Thank God it's not a cross between Braveheart and Independence Day, since from the scifi action team of Roland Emmerich and Dan Devlin, a period picture starring Mel Gibson told in an epic tableau might qualify. The Patriot boasts a solid script from Robert Rodat on which to hang the spectacular visuals. Special effects are used to enhance the production, but it's mostly to make the battle scenes large enough in scope to enfold the viewers in the rage of war.
    While the questions of morality and philosophy may be laid out in simplistic terms, the storyline of a family man swept in the storm of war is a time honored historical fiction device. The Martin family of South Carolina is still suffering from the loss their mother, but father Benjamin tries all the harder. A man respected by his fellow citizens, Martin is asked to choose between family and war, and he chooses family, But sometimes our choices are made for us, and it does not take long for Benjamin to be firing a musket and wielding a knife alongside other battling Colonials.

Waiting in ambush. ©Columbia

     Perhaps the emotional aspects of the film are less than wholly satisfying, but director Roland Emmerich fills the big canvas admirably. The family scenes are contrived and the romantic elements seem added by the numbers to satisfy a wider audience.
    The battle scenes are the heart of The Patriot and small and large, they are numerous. They are played out with visual power and rousing acting vigor. There's a huge amount of historical detail to fill The Patriot canvas , and while some of it may be questionable, you can't expect an entertaining film to be a slave to history. Actually, the absence of a significant Southern slave presence is somewhat jarring and I wonder if there was ever a George Washington proclamation decreeing slaves who fought for one year in the colonial army free men. The production design paints a convincing picture and Caleb Deschanel's cinematography is simply brilliant. John Williams break no new ground with an effectively lush score.    
      Mel Gibson is at his best when he keeps the humor to a minimum. In The Patriot, he's a good action hero, a solid father and the best-damned tomahawk thrower since Chingachgook. I can understand the taste of death his Benjamin Martin must be tasting caught up in yet another war. Gibson is comfortable showing his fragile side, but lets it all hang out when it comes to revenge. Maybe Heath Ledger playing the pivotal role of Gibson's oldest son is a trifle too clean cut for my taste. He could be a Barbie Patriot doll for all the depth of his emoting. But he makes a sensible combination with pretty Lisa Brenner. Overall, the cast is solid, if a bit too composed and balanced. Chris Cooper adds a fairly bland portrayal of American Colonel Harry Burwell and Tom Wilkinson provides pure pleasure as Cornwallis. Jason Isaacs is a might too evil for my taste as Tavington and Tcheky Karyo a might too French as Jean Villeneuve.
     The Patriot is a smashing DVD. Detail is wonderfully clean with no enhancement marring the image in almost every circumstance. The most difficult material comes across in flying colors. Battle scenes designed with a multitude of detail and visual textures pose a major challenge to DVD transfer strategists. The Patriot wins this battle hands down. Smoke mixes with battle worn uniforms filling the frame with an impossible range of color that is still accurately depicted.  Along with the video, the sound is made of pure reference stuff. The Dolby Digital 5:1 sound mix on The Patriot is brilliant. It could easily have been overdone, but it is controlled for maximum effect. Tight bass canon explosions are coupled with whizzing bullets and John Williams horns.
     This is a fully packed special edition. The team of director Emmerich and producer Devlin provide audio commentary. There are deleted scenes, three thematic featurettes, conceptual art comparisons, and trailers.

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