Gibson Has Musket And Mission In 'Patriot'

One of the things that is so appealing about Mel Gibson is his bad-boy charm and impish sense of humor. In "The Patriot," Gibson has traded in his wisecracks for a musket and a mission.

I must admit that going into this movie I expected a shallow remake of "Braveheart." What I got was film with a lot of heart, and a soul to match.

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The "Patriot" isn't just a movie, it's based on a important part of American history. Book Review: Patriotic Book Explores ? Quiz: One If By Land, Two If By Sea Movie Review: Epic 'Patriot' Fuels Fire ? Movie Review: Gibson Has Musket And Mission ? VideoBlast: See Video Review

Gibson plays Benjamin Martin, a man who is known far and wide as the hero of a battle at Fort Wilderness. But a lot has happened since that triumph. He has become father to seven children and his wife has died. He has no interest in joining the Revolutionary War that is creeping closer and closer to his South Carolina home.

But when the war becomes personal, there is no stopping him from forming a rag-tag militia to do battle with the redcoats.

John Williams provides the soaring score, which is not just background noise, but is an integral part of establishing the emotion and the motion of the story.

Frame by frame, the film looks like a series of oil paintings -- realistic, yet somehow impressionistic as well.

For the war movie enthusiast there is plenty of blood and guts to go around with massive battles and graphic violence reminiscent of the opening scene of "Saving Private Ryan." Yet in the middle of the massive carnage you can still focus on the private battle between a grieving father and the sadistic redcoat who is bent on revenge.

Director Roland Emmerich has proved that his success with the big and splashy "Independence Day" was not a fluke. When he puts his mind to it, he can produce an epic with substance and tenderness.

It's not a perfect movie. (What is?) At 2 hours and 40 minutes it tends to drag and would benefit from some judicious editing.

Also, Gibson is so concerned with taking this role seriously that he seems pretty stiff until he gets his juices flowing in the action scenes. But overall the acting is first rate. Especially strong is a Jason Isaacs as an officer in the British army who will stop at nothing to win.

"The Patriot" marches to a different drummer, but it is definitely a trek worth taking.

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