Abuzz. n the Revolutionary War epic "The Patriot," Mel Gibson is Benjamin Martin, a gentle farmer in his 40's whose eyes glimmer with love for his family. Among the film's assets is Mr. Gibson's complicated love for his own children, who are similar to his brood in the film, ranging in age from very young to teenage. This may seem trivial, but it's a theme that most contemporary movies, with their incessant focus on prolonged adolescence, avoid. Mr. Gibson shows an on-screen comfort and expansiveness he has not revealed before. He's an astonishing actor for someone whose technique all seems to come from the outside. Sometimes his suffering can be a little glib, but he relates to the performers playing his children, even the somewhat remote hunk Heath Ledger, who plays Gabriel, the eldest son and the one most like his dad. In their scenes together, Mr. Gibson almost seems to be directing Mr. Ledger on screen, and the younger actor responds with an exasperated bashfulness that makes him less cool and more likable. Otherwise this sort of prequel to "Independence Day" (1996) from that film's director, Roland Emmerich, is a gruesome hybrid, a mix of sentimentality and brutality that suggests a "Lethal Weapon" movie directed by Norman Rockwell. Assembled like an entire season of a television series crammed into a less-than-compact 158 minutes, "The Patriot" is shamelessly stirring, brandishing Mr. Gibson's anguished masculinity like a musket. It may be effective, but you leave the theater feeling used. The plot is simple: Gabriel is determined to enlist in the action against the British. Benjamin is determined to keep his boy out of the fighting and stay out of it himself. "Why should I trade a tyrant 3,000 miles away for 3,000 tyrants one mile away?" Benjamin asks. Like many other Gibson characters, Benjamin is a man with a Past. He has renounced violence because he's good at it. "I have long feared that my sins will come to visit me and that the costs will be more than I can bear," he says in a narration at the beginning, repeating the line later in the film. But this time, as they say in action movies, it's personal. When he's forced to join the battle against the British, he grabs his muskets and hatchet and makes fast, ruthless work of his opponents. Mr. Emmerich exploits Mr. Gibson's physical directness with the same ruthlessness. He's the best actor ever to work consistently in action pictures, which is not a backhanded compliment, and he uses the same intensity of concentration with machinery that he does with people. And this early scene, which should be shocking because Benjamin grabs up two of his young sons and puts weapons in their hands, is ugly because Mr. Emmerich accentuates the smoothness of the assault. He is a competent action director, but he can't balance action and contrasting emotion the way that Mr. Gibson does effortlessly. Benjamin's efficient campaign prompts the merciless British commander, Colonel Tavington (Jason Isaacs), whose one-dimensional evil is as old as the Revolutionary War, to smirk, "He sounds more like a ghost than a man." Benjamin soon gathers a small, ragtag band of fellow fighters, and his stealthy methods begin to take a heavy toll on the enemy. But "The Patriot" seems even longer than it is because about a third of it takes place in slow motion, as if the violence weren't enough in itself, and the primitive weapons ensure that there's plenty of face-to-face carnage. The film tries to emulate "Braveheart" and the extremely photogenic running and bloodletting of "The Last of the Mohicans," but it cannot be favorably compared with either. "The Patriot" pits the scrappy young rebels against the waistcoated British, who with their old-fashioned way of sending men into battle belong in "Jurassic Park" with the velociraptors. So does some of the script, which wants to celebrate the glory of 1776 America but ignores the less tidy aspect of its politics. Thus we have the willful anachronism of Benjamin and his group hiding out with a group of African-Americans who are so enlightened in dress and lifestyle that the scene might be from an Erykah Badu video. It's obvious that no one's going to make a movie that would depict its hero as a proponent of slavery, so "The Patriot" has other, sillier touches, like a racist lout (Donal Logue) who looks down his nose at a slave who joins the group but who comes to respect the black man. The movie is well cast, though some of the actors, like Chris Cooper, are even given lines that sound as if they come from a Ken Burns film. But "The Patriot" is a slow, somber epic, or rather it is presented slowly and somberly, as if such staging could give it substance. "The Patriot" is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). It has extended and numerous depictions of bloody violence and suffering. THE PATRIOT Directed by Roland Emmerich; written by Robert Rodat; director of photography, Caleb Deschanel; edited by David Brenner; music by John Williams; production designer, Kirk M. Petruccelli; produced by Dean Devlin, Mark Gordon and Gary Levinsohn; released by Columbia Pictures. Running time: 158 minutes. This film is rated R. WITH: Mel Gibson (Benjamin Martin), Heath Ledger (Gabriel Martin), Joely Richardson (Charlotte Selton), Jason Isaacs (Col. William Tavington), Chris Cooper (Col. Harry Burwell), Tcheky Karyo (Jean Villeneuve), Rene Auberjonois (Reverend Oliver), Lisa Brenner (Anne Howard), Donal Logue (Dan Scott) and Tom Wilkinson (General Cornwallis).

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The Patriot

1998, Action, 1h 35m

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The patriot photos.

A rural Montana community is threatened when the FBI tries to arrest members of a radical militia group. The militia retaliates by releasing a killer virus into the air, sickening most of the local residents -- but not Dr. Wesley McClaren (Steven Seagal) or his daughter, Holly (Gailard Sartain). It seems that Holly is immune to the virus. As McClaren races to find a cure, militia leader Floyd Chisolm (L.Q. Jones) attempts to kidnap Holly so that his group can make an antitoxin.

Genre: Action

Original Language: English

Director: Dean Semler

Producer: Howard Baldwin , Patrick D. Choi , Victor Hwang , Nile Niami , Steven Seagal

Writer: M. Sussman , John Kingswell

Release Date (Streaming): Sep 2, 2019

Runtime: 1h 35m

Production Co: Ilshin Investment Co., Interlight, Baldwin/Cohen Productions, Seagal/Nasso Productions

Cast & Crew

Steven Seagal

Dr. Wesley McClaren

Camilla Belle

Holly McClaren

Gailard Sartain

Floyd Chisolm

Silas Weir Mitchell

Richard Bach

Damon Callazo

Lt. Johnson

Whitney Yellow Robe

Dr. Ann White Cloud

Navy Captain

Ron Andrews

Dean Semler

Screenwriter

John Kingswell

Howard Baldwin

Patrick D. Choi

Victor Hwang

Avram "Butch" Kaplan

Executive Producer

Stephen F. Windon

Cinematographer

Derek Brechin

Film Editing

Stephen Edwards

Original Music

Eve Cauley Turner

Production Design

Art Director

Daniel Loren May

Set Decoration

Rosanna Norton

Costume Design

Shari Rhodes

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DVD & Streaming

The Patriot

Action/Adventure , Drama , War

Content Caution

In Theaters

Mel Gibson as Benjamin Martin; Heath Ledger as Gabriel Martin; Joely Richardson as Charlotte Selton; Jason Isaacs as Col. William Tavington; Chris Cooper as Col. Harry Burwell; Tom Wilkinson as Gen. Cornwallis

Home Release Date

Roland Emmerich

Distributor

Columbia Pictures

Movie Review

It’s summer, 1776. Rebellion is in the air. Benjamin Martin, a hero of the French and Indian Wars, is a widower who has settled down to the life of a farmer in South Carolina. Something from his war experiences haunts him, and he has renounced violence.

