You
might think that I'm too critical about films, but I can only tell you what I honestly
think about the film I am watching. So here goes. The
Patriot is a very bad piece of film-making. At times
it is so atrocious that it is insulting.
The plot
twists are incredibly predictable, and so is the
dialogue. Even John Williams' music score is
unmemorable, and uses many of the same melody ideas as
his previous scores.
The film is saved by a few impressively choreographed,
but overly violent battle scenes, and by Gibson's competent acting (last heard in Chicken Run) and the
sheer range of his facial expressions. But he can
only be as good as the part written for him, and quite
frankly at times I felt sorry for him that he, and
indeed the whole cast, had to star in this overlong,
boring, and downright stupid film.
And it wasn't only me - during the film
people in the cinema were laughing at the film, and when we came out
at the end, I didn't overhear anyone who had liked it.
The Patriot is too terrible for words; perhaps
Hollywood should this year abolish the Oscars, and
instead rate the films on their faults rather than
their merits.
I will leave you with this image (don't
worry - it doesn't give any of the plot away): Mel
Gibson successfully stopping his army's retreat by
running in slow motion through the battle screaming, "
N o , N o , N O , N o !!!"
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