The Patriot [Blu-ray]

Director: Roland Emmerich Roland Emmerich

Overview

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.

Product Details

Release Date:	07/03/2007
UPC:	0043396167186
Original Release:	2000
Rating:	NR
Source:	SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMT
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	2:55:00
Sales rank:	4,187

Special 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

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Mel Gibson	Benjamin Martin
Heath Ledger	Gabriel Martin
Joely Richardson	ciotka Charlotte Selton
Jason Isaacs	William Tavington
Chris Cooper	Harry Burwell
Rene Auberjonois	wielebny Oliver
Tom Wilkinson	Gen. Cornwallis
Lisa Brenner	Anne Howard
Donal Logue	Dan Scott
Leon Rippy	John Billings
Adam Baldwin	Capt. Wilkins
Jay Arlen Jones	Occam
Joey D. Vieira	Peter Howard
Gregory Smith	Thomas Martin
Mika Boorem	Margaret Martin
Skye McCole Bartusiak	Susan Martin
Trevor Morgan	Nathan Martin
Bryan Chafin	Samuel Martin
Logan Lerman	William Martin
Mary Jo Deschanel	Mrs. Howard
Jamieson K. Price	Capt. Bordon,le capitaine Bordon
Peter Woodward	Brig. Gen. O'Hara
Beatrice Bush	Abigale,Abner
Grahame Wood	Redcoat Lieutenant
Shan Omar Huey	Joshua
Hank Stone	Rollins
Kirk Fox	Skunk
Jack Moore	Curly,Redcoat
Mark Twogood	Danvers
Colt Romberger	Colt
Terry Layman	General George Washington
Shannon Eubanks	Mrs. Simms
Bill Roberson	Loyalist Simms
Charles Black	Matthew
Andy Stahl	General Greene
Kristian Truelsen	Hardwick
Kanin Howell	Postrider
Mark Jeffrey Miller	Wounded Continental
Zach Hanner	British Field Officer
Dara Coleman	Redcoat Sergeant No. 2
Randell Haynes	Patriot Middleton
John Storey	Cowpens Militiaman
Greg Good	Cowpens Militiaman
John F. Dzencelowcz II	Continental Soldier
John Curran	Redcoat Sergeant No. 1
Kyle Richard Engels	Billings' Son
John Bennes	Speaker
Roy McCrerey	Redcoat
Tyler Long	Page Boy
Gil Johnson	Militiaman
Scott Miles	Patriot Private
Derrick B. Young	Slave Boy
Le Roy Seabrook	Gullah Minister
Samuel Brown Jr.	Gullah Musician
Samuel Brown Sr.	Gullah Musician
Lillie L. Harris	Gullah Musician
Braima Moiwai	Gullah Musician
Patrick Tatopoulos	French Naval Officer
Tchéky Karyo	Jean Villeneuve
Roland Emmerich	Actor
John Williams	Composer

Technical Credits

Robert Rodat

Roland Emmerich	Director,Executive Producer,Executive Producer,Producer
Robert Rodat	Screenwriter
William Fay	Executive Producer,Producer,Executive Producer
David Bloch	Casting
Thomas Dadras	Special Effects
Dean Devlin	Producer
Conny Fauser	Special Effects
Mark Gordon	Producer
Joachim Gruninger	Special Effects
Glenn R. Karpf	Special Effects
Gary Levinsohn	Producer
Magicmove/Magicon Miniature FX	Special Effects
Stuart Robertson	Special Effects
R.A. Rondell	Stunts
April Webster	Casting
Peter Winther	Producer
Michael Addabbo	Special Effects
Michael Hansen	Stunts
David Baldwin	Sound Effects
David Acord	Sound Effects
Christopher Assells	Sound Effects
Oscar Castillo	Special Effects
Karen Baker Landers	Sound Effects
Stanton Barrett	Stunts
Chris Cooper	Director
Jeffree Bloomer	Sound Effects
Joely Richardson	Director
Mel Gibson	Director
Rene Auberjonois	Director
Jason Isaacs	Director
Heath Ledger	Director
Lisa Brenner	Director
Tchéky Karyo	Director
Michael Dahan	Producer
James Halty	Stunts
Elizabeth Greenberg	Casting
Dionne McNeff	Producer
Bill Johnson	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

Reluctant hero Mel Gibson leads a ragtag militia against the might of the British army in this stirring, lavishly mounted historical epic set during the Revolutionary War. He's perfectly cast as Benjamin Martin, a colonial farmer, widowed father, and veteran of the French and Indian War who stubbornly resists joining the Continental Army. Martin eventually enters the conflict to save his eldest son, Gabriel -- played by charismatic young Heath Ledger (10 Things I Hate About You), a rebel courier captured by British troops. The loose-knit band of guerrillas he organizes bedevils the redcoat, and sets up the traditional bad guy vs. mad guy (Mel) climax. Director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day) re-creates the Revolution with scrupulous fidelity, vividly capturing the carnage and confusion of pitched battles that often took place in the backyards of colonial settlers. His historically accurate rebels are gentlemen farmers, vagabonds, and brigands, united by their disdain for the arrogant English king and determined to gain their freedom at any cost. Thematically similar to Gibson's Oscar-winning film Braveheart, The Patriot provides its popular leading man with a rousing vehicle for his considerable talents. The Special Edition DVD includes deleted scenes, storyboards, audio commentary, photo galleries, cast and crew bios, a featurette, and the theatrical trailer.

Barnes & Noble - Ed Hulse

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.

All Movie Guide - Karl Williams