When the Charleston Assembly votes to join the rebellion, a friend from Benjamin’s past, Col. Burwell, tries to recruit him to join the Continental Army. After all, Burwell says, everyone still remembers Benjamin’s exploits at Fort Wilderness during that war. But Benjamin wants nothing to do with the looming hostilities. “I have seven children,” he says. “My wife is dead. Who’s to care for them if I go to war?” But his eldest son, Gabriel, has no such qualms; he defies his father’s will and joins the army. You know it’s only a matter of time before Benjamin, too, is drawn into the fighting—in this case, courtesy of the cruel British cavalry leader, Col. Tavington.

Positive Elements: The colonists often show true selflessness, joining to fight against near impossible odds in order to secure a better future for their families. Snitches and traitors are clearly shown to be despicable characters. Soldiers risk their lives to save wounded comrades. One of the Martin children offers to have himself executed to save the others. Benjamin is a loving father and a man of prayer. The film displays respect for Christian faith and includes a religious wedding ceremony. In a moment of introspection, Benjamin humanely asks, “Why do men feel they can justify death?” When Col. Tavington executes wounded rivals, he is called to account by Cornwallis who states, “You serve me and the manner in which you serve me reflects upon me” (a great illustration of Christians’ need to reflect the character of Christ while performing service in His name). The sin of pride ultimately undoes Cornwallis. Benjamin and Gabriel share a loving father/son relationship and a dedicated professional one. Benjamin shows honor to a black slave by having him represent himself in the enlistment process. A bigot is rescued by the slave-turned-soldier he belittled, and the two develop a friendship based on mutual respect. When Gabriel spends the night at the home of his sweetheart, he is sewn into bed by the girl’s mother—a Revolutionary method of preserving modesty and chastity. After witnessing his father��s brutal hatcheting of a Redcoat, one of Gibson’s younger sons is appalled at Benjamin’s vicious lack of self-control. Benjamin carries the scars years after violent heroics that earned him unwarranted celebrity. Benjamin puts himself at risk when he visits Cornwallis to plea for the lives of innocent women and children.

Spiritual Content: There is much Christian imagery throughout the movie, and the Rev. Oliver joins the militia saying, “I’m a shepherd, and someone needs to fend off the wolves.” A church is burned down, and amid the smoke and rubble the camera focuses on the cross still standing high above the damage. Frequent quick prayers are said before battle.

Benjamin truly seems vexed by his past. “I have long feared that my sins will come to visit me and that the costs will be more than I can bear,” he says at the beginning of the movie, as he’s seen packing away his instruments of war. Later in the movie, he says, “Not a day goes by that I don’t ask God’s forgiveness for what I’ve done.” On a mystical note, two of the younger Martin children point to the North Star and comment that it is their dead mother. “She looks down and protects us forever,” one says.

Sexual Content: Ambiguous at best. Gabriel openly courts Anne Howard with her father’s permission. When Anne’s father frets about the attention the handsome young Gabriel is showing his daughter, her mother makes a remark about how he was worse in his youth, implying that they’d had premarital sex. To the movie’s credit, Anne and Gabriel are married in an explicitly Christian ceremony. The widower Benjamin relies on his sister-in-law, Charlotte, to hide his family, but it is implied that they have sex, as she is seen later in the movie carrying a newborn.

Violent Content: A lot of killing done in battle, with explicit scenes of soldiers being mowed down by musket fire and men being bayoneted. A few stand out, however. [ Warning: plot point revealed ] After ambushing a British patrol that has just killed his son, Benjamin runs down the last soldier, who is trying to flee, and kills him with a metal tomahawk, hacking at the body repeatedly in his fury for revenge. He also kills a soldier by flinging the tomahawk into his forehead. A soldier has his head blown off by a cannon ball, and another his leg. A fair amount of gore with wounded having limbs amputated. Several scenes of both British and Americans killing soldiers who are trying to surrender. Civilians are rounded up and locked in a church, which is burned down with them inside. A member of the militia, after returning home to find his wife and son murdered, puts a gun to his head and pulls the trigger.

Crude or Profane Language: Minor. Nearly a dozen uses of “h—” or “d–n.”

Drug and Alcohol Content: British officers drink wine. A tavern scene shows men downing flasks of beer. Colonists smoke pipes.

Other Negative Elements: While many of the Americans clearly are motivated by patriotism, it is unclear what drives Benjamin, but revenge seems to be a key element. Benjamin utters a line that, though intended to show what a high priority his children are, clearly doesn’t jibe with a Christian view of parenting: “I’m a parent. I haven’t the luxury of principles.” Also, it should be noted that our friends across the pond have expressed outrage over the historical inaccuracy of the film and their lopsided portrayal as 18th-Century butchers.

Summary: Think Braveheart meets George Washington, except the Mel Gibson character here seems genuinely conflicted and haunted by his past. He has an aptitude for fighting, and he is reluctant to join a war, but once the fighting affects his family, he turns into a killing machine. While many people know of his fame from a battle during the French and Indian War, they don’t know the specifics: We find out late in the film that his fame was won, not by an act of heroism, but one of particular savagery.

The movie is loosely based on real characters; Benjamin is modeled on Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox.” But it is ambivalent on the subject of justified killing. Benjamin is consoled at one point by a man who says, “You did what you had to, and there was no wrong in it.” Some of the British are gentlemen, others are cruel. Some Americans are gentlemen and patriots, some are cruel. If nothing else, this movie captures the evil of war and removes any sense of supposed glory from it (though the final battle features disturbing, bloody combat elevated by the victorious swell of a John Williams score). This movie definitely earns its R rating for frequently brutal violence. Indeed, war is never presented as the tidy affair sometimes shown in other movies.

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The patriot true story: what really happened in mel gibson's movie.

Roland Emmerich's 2000 film The Patriot is an entertaining Revolutionary War epic, but it's more historical fiction than fact. Here's the true story.

Roland Emmerich's 2000 historical war epic The Patriot , which stars Mel Gibson as an American revolutionary leader called Benjamin Martin, has become classic Independence Day viewing - but how much of what's shown in the movie happened in real life?

In The Patriot , Benjamin Martin is a veteran of the French and Indian War who is called upon to vote for South Carolina joining the American War of Independence . Martin is initially impartial, explaining that he believes in the cause but is not willing to fight in a war for it. Because he is not willing to fight himself, he is not willing to vote to send others to fight. However, his neutral stance comes crashing down when a group of Redcoats attack his home and their leader, Colonel William Tavington, murders one of his sons. Regretting his earlier inaction and determined to get revenge, Martin recruits a militia and leads them in a highly effective guerrilla campaign against the British forces in South Carolina.

Related: What The Pacific Leaves Out About The True Story

The Patriot has been widely criticized for its unfair villainizing of the British, its invention of a war atrocity that didn't happen, and its sugarcoating of slavery. But while it may be more historical fiction than historical fact, the movie is partly based on true events and people. And when it comes to depicting the battle strategies used by both sides in the War of Independence, The Patriot demonstrates some impressive historical accuracy. Here's a breakdown of what parts of the Mel Gibson movie really happened, and what parts definitely didn't happen.

Benjamin Martin Is Mainly Based on Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion

There was no Patriot militia leader called Benjamin Martin who fought in the Revolutionary War, and the details of Benjamin's life and family are fictionalized. However, in the DVD featurette "True Patriots," screenwriter Robert Rodat explains that Benjamin is based on several different real historical figures: Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion, Thomas Sumter, Nathanael Greene, Andrew Pickens and Daniel Morgan. Francis Marion appears to have been the primary influence, since many details of Benjamin's character - including his role in the French and Indian War, his use of guerrilla warfare tactics, his gathering and leadership of militiamen, and his use of ambushes to gather intelligence - are lifted straight from Marion's biography.

