The Patriot [Blu-ray]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

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

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: ABC
• Number of Discs: 1
• Subtitle: Eng/Fre/Ko/Por/Spa/Ar
• Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
• Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
• Screen: Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV
• Features:
  • "The Art of War" featurette
  • "The True Patriots" featurette
  • Feature Picture:
  • High definition widescreen presentation (2.40:1)
  • 1920x1080p
  • Audio:
  • English PCM 5.1 (uncompressed)
  • English 5.1
  • French 5.1
  • Czech 5.1
  • Polish VO 5.1
  • Subtitles:
  • *English *English SDH *French *Korean *Portuguese *Spanish *Arabic *Czech *Danish *Dutch *Finnish *Greek *Hebrew *Hindi *Icelandic *Norwegian *Polish *Slovene *Swedish *Turkish *Bugarian *Romanian *Hungarian *Croatian

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Nominated Best Cinematography - 2000 (Caleb Deschanel)
•     Nominated Best Score - 2000 (John Williams)
•     Nominated Best Sound - 2000 (Kevin O'Connell, Lee Orloff, Greg P. Russell)

• American Society of Cinematographers

•     Won Best Cinematography - 2000 (Caleb Deschanel)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Mel Gibson - Benjamin Martin
       Heath Ledger - Gabriel Martin
       Joely Richardson - Charlotte Selton
       Jason Isaacs - Colonel William Tavington
       Chris Cooper - Colonel Harry Burwell
       Tcheky Karyo - Major Jean Villeneuve
       Rene Auberjonois - Rev. Oliver
       Lisa Brenner - Anne Howard
       Tom Wilkinson - Charles Cornwallis
       Donal Logue - Dan Scott
       Leon Rippy - John Billings
       Adam Baldwin - Loyalist/Captain Wilkins
       Gregory Smith - Thomas Martin
       Mika Boorem - Margaret Martin
       Skye McCole Bartusiak - Susan Martin
       Trevor Morgan - Nathan Martin
       Joey D. Vieira - Peter Howard
       Jay Arlen Jones - Occam
       Beatrice Bush - Abigale
       Shannon Eubanks - Mrs. Simms

• Director:

  Roland Emmerich

• Producer:

  Dean Devlin, Mark Gordon, Gary Levinsohn

• Screenwriter:

  Robert Rodat

• Cinematographer:

  Caleb Deschanel

• Composer (Music Score):

  John Williams

• Editor:

  David Brenner

• Co-producer:

  Peter Winther

• Associate Producer:

  Dionne McNeff, Michael Dahan

• Executive Producer:

  Roland Emmerich, Ute Emmerich, William Fay

• Costume Designer:

  Deborah L. Scott

• Stunts:

  James M. Halty

• Casting:

  Elizabeth Greenberg

• Second Unit Director:

  Peter Winther

• Visual Effects Supervisor:

  Stuart Robertson

REVIEW:

• Although this war epic covers perhaps too much territory -- both historical and personal -- director Roland Emmerich keeps the pace buzzing and preserves his much-lauded skill at seamlessly blending sweeping vistas with cutting-edge, digital special effects. Traveling much the same narrative ground as he did in his Oscar-winning Braveheart (1995), Mel Gibson once again assays the role of a humble farmer drawn irrevocably against his will into a political conflict during which he proceeds to unleash a torrent of violent fury and strategic skill. Although Gibson's Ben Martin is more of a character type than a character, the actor portrays him with the same steely resolve and glint of good humor that made his William Wallace an international favorite. Co-star Jason Isaacs sinks his teeth into the part of the evil, atrocity-committing Colonel Tavington, a role that stirred up controversy in the United Kingdom for its cartoon-like villainy. The Patriot meanders down the paths of too many subplots, which detract from the film's main action, but the satisfying climax ties all the loose ends up neatly with a slam-bang finish that smacks of as much historical accuracy as Hollywood is able to muster in modern times. Although screenwriter Robert Rodat intended the film to be a portrait of legendary real-life guerrilla leader Francis "The Swamp Fox" Marion, later drafts of the script excised most of the textbook figures in favor of fictionalized heroics designed to make Gibson's character more sympathetic than the controversial Marion. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi