The Patriot

Hate on me if you want, but I can still appreciate Mel Gibson's movies. I love Braveheart, Tequila Sunrise, and Apocalypto, but today we are discussing The Patriot, another favorite of mine. There is so much about this movie that I love.... and I watched it again this weekend.

I love how they delve into family complexities.  How a father of 7 is opposed to the war because he fears for his family and he remembers all too well his own experiences in war. Two sons desperately want to fight in the war, but have no idea what horrors they will be facing. Psychological issues with a child separated from her father who is away at war. Children being required to kill British soldiers and accept what they did was necessary. Two cutesy romances. Death.

Then you get war strategy, battles and the horrible aftermath. An amazing forest ambush/rescue scene. Some comic relief-- more often at the Brits expense. Racism. Slavery. You also get a happy ending. But it's the little things that are totally insignificant to the plot line that I like the most.

1. Ben seeing his first rocking chair. How he marvels at it as he rocks. He studies how it was crafted. You can see his delight.
2. "If I die today, I will die well dressed."
3. "The French."
4. Ben melting his dead son's miniature soldiers down and making them into bullets. What most people probably see is vengeance and him coping with his grief. I see something else. I see a man who putting his intention into these bullets. He is seeing his enemy and weaving his magic. He sees his son being avenged and he sets out to a destiny he created.