Creating a fictional character rather than using any one historical figure gives The Patriot an excuse to leave out details that would have been harder for modern audiences to tolerate in a supposed hero. For example, the African-American characters who work in Benjamin's home and fields are said to be freed slaves who are devastated when they're forcibly taken away to fight for the British. Francis Marion, however, was a slaveowner who had a reputation for raping his female slaves, and during the war he targeted and executed freed slaves who were suspected of working with the British. He was also known for his persecution and slaughter of Cherokee Indians, which in the movie is rewritten as a single wartime incident that Benjamin Martin considers his greatest shame and regret. An anonymous source from Sony Pictures told The Guardian that the movie was originally supposed to be a factual biography of Marion, but " They couldn't go ahead once historians had given them chapter and verse on the Swamp Fox, so they had to change his name ."

William Tavington Is Loosely Based On Banastre Tarleton

The Patriot 's main villain is the cartoonishly evil William Tavington, played by Jason Isaacs, who is based on the real British soldier and politician Sir Banastre Tarleton. The real Tarleton led British forces at the Battle of Cowpens (the focus of The Patriot 's third act), and was charged with the task of rooting out and capturing the "Swamp Fox" when Marion proved troublesome to British forces in South Carolina. Like Tavington in the movie, he was unsuccessful. Tarleton was given the nickname "the Butcher," but it wasn't because of a pattern of brutal treatment of civilians.

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The nickname stemmed from a single battle, the Battle of Waxhaws, during which Tarleton was shot down from his horse and trapped underneath it. While he was unable to give orders, his temporarily leaderless men continued to kill Continental soldiers, many of whom were surrendering or not resisting. The Continental Army used the "Waxhaws massacre" in a propaganda campaign against the British, with a focus on Tarleton as the villain of the story. The campaign was very successful, and "Tarleton's Quarter" caught on as a saying that meant taking no prisoners. However, Tarleton was not the child-murdering monster that William Tavington is portrayed as in The Patriot , and Tavington's most monstrous act definitely never happened.

The British Did Not Burn A Church Full Of Civilians

Easily the most controversial scene in The Patriot is when Tavington corners a group of townspeople - including women and children - who have gathered to pray in church, and orders his men to padlock the doors and burn the church down with them inside it. While there were civilian casualties and buildings burned in the Revolutionary War, there is no record of anything like this being committed by either side. The Patriot has been heavily criticized for this scene, both because it misleadingly villainizes the British army and because it cheapens the horror of a similar real-life atrocity.

A version of this church-burning was committed almost 200 years later by an SS Panzer Divison during World War II , when the villagers of Oradour-sur-Glane in Nazi-occupied France were rounded up and massacred. At one point people were herded into the local church and grenades were then thrown in after them, with machine gun fire used to cut down anyone trying to escape through the windows. The victims included 247 women, 205 children and three priests.

The Patriot Heavily Sugarcoats Slavery

The other main area where The Patriot 's historical inaccuracy is considered particularly egregious is its sugarcoating of how slaves and freed slaves were treated by the Continental Army in general, and Francis Marion specifically. The black characters in The Patriot are portrayed as freed men and women who earn a living by working Benjamin Martin's land, and who love his family and are treated like family themselves. As mentioned earlier, this was definitely not the reality for Francis Marion's slaves.

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Both the British and the American armies tried to motivate slaves to fight on their behalf by offering them their freedom and even some payment after a period of service, and many slaves fled to fight for the British against their former owners. In The Patriot , however, the Martin family's freed slaves being rounded up to fight for the British is treated as a sad moment, whereas Occam being donated to Benjamin Martin's militia by his owner and earning his freedom through service is framed as a triumphant storyline. Director Spike Lee was particularly vocal about his disgust at how The Patriot " dodged around, skirted about or completely ignored slavery ," calling it " pure, blatant American Hollywood propaganda. A complete whitewashing of history ."

The Patriot Is Most Historically Accurate In Its Battle Scenes

Ironically, the aspect of The Patriot that might seem the most ridiculous is actually where it shines the most in terms of historical accuracy. The film portrays two key battles of the Revolutionary War: the Battle of Camden (which Gabriel and Benjamin observe from a distance) and the Battle of Cowpens (the final battle of the movie). The sight of the American and British forces stiffly marching towards each other across a field and then standing still and fully exposed in regimented columns while firing their rifles may seem strange compared to more modern tactics of trench warfare and defensive fighting positions. However, at the time firearms took a long time to reload (at best, a soldier could fire around three shots per minute) and were not particularly accurate even when aimed perfectly (the scene of Benjamin and his two sons sniping Redcoats with pinpoint precision is very unrealistic).

This meant that the key to victory in open battle was holding formation and firing as quickly as possible, because in formation soldiers became greater than the sum of their parts. Forty men standing in formation and firing in the same general direction would land more shots than those same forty men scattered across the battlefield and trying to aim at specific targets. And while one line of soldiers dropped down to reload, the line standing behind them could take aim and fire the next volley of shots. Victory could also be won by forcing the opposing side to break their own formation, which in the Battle of Camden was achieved through a bayonet charge that the American forces were unprepared for, and which caused them to panic and scatter.

The American soldiers at the Battle of Cowpens were led by General Daniel Morgan, one of the men that Benjamin Martin is based on, and the scene in which militia members are asked to fire only two shots and then feign a retreat really did happen. The plan was designed to draw the British forces forward, believing they had the Americans on the run, only to lead them into a prepared volley of musket fire immediately followed by a bayonet charge. The actual deaths and injuries inflicted by this surprise attack were arguably less important than the emotional shock of it, which broke the already strained morale of the British soldiers and caused many of them to flee, surrender, or simply collapse to the ground. While The Patriot 's actual story may be largely fictionalized, the movie does a great job of showing the effectiveness of both line formations and guerrilla tactics during the Revolutionary War.

More: Why Independence Day 3 Hasn't Happened

The Patriot (2000)

Two things The Patriot isn’t are cynical or ironic. It’s corny, yes, and manipulative, not to mention clichéd, sentimental, and platitudinous. But at least it believes in its clichés and sentiments and platitudes. Its convictions may be half-baked, but it has the courage of them. While I watched it I was aware of how the film was manipulating me; yet even so, and despite some moral reservations, the manipulation had its effect.

Artistic/Entertainment Value

Moral/spiritual value, age appropriateness, mpaa rating, caveat spectator.

Unlike Gladiator , a more sophisticated but less involving film, The Patriot drew me in. With every war crime the villain committed, I wanted to see him brought to justice. When a young child burst into tears and begged her father not to go away, my eyes welled up right on schedule. ("It’s a father thing," I told my companion, a single guy who remained dry-eyed.) And when the protagonist ran into the thick of battle through faltering fellow soldiers, rallying them with tattered Old Glory held high, I felt a swelling of patriotic pride. Yes, I did.

When the film ended, though, my passions cooled while my misgivings remained. The protagonist of The Patriot, American militia leader Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson in his strongest performance since Braveheart ) is not a perfect man; and it’s the film’s credit that it doesn’t pretend he is. He commits brutal acts. He kills in vengeance. But he’s so sorely provoked, you see. All right, it’s all very well for a film to point out that men sometimes resort to brutality when sorely provoked. But what about a film that goes to great lengths to provoke a man simply in order to get to the brutality? And what about the ridiculously monstrous caricatures on the other side who are necessary to bring about the needed provocations (and then of course to suffer the desired brutality)?

It’s easy to dismiss the caricaturing of the British on the grounds that The Patriot isn’t a serious historical drama anyway, but a popcorn action movie of the sort that always features black-hearted moustache-twirling villains. And, indeed, like previous efforts from director Roland Emmerich and producer Dean Devlin (the schlockmeisters who brought us Stargate, Independence Day, and Godzilla ), The Patriot abounds with action-movie clichés, including the murder of the hero’s loved ones, the villain who won’t die, and of course (I trust this will not be perceived as spoiling anything) the climactic showdown between hero and villain.

On the other hand, in its bloodiness and gore (not to mention its length) it recalls such momentous films as Saving Private Ryan (which was also written by Patriot scribe Robert Rodat) and Braveheart (which of course also starred Gibson). Heads and limbs are blown off by cannonballs, bodies are skewered by bayonets and swords, and Gibson does terrible things with a hatchet. Perhaps the film doesn’t quite fall between two stools, but it certainly vacillates uncomfortably between them: Too grim and violent to bill itself as an earlier Independence Day , but too light-weight, cliché-ridden, and caricatured to be taken seriously as a realistic war film, The Patriot never quite manages to justify itself in either capacity, though it still manages to work often enough as one or the other.

I said above that The Patriot has the courage of its convictions. So it does. It opens on a rather thoughtful note; and proceeds to sound a number of other notes as well, some thoughtful, some sentimental, some simplistic, some silly. Here are some of the things The Patriot believes, expressed in propositional form:

Family is important.
War is so terrible, and makes men do such terrible things, that even if you have a legitimate grievance it is better to avoid war and to pursue instead other avenues of recourse; especially if you have young sons and daughters to protect.
Unless one of your sons is murdered.
Then you can go and do the terrible things. (Your other young sons can help.)
Family is very important.
Old-fashioned field warfare is foolish and vastly inferior to guerrilla hide-and-seek hit-and-run tactics.
Therefore, a ragtag militia of grungy, snaggle-toothed farmers will be able to hold their own against much larger numbers of polished, trained British regulars.
If the farmers are important characters, they will not be grungy or snaggle-toothed.
Family is very, very important.
Enemy officers are brutal and lawless.
Unless they are effete powdered aristocrats.
When you get right down to it, even the effete powdered aristocrats are really brutal and lawless.
Family is very, very, very important.
God bless America.

Despite the tongue-in-cheek tone of the above list, it will be seen at once that there really is something to some of these ideas. Guerrilla warfare really is superior to old-fashioned field warfare, and ragtag militias really did hold their own against superior British forces until French reinforcements arrived. War certainly is terrible, but also sometimes justified. Family, of course, is important, and, indeed, God bless America (and all our world).

Some of the lessons, though, fall kind of flat. Particularly juvenile are the film’s attempts to address race and gender. Of course all the women are spunky and independent, and all the blacks are noble and loyal. Although some of the blacks are slaves, the story is careful to point out that the blacks who work on Benjamin Martin’s land are free, not slaves. Later there is a slave who joins Martin’s militia in the hopes of winning his freedom, and Martin’s son Gabriel talks pointedly about building a new world in which All Men are Created Equal. Naturally the black man stays with the militia long after he has won his freedom, causing one of the white soldiers who harassed him earlier to solemnly pay tribute to the other man’s honor. In the end, after the war, the black man hangs around to begin construction of the new world by helping build Martin’s new home (no mention of his own new home, or whether Martin would help him build it).

But the film offsets these weaknesses with considerable strengths. Besides Gibson’s compelling performance as Benjamin Martin, Jason Isaacs as British Colonel Tavington (the brutal and lawless one) is suitably malevolent, Tom Wilkonson as General Cornwallis (the effete, powdered, aristocratic one) has dignity and presence, and Heath Ledger as Martin’s son Gabriel shows promise as a leading romantic man in his own right.

The film looks terrific too. The costumes and props are exquisite, and the scenery is beautiful, and beautifully photographed. The main characters are also beautiful, but whereas in many another film the beautiful people are also immortal, this is a film in which just about anyone can die. Yet, though there’s a great deal of violence, there’s almost no profanity, nor is there any effort to heat things up with sex or nudity.

A few scenes are especially striking, such as a riveting parley between Benjamin Martin and Cornwallis, which in its depiction of punctiliously observed rules of civilized conduct under wartime offers a welcome counterpoint to the savagery of the rest of the film. There are well-drawn characters and scenarios of surprising poignancy and feeling. Writing that, I wonder why I find the poignancy surprising: Is it simply because so few films make a genuine effort at unadorned sincerity?

Sincerity is a good thing. It may not be enough to make The Patriot a very good movie, but if you can stomach the violence and look beyond the caricatures, it may be enough to make it worth watching. There’s virtue here, not unmixed or totally clear-eyed, but earnest, brave, and heartfelt. It’s not a totally successful effort, but it’s an admirable one.

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Just a point I think you overlooked about Elizabeth: The Golden Age , namely the British origins of it. It helps (I think) to understand how Elizabeth I is seen by the large majority of the British public, she’s a mythologised figure tied up with the British identity, similar to George Washington is for American viewers. A greater black/white divide is down to her status rather than anti-Catholicism per se.

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The Patriot Ending, Explained

‘The Patriot’ is an epic adventure film directed by Roland Emmerich, and it stars Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger in pivotal roles. The film tells the story of Benjamin Martin, a veteran of the French and Indian War, who now lives an idyllic life as a plantation owner. He is a widower with seven children, and times are tough for his family. The American Revolutionary War rages on as the British colonizers aim to consolidate their hold over American soil.

Gabriel, Benjamin’s eldest son, enlists himself in the Continental Army to fight for the cause of independence, against his father’s wishes. Gabriel’s experience in the army inadvertently drags Benjamin Martin into the war, and he has to face the British troops to protect his family and soil. ‘The Patriot’ is a tale of heroic courage and revenge that forces a pacifist into a war. SPOILERS AHEAD.

The Patriot Plot Synopsis

Benjamin Martin, a veteran of the French and Indian War, turns away from warring ways and settles for a peaceful life as a plantation owner in South Carolina. He doesn’t want to wage war with Great Britain, but his eldest son joins the Continental Army against his wishes. The British inflict heavy damage on American troops and captures Charleston. Gabriel returns to his home in a wounded state and is tended to by his family. Unfortunately, the British troops capture Gabriel to hang him on the charges of being a spy.

Thomas, Benjamin’s second son, tries to free Gabriel and is mortally wounded in the ensuing fallout. The British troops, led by Colonel Tavington (Jason Isaacs), massacres the place and burns the Martins’ house. The death of his son forces Benjamin to exact his revenge on the British troops. He ambushes some of the troops and kills them. Gabriel re-joins the Continental Army, followed by his father. Benjamin is accorded the title of Colonel, and he is tasked with keeping Lord Cornwallis’ regiment at bay.

The French also support the American cause as they promise logistics and military support. Benjamin manages to break British supply lines and is able to trick Lord Cornwallis into releasing prisoners of war. Enraged, Lord Cornwallis tasks Colonel Tavington to end the conflict by any means. Tavington inflicts some horrific atrocities on the town, where he burns down a Church full of townspeople.

Gabriel’s lover is killed in the massacre. In the ensuing battle, Gabriel confronts Tavington but is fatally wounded, and Tavington manages to flee. The loss of his young sons, home, and the insult to his motherland forces Benjamin Martin to rally his troops in the decisive battle near Cowpens. Benjamin emerges victorious as Tavington is killed and Lord Cornwallis retreats.

The Patriot Ending: A Reluctant Hero

Benjamin Martin leads a heroic effort in defeating the British troops at Cowpens. After the Continental Army’s victory, Lord Cornwallis retreats and is forced to surrender at Virginia, as he is surrounded by American militia and the French Naval force. When Benjamin returns to his plantation in South Carolina, he sees that soldiers are rebuilding his home, which was destroyed in the war. Benjamin’s people are hopeful of a better world as their hero is back after an epic battle.

This scene is symbolic of the American society’s togetherness that rebuilds its way even after being completely obliterated. Benjamin’s heroic presence motivates the people around him as he ushers a world devoid of colonizers. Benjamin, after his experience in previous battles, denounces the ways of war. Gabriel’s involvement in the cause of independence pulled him back into the battlefield. Thomas’ death, especially the manner in which he is killed, jolts Benjamin’s conscience.

He is reluctant to join the war, but the ravages he witnesses around him compels Benjamin to pick up his old mantle. During the initial skirmishes, he is able to best Lord Cornwallis’ men through clever tactics but finds himself at horn’s bay when Tavington advances in all his brutality. Gabriel’s death at the hands of Tavington breaks Benjamin’s morale. His commitment wavers momentarily but is renewed again when he finds an American Flag repaired by Gabriel.

This melodramatic moment of the film showcases Benjamin’s love for his motherland and the extent to which he can go to protect his loved ones. Moreover, it is vengeance that pushes Benjamin after Colonel Tavington. Benjamin’s reluctance to get embroiled in the war is nullified as his rage gets the better of him. This aspect of Benjamin’s character is evident when he hands over muskets to his young children when they are about to ambush the party escorting Gabriel. Nevertheless, despite having lost his loved ones, he emerges victorious through his sheer will. The house-building scenes surmise that Benjamin is revered for his dedication despite being a reluctant hero.

Why Does Benjamin Turn Into a Pacifist?

Benjamin’s experience in the French and Indian War adversely affects his psyche. He hesitates to divulge the details of the happenings at Fort Wilderness. Gabriel is curious about his father’s involvement and coaxes out the truth from him. As it turns out, Benjamin was with the British army when they attacked French troops in Fort Wilderness. The French were mutilated, and some of their body parts were sent to the Cherokees to scare them off and force their retreat. Benjamin tells Gabriel that the guilt is still heavy on his conscience, and hence, he turns towards non-violence.

As fate would have it, Benjamin is pulled right back into violent situations. Some might read this as karmic justice, an absolution of Benjamin’s guilt through an irrevocable loss. On the other hand, this particular instance holds a mirror to the grim realities of war that has shaped American history. Nevertheless, Benjamin’s approach can also be attributed to his fatherhood and the loss of his wife. He has to raise his children and doesn’t want the shadow of war looming in their formative years. Benjamin’s revolutionary ardor is still intact as he valiantly defends his people from the colonizers’ atrocities.

The Patriot: more flag-waving rot with Mel Gibson

Director: Roland Emmerich Entertainment grade: C History grade: Fail

In 1776, Britain's American colonies rose up to fight for independence. The war drew in several European powers, and ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1783.

South Carolina militia leader Benjamin Martin ( Mel Gibson ) is a humble single father whose hobbies include freeing slaves, being lovely to his seven angelic children and whittling rocking chairs. Martin is based on a sanitised composite of several historical militiamen, most obviously the "Swamp Fox", Francis Marion. In contrast to the virtuous Martin, the British Colonel Tavington (Jason Isaacs), based on the real Banastre Tarleton, is a sneering, sadistic monster. Tarleton was accused of various evils – including firing on surrendering troops at Waxhaw Creek – but the deeds attributed to Tavington here are wholly made up. Furthermore, for all Martin keeps banging on about Tavington breaking "the rules of war", there weren't any in the 1780s. There was an expectation that officers and soldiers would respect certain customs, but nothing was formalised until the first Geneva convention in 1864.

International relations

Mel Gibson and Jason Isaacs in The Patriot (2000)

In one scene, Tavington herds noncombatant men, women and children into a church, locks the doors, and sets it on fire. At the time of the film's release, some historians noted the similarity between this and the notorious Nazi massacre of French villagers in Oradour-sur-Glane in 1944. It is, however, nothing like anything that happened in the American Revolution. "This will be forgotten," scoffs Tavington. It's a disgraceful attempt to sow the seed of a completely unfounded conspiracy theory, implying that the fact nobody has ever heard of the British army burning a church full of innocents in South Carolina doesn't mean it didn't happen. Well, it didn't. As the American historian Richard F Snow commented: "Of course it never happened – if it had do you think Americans would have forgotten it? It could have kept us out of World War I."

According to The Patriot, slavery was practically nonexistent in South Carolina and really not that bad, anyway. The few slaves shown are a cheerful lot, all of whom have been given their freedom to retire to a beachside cabaña. There's even a token slave in Martin's militia. "We will have a chance to make a new world," Martin's son Gabriel (Heath Ledger) tells him earnestly, "where all men are equal in the sight of God." "Equal," intones the slave. "That sounds good." Don't get your hopes up, old chap. It took the civil war to end slavery in the US, almost a century after The Patriot is set. Even then, South Carolina was on the wrong side, being so attached to slaveholding that it was the first state to secede from the Union after Abraham Lincoln's election.

In one of the film's weirdest scenes, Gabriel Martin is allowed to spend the night with his girlfriend before marriage, as long as he lets her mum sew him into a "bundling bag" – a neck-to-toe chastity straitjacket. These things did exist, though it was the girl who would have been sewn into one rather than the boy. Unlike in the film, her parents would usually sleep in the same room as the courting youngsters, though even this didn't always kill the mood. Contemporaries alleged that premarital pregnancies were par for the course in communities that allowed bundling.

The film's final setpiece looks vaguely like the Battle of Cowpens in 1781, with elements of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Martin grabs the Stars and Stripes and leads the charge towards General Cornwallis's troops. The Brits are taken by surprise, and defeated. It would have taken the real Cornwallis by surprise, too, for he was never defeated in South Carolina, and he wasn't even at the Battle of Cowpens. He won Guilford Courthouse. Tarleton lost Cowpens, though, unlike Tavington in the film, he survived and lived to a ripe old age. The real general whose victory against Cornwallis won the war, following the siege of Yorktown, was some bloke called George Washington. Here, all he gets is a passing mention.

Truth is the first casualty of Mel Gibson.

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A Review of The Patriot: A Mel Gibson Racist Whitewash That Ignored Slavery

The Patriot (2000) By Mel Gibson

The Patriot is a wartime drama written by Robert Rodat, who wrote the screenplay for award-winning Saving Private Ryan.

Set against the backdrop of the American War of Independence, the film is about Benjamin Martin, a widowed Captain with seven children whose peaceful family life is disturbed by events that lead to the American Revolution.

Director Spike Lee slammed The Patriot and Mel Gibson for releasing a racist movie, for ignoring slavery with a “sanitized version of history which turns a discreet blind eye to slavery.”

Having previously fought in the French and Indian War, widower Benjamin Martin enjoys a peaceful life on a plantation with his seven children. When South Carolina joins the uprising against the British he tries to resist, desiring to continue an untroubled existence. But his eldest son, Gabriel, eagerly signs up against his wishes.

Gabriel, played by Heath Ledger, joins the Continental army against the British as a dispatch rider, but fast-forward two years we see him return home with war wounds after the British gain control of Charleston.

While Benjamin and his family are nursing battle-wounded soldiers from both the British and American side, the British Dragoons ambush the home and kidnap Gabriel with the intention of hanging him for spy activities.

During the struggle, Colonel William Tavington, played by Jason Isaacs, shoots and kills Gabriel’s brother Thomas in a rescue attempt before ordering Martin’s home be burned.

Martin and two of his other sons (who he arms with muskets) rescue Gabriel from the British unit, brutally killing many British soldiers with his tomahawk.

Driven by revenge, Martin is forced to desert his pacifist principles and resolves to join his son and returns to the Continental army.

Having gained a ruthless reputation during the French-Indian War, Benjamin is made Colonel and leads the guerilla army and son into battle against the tyranny of the British.

Benjamin is assigned the task of constraining Lord Cornwallis’ troops in the South. His guerilla troops are successful in disrupting the British lines of supply, and seize Cornwallis’s personal property and his two Great Danes.

Gabriel catches wind of the rumors about his father’s involvement during the French-Indian war. When pressed, Benjamin eventually reveals the remorse he experiences about the French soldiers he butchered for committing a barbaric crime against the British, hence his desire for a quiet life on the plantation.

Cornwallis places the blame firmly on Tavington brutality, but grudgingly allows the tyrant to halt Benjamin’s advancements.

Tavington learns the identity of militia members, attacking their families and burning their homes. Benjamin’s family escape and seek refuge in a settlement of ex-slaves. It is here that Gabriel marries his love Anne.

Anne becomes one of the townspeople who Tavington orders inside a church to be interrogated on the whereabouts of the militia. Believing they would be freed for the information, all of them (including Anne) perish when Tavington sets the church alight.

When they learn of the atrocity, Gabriel and other soldiers launch an attack on Tavington’s camp. Gabriel sustains a fatal injury in a standoff with Tavington and dies in Benjamin’s arms.

Martin loses his desire to battle further until he his reminded of his deceased son’s sense of duty on rediscovering an American flag he repaired.

He and his militia , along with Continental troops storm Cornwallis at the Battle of Cowpens ending in a fierce head-to-head between Martin and Cornwallis.

Cornwallis inflicts a serious wound to Martin who manages to drive a stake through his opponent’s heart and kills him. Cornwallis retreats after declaring the Continental victory.

Cornwallis finally surrenders to the Continental army and Benjamin returns home with his late wife’s sister, who is pregnant with his child. Members of his militia help to rebuild his family home.

Spike Lee And Other Criticism of Mel Gibson’s Patriot Film

Spike Lee , the “pre-eminent chronicler of black life in America” was the most vocal critic of Mel Gibson and The Patriot. In his letter, Lee wrote that he traveled to see the film with his wife on its opening weekend. “We both came out of the theatre fuming,” he claims. “For three hours The Patriot dodged around, skirted about or completely ignored slavery. How convenient… to have Mel Gibson’s character not be a slaveholder… The Patriot is pure, blatant American Hollywood propaganda. A complete whitewashing of history.”

There were also suggestions that Mel Gibson’s character was based on a slave-owning serial rapist that killed Indians for fun.

The protagonist role was originally offered to Harrison Ford, who declined because he found it “too violent” and that it simplified the American Revolution to one man’s grudge.

The movie was filmed in South Carolina and the unforms were designed with the assistance of the Smithsonian. Lots of attention was paid to detail with the exception of the truth. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Sound, Best Cinematography, and Best Original Score. If the movie were released today, I doubt it would have received any awards.

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I’m sorry, but Spike Lee is nothing but a “race baiter”. His take on “The Patriot” is another fraud by the radical communist black faction. “The Patriot” is about a family caught up in the brutality of the Revolutionary War. It wasn’t about showing slavery. There was a Civil War 90 years later for that. Spike Lee should shut his own racist mouth, and take a jaundiced view of what the Democrats have done to blacks throughout American history from Southern Democrats creating the slave society in the South, when the North wanted to abolish slavery and the Democrats opposed it and started the Civil War in 1861. When the Democrats lost the Civil War, they started the KKK. Republican General and then President U.S. Grant had to send the Northern Army to squash the KKK. When the Republicans wanted to re-build the South under the Reconstruction Act, from 1865-1877, the Democrats opposed it until they got segregationist wording into the law, and reinstated slavery in the South. Democrat President Woodrow Wilson hated blacks and supported the KKK. President Franklin D. Roosevelt made programs under the “New Deal” during the Great Depression that helped white workers but not blacks. The Democrats opposed the 1964-65 Civil Rights Acts. When Republicans put the pressure on, they passed the laws. President Lyndon B. Johnson hated blacks and even said when he passed welfare laws under “The Great Society”, by giving them a little bit, “I’ll have them niggers voting Democratic for 200 years.” And, so it goes. Democrats have kept blacks ‘down on the plantation’ by giving them free or cheap housing in projects/ghettos/slums, welfare, food stamps, free or cheap health care under Medicaid and so forth.

Uh this movie was about the War for Independence not the Civil War so you and spike lee can stop crying. This movie rules and if you disagree you are probably a yellow toothed limey.

Lee is a liberal, and in today’s world, that means that he sees the world through a prism that emphasizes race to a degree that actually serves to minimalize true racism. Once everything is perceived as racism, nothing is. The Patriot doesn’t deny slavery existed…it merely assumes that the audience is aware of the phenomenon, and chooses not to dwell upon it. This makes perfect sense…a movie about the Revolution doesn’t need to focus on slavery. They treat the black slaves the same way they treat other peripheral groups….they are noted, but not emphasized. Along with the token black, there was a token Frenchman, a token Loyalist, a token clergyman, etc. In fact, you could make a good case that the Loyalists were depicted with less accuracy than any other group. The film centers its’ brutality on Tavington, the British cavalry officer, while it was often the Loyalists and Indians who perpetrated the most barbaric offenses upon the rebels. But the fact that Spike Lee hates the film is irrelevant. The symbols that permeate the narrative…guns, crosses, and flags…are as fully beloved by quality traditionalists as they are loathed by intellectual pygmies like Lee. Face it, this was never going to be his kind of movie. (Next he’ll be claiming to hate Rocky 4!)

The movie actually had some technical and continuity errors as well as cinematography gaffes here and there (a camera visible in a couple scenes, etc…) but historically it was actually quite accurate. And it was a moving and visually spectacular film which accurately conveyed many of the key ideas of the revolution and recreated the realistic feeling of life in the early colonies. Martin was actually NOT a slave holder, as the overwhelming majority of American colonists were not slave holders either. The movie was not about slavery and neither was the founding of America or the American Revolution about slavery. Slavery was just one minor aspect of one limited region of a group of small upstart colonies that were plagued at the time with a great many issues—most of which were much more pressing and pervasive than slavery was at the time. Slavery is overstated and overrated as an issue in today’s “woke” and historically illiterate American society. Also, slavery was basically the way of the world at that time —and the young, upstart American Colonies and Great Britain were the first two nations to eradicate the terrible practice of slavery. In fact, the Declaration of Independence and the subsequent Constitution were written to explicitly lay out the road map to eliminate slavery. The constitution was a compromise which was grudgingly signed by the founders as a temporary coming together with a clear understanding that slavery was abhorrent and would be eventually eradicated. The idea was to stick together and form a government and a coherent national First, and then work out the other issues and problems, including slavery. Spike Lee is apparently ignorant of this history or he chooses to ignore it to make a false and misleading political point. Either way, Lee needs to grow up, do some homework and learn American history. His deliberate black victimhood and victimology is irritating and harmful, and it generates racial animosity where none need exist today. The movie deserved the awards it won—and if it is true that it would not receive those awards in today’s “woke” America, then this is grossly ignorant and historically illiterate nation now.

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THE PATRIOT

"soul searching warfare".

What You Need To Know:

(CCC, LL, VVV, A, M) Christian worldview with strong moral overtones dealing with the problem of sin, redemption, freedom, family, principles, pride, & a just cause; 13 obscenities (mostly d*mn) & 1 "Oh my God" in a spiritual context; extreme violence in battlefield situations, including people’s body parts being blown off, a child being shot, several scenes of people dying, & townspeople being burned in a church by British army; no sex, but 2 lingering kisses; no nudity; alcohol use; and, plunder & the impact of the brutality of war on civilians.

More Detail:

THE PATRIOT is a terrific movie, but not the movie that audiences will expect. It is not another BRAVEHEART, about a man fighting for freedom with an extra dose of Christianity; nor, is it another GLADIATOR, with pumped up violence serving as a backdrop for a dollop of political dissertation. Those who want a dissertation on the Revolutionary War will find that the cause of and the reasons for the Revolutionary War are understated. Connect the dots in the movie and it becomes clear that for the filmmakers the Revolutionary War was about family, freedom and throwing off oppression.

THE PATRIOT, however, is not preoccupied with the great issues of that important turning point in history, but rather about one man, Benjamin Mark, played by an incredibly introspective Mel Gibson, a man who is wrestling with his sin and the brutality of the lust for vengeance which made him a war hero in the French and Indian War. Thus, the first line in the movie says that “my sins return to visit me, and the cost is more than I can bear.” Much of the movie involves Ben’s prayers for deliverance from the passions that make him a great soldier. He wants to renounce war and take care of his seven children, given to him by his beloved wife who died just before the start of the conflict, but Providence forces him to examine himself. In this soul-searching state of mind, he tells the assembled colonials in Charleston in 1776 that family is more important than the principles of the revolution.

Regrettably, however, the war seeks him out. His older son, Gabriel, joins the Constitutional army against his better judgment. Gabriel comes home wounded, only to be captured the next day by the advancing British. The cruel British Colonel Tavington, played impeccably by Jason Isaacs, shoots Ben’s 15-year-old son, Thomas, as Gabriel is led away captive.

Thus, Ben’s fury is unleashed, and taking his two youngest boys, he goes into the woods to fight a guerilla war, slaughtering the British and rescuing Gabriel. His vengeance is so great that his youngest son fears him when he hacks up a British officer with an Indian hatchet.

When he joins up, Ben is ordered by the Constitutional army commander, his friend Colonel Harry Burwell, played well by Chris Cooper, to raise up a militia. In a fine piece of historical authenticity, a wide range of common folk are called together, including the pastor of a local church, who recognizes God’s call in this critical hour. Ben, in turn, melts down Thomas’ lead soldiers to form the bullets that he uses to kill the British.

Colonel Tavington believes that Ben is a ghost because of his ability to strike anywhere at any time with his band of men that know the country better than the back of their hands. When 18 are captured, the pastor prays in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost from deliverance from the British. At that moment, Ben rides in alone, under a white flag. Then the black militiamen clearly identify Ben, Tavington’s dreaded ghost, with the deliverance of the Holy Ghost. Ben successfully frees the 18 through a ruse that enrages Cornwallis, and causes Cornwallis to suspend the rules of war, allowing Tavington to take vengeance on the militiamen’s families. Tavington, in turn, finds the townspeople, including Gabriel’s new wife, in church. He bars the doors and burns them all in a horrendous conflagration. Rather than breaking the spirit of the militia, this act hardens their resolve, so that they surprise Cornwallis with a steadfastness that he didn’t expect from mere farmers.

Ben continues to wrestle with his sinful desire for vengeance and the worthiness of the Revolutionary cause. Eventually, he sees that he needs to stay the course, and he rejects vengeance to take up the flag.

Anyone who has a family will understand the spiritual conflict inside Benjamin Martin, but just as Benjamin‘s son Gabriel doesn’t understand Ben’s concern for his family, young moviegoers looking for action-adventure and war may be perplexed by Benjamin’s soul searching. Older moviegoers, on the other hand, will appreciate the questions being raised, but may be concerned by the violent portrayal of the bloody battle scenes.

Therefore, this spiritual movie set during a time of war may be difficult for audiences to handle. Some will want more of the political side of the Revolution to be revealed. Others will want straight war.

Instead, at the heart of this movie is faith. Though off-screen, God is one of the most prominent characters, and prayer runs throughout the film. The Cross of Jesus Christ is lifted up. And, ultimately, what the film says is that the revolution did not create a New World, it is only the spiritual revolution that comes from a living faith in a risen God that can transform a human being.

Anyone who has been around the world and seen many political systems at work would realizes that this is true. It doesn’t matter whether you live in a plantation, a Georgian colonial, or a Cape Cod, what matters is your relationship to your Creator and His work in you to create a revolution of the heart.

This extremely fine point amidst the cacophony of war may be lost on audiences. However, all that are involved in THE PATRIOT should be commended for making this point.

Written by Robert Rodat, who received a 1998 Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay for SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, THE PATRIOT is very different from Spielberg’s powerful war movie. Whereas Spielberg wanted to show how impersonal war was in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, and many critics criticized the lack of character development, THE PATRIOT is extremely personal and focused on character. The characters are so clearly crafted that we feel their pain. One can only hope that this soul searching and pain will lead at least a few to search for the God to whom Ben prays so often in this story.

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30 facts about the movie the patriot.

Written by Cristina Hovis

Modified & Updated: 04 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

The Patriot, a historical war film released in 2000, has left an indelible mark on audiences with its compelling narrative and captivating performances. Set against the backdrop of the American Revolutionary War, the movie follows Benjamin Martin, a farmer drawn into the conflict as he seeks to protect his family and fight for the future of his nation. As viewers are transported back in time to witness the struggles and triumphs of the characters, they are also exposed to key events and themes that shaped America's fight for independence.

In this article, we delve into 30 fascinating facts about The Patriot, shedding light on its production, historical accuracy, and impact on popular culture. From behind-the-scenes anecdotes to historical insights, these facts offer a deeper understanding of the movie and its enduring relevance. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a fan of the film, or simply curious about the creative process behind cinematic masterpieces, these intriguing details are sure to enrich your appreciation of The Patriot.

Key Takeaways:

“The Patriot” is a 2000 historical war film set during the American Revolutionary War, starring Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger. It sparked interest in American history and showcased themes of heroism and sacrifice.
The movie faced controversies for historical accuracy but left a lasting impact on popular culture, tourism, and historical storytelling. It honored the resilience and sacrifices of those who fought for freedom during the Revolutionary War.

The Patriot was released in 2000.

Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger starred in this historical war film set during the American Revolutionary War.

The film was directed by Roland Emmerich.

The movie was helmed by Roland Emmerich, known for his work in the action and disaster film genres.

It was set in South Carolina.

The story takes place in South Carolina during the American Revolutionary War.

The Patriot was inspired by the life of Francis Marion.

The character of Benjamin Martin, played by Mel Gibson, was loosely based on the historical figure Francis Marion, a military officer known as the "Swamp Fox."

The Patriot was a commercial success.

The film received positive reviews and was a box office hit, earning over $215 million worldwide.

It received three Academy Award nominations.

The movie was nominated for Best Cinematography, Best Sound, and Best Sound Editing at the 73rd Academy Awards.

The Patriot showcases the brutality of war.

The film vividly portrays the harsh realities of war, depicting intense battle scenes and the impact of conflict on civilians.

The movie's soundtrack was composed by John Williams.

Renowned composer John Williams created the powerful and emotive musical score for The Patriot .

The film features themes of patriotism and sacrifice.

The story delves into themes of patriotism, sacrifice, and the resilience of the human spirit during times of adversity.

The Patriot sparked historical interest.

Following the film's release, there was a surge in public interest in the American Revolutionary War and the historical figures involved.

The movie faced historical accuracy controversies.

While praised for its storytelling, The Patriot also faced criticism for historical inaccuracies and the portrayal of certain events.

The Patriot prompted discussions on war ethics.

The film's portrayal of war and its ethical implications sparked discussions among viewers and critics.

The Patriot's cast underwent military training.

To prepare for their roles, the cast members underwent rigorous military training to authentically portray soldiers of the Revolutionary War era.

The movie's battle scenes were meticulously choreographed.

The intense battle sequences in The Patriot were meticulously choreographed to capture the chaos and ferocity of 18th-century warfare.

The Patriot's filming locations included South Carolina and Georgia.

The production team utilized authentic locations in South Carolina and Georgia to capture the historical essence of the American Revolutionary War.

The film's costumes and props were historically accurate.

Attention to detail was paramount, and the costumes and props in The Patriot were meticulously crafted to accurately reflect the time period.

The Patriot's emotional depth resonated with audiences.

The film's emotional depth and portrayal of human resilience resonated with audiences, garnering widespread acclaim.

The Patriot's impact on tourism.

The popularity of The Patriot led to increased tourism in South Carolina, as viewers sought to explore the historical sites depicted in the film.

The Patriot's legacy in popular culture.

The film has left a lasting impact on popular culture, influencing subsequent depictions of the American Revolutionary War in media.

The Patriot's enduring relevance.

The themes of freedom, justice, and the struggle for independence depicted in The Patriot continue to resonate with audiences worldwide.

The Patriot's critical reception.

The film received a mix of positive and critical reviews, with praise for its performances and visual spectacle alongside scrutiny of its historical liberties.

The Patriot's exploration of familial bonds.

Central to the narrative is the exploration of familial bonds and the sacrifices made in the pursuit of freedom and justice.

The Patriot's directorial vision.

Roland Emmerich's directorial vision brought a blend of action, drama, and historical storytelling to The Patriot, captivating audiences.

The Patriot's resonance with American history.

The film's narrative resonates deeply with American history, honoring the struggles and triumphs of the nation's early years.

The Patriot's representation of heroism.

The characters in The Patriot exemplify various forms of heroism, from acts of valor on the battlefield to quiet, steadfast determination.

The Patriot's enduring themes.

The themes of courage, resilience, and the fight for liberty in The Patriot continue to inspire and captivate audiences.

The Patriot's portrayal of the human spirit.

The film's portrayal of the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity strikes a chord with viewers, transcending time and place.

The Patriot's impact on historical storytelling.

The Patriot's impact extends to historical storytelling in cinema, influencing subsequent works that explore pivotal moments in history.

The Patriot's tribute to real-life heroes.

The film serves as a tribute to the real-life heroes of the American Revolutionary War, honoring their sacrifices and contributions to the nation's founding.

The Patriot's enduring message.

The enduring message of resilience, sacrifice, and the pursuit of freedom in The Patriot continues to resonate, leaving a lasting impression on audiences.

The Patriot, released in 2000, is a historical war film set during the American Revolutionary War. Directed by Roland Emmerich, the movie stars Mel Gibson and Heath Ledger , portraying the struggles and sacrifices of individuals during a pivotal period in American history. The story unfolds in South Carolina and draws inspiration from the life of Francis Marion, known as the "Swamp Fox." The film garnered commercial success and prompted a surge in public interest in the American Revolutionary War and its historical figures. While praised for its emotional depth and powerful storytelling, The Patriot also faced controversies regarding historical accuracy and ethical implications of war. The movie's impact on popular culture and its enduring relevance in portraying themes of heroism, familial bonds, and the human spirit solidify its place in cinematic history. The Patriot serves as a tribute to the resilience and sacrifices of those who fought for freedom and justice during the American Revolutionary War, leaving an indelible mark on audiences and historical storytelling.

In conclusion, "The Patriot" is a compelling historical drama that intertwines fiction with real events from the American Revolutionary War. Its portrayal of the sacrifices made by the colonists and the emotional toll of war on individuals resonates with audiences. The movie's blend of action, drama, and historical significance has solidified its place as a beloved classic. With its memorable characters, breathtaking cinematography, and a gripping storyline, "The Patriot" continues to captivate viewers and serve as a poignant reminder of the enduring spirit of freedom.

What inspired the creation of "The Patriot"? "The Patriot" was inspired by the story of Francis Marion, a Revolutionary War hero known as the "Swamp Fox." While the movie takes creative liberties, it draws from Marion's guerilla warfare tactics and his role in the Southern theater of the war.

Is "The Patriot" historically accurate? While "The Patriot" incorporates real events from the American Revolutionary War, it also takes artistic liberties for dramatic effect. Viewers should approach the movie as historical fiction rather than a documentary.

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Our commitment to delivering trustworthy and engaging content is at the heart of what we do. Each fact on our site is contributed by real users like you, bringing a wealth of diverse insights and information. To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, our dedicated editors meticulously review each submission. This process guarantees that the facts we share are not only fascinating but also credible. Trust in our commitment to quality and authenticity as you explore and learn with us.

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Cast & crew

The Relentless Patriot

For 30 years Scott LoBaido has been a voice, fighting with you and for you on so many issues, promoting and celebrating Old Glory, those who serve, and our great American way, using art, hea... Read all For 30 years Scott LoBaido has been a voice, fighting with you and for you on so many issues, promoting and celebrating Old Glory, those who serve, and our great American way, using art, heart, and passion. Now it is time to tell his story, the good, the bad and the ugly that got... Read all For 30 years Scott LoBaido has been a voice, fighting with you and for you on so many issues, promoting and celebrating Old Glory, those who serve, and our great American way, using art, heart, and passion. Now it is time to tell his story, the good, the bad and the ugly that got him to where he is today, advocating as a giant voice for you, the American People, throu... Read all

Christopher Martini
Jacques Chirac
Bill Clinton
Andrew Cuomo

The Relentless Patriot | Official Trailer

(archive footage)

All cast & crew
Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
June 14, 2024 (United States)
United States
Production Company
Staten Island, New York, USA (Interviews and B-roll)
Global Ascension Studios
Torch Entertainment,
Triple Martini Productions
See more company credits at IMDbPro
$500,000 (estimated)

Technical specs

Dolby Digital

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Benjamin Martin Is Mainly Based on Francis "Swamp Fox" Marion

William Tavington Is Loosely Based On Banastre Tarleton

The British Did Not Burn A Church Full Of Civilians