Talk:The Patriot (2000 film)

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There are some glaring grammar and spelling errors in this article. You did a good job capturing all of the critics' different views, but the errors are just plain blatant. Also, please lengthen the detail of each movie to close to the detail of the 2000 Patriot. At least add one of those information boxes with the movie cover and main actors. Use www.imdb.com to fill in the missing producer information and such. As a last suggestion, please organize the character analysis section and make it flow better. At times it seems like a 7th grade essay.

I added some details about the characters and what role they play in the movie --Tnguyen3 20:37, 20 November 2005 (UTC)

I added in more of the public reception and the movie info box--Lillysn

I edit a portion of the movie info box, and add new information into the public reception column.--Lillysn I rearrange the content, and edit the character analysis body, condensing the individual characters under the heading of character analysis.--Lillysn

I did a series of revision to the site. I added heading such as awards, actors' site, rearrange the orders of the page under the heading of Character analysis, added information into the controversial issues, and also trivia.Lillysn 03:51, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

Contents 1 Addition of Themes and Character analysis 2 Character Analysis 3 Historical Inaccuracies 4 Anti Semitic? 5 benjamin martin 6 Anti-Semitic Themes? 7 Addition of South Carolina to categories 8 Benjamin Martin based on Thomas Sumter? 9 Movie title?

[edit] Addition of Themes and Character analysis

I did the character analysis and added themes and I will be adding movie bloopers I added some quotes and bloopers from the movie --Tnguyen3 06:06, 24 November 2005 (UTC)

I moved the character analysis to the discussion page until it can be cleaned up. It is unencyclopedic and very poorly written. When it is cleaned up, it should be restored to the article page. 155.84.57.253 16:49, 25 November 2005 (UTC)

I added a site directed to where the viewers could listen to samples from teh soundtrack, or to purchase the Cd, and i fixed the soundtrack section a little.Lillysn 14:46, 28 November 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Character Analysis

• Benjamin Martin

Benjamin Martin plays a centralized character in the movie. The film main focus is on the Martin family. Benjamin is spiritually scarred from his French and Indian war experiences, and is opposed to going into war. Benjamin has no desire to particpate in the war because he has a large family to care for since his wife died. In the end, Benjamin joins the fight so that he can keep his family together.

• Gabriel Martin

Gabriel Martin is considered "The Patriot." He is very patriotic about his country and freedom. By April 1776, he is eighteen and has impatiently waited for his father's consent to join the fighting. He shows defiance to his father by enlisting against his father's wishes.

Gabriel spends some time fighting in the North. He goes home as the fighting has moved to the South. He returns to his home as the fighting has come to the South. As an officer under Col. Burwel,he gets wounded near home and gets arrested by Colonel Tavington for spying because he bears dispatches.

• Charlotte Selton

Charlotte Selton is an independent urban women who supports the Patriots through various home-based efforts.although Charlotte is the the aunt of Benjamin's children. Charlotte acts as a surrogate parent to her nieces and nephews in Benjamin's absence. There is an attraction between Benjamin and Charlotte, but it is restrained

• Colonel William Tavington

Col. Tavington has a need for the approval of Genral Cornwallis in his actions. Tavington stives to gain Cornwallis approval. He known for using brutal tactics in war. Tavington is the chief nemesis of the Martin family sinces he kills most of Benjamn's family.

• Colonel Harry Burwell

Burwell served alongside with Benjamin Martin and John Billings in the French and Indian War. He is the leader of the continental congress and the continental army. He is friends with Martin and has a lot of respects for him, he also defends him even when he opposes him in dabate over Burwells plea for support for the South Carolina Assembly.

• Anne Howard

Anne is Gabriel Martin's love interest. Her family helps viewers see the perspectives of the people who remained at their homes and businesses. Anne's presence helps keep hope alive for a relatively happy ending for the Martin family. That is, until she is killed when the entire population of Pembroke is locked in the church, which is then ordered burned by Colonel William Tavington. In an earlier version of the script, she was with child, which would have heightened the emotion for Gabriel even more in his quest for revenge.

• General Charles Cornwallis

Cornwallis was born into new British nobility and spent all his younger years in noble circles. He purchased a commission in the British Army and then actually studied for it. He proved to be a successful and competent officer.

• John Billings

John Billings is an Indian fighter who fought fought along side Benjamin Martin in the French and Indian War. John Billings is rought and uncivilized and he personifies a savage brand of fighting.John Billings lost his wife and son by one of Col. Tavington's patrols and so him and Benjamin faces similiar circumstances. Billings has lost everything and eventually gives up by taking his own life.

• Thomas Martin

Thomas Martin is Benjamin Martin's second oldest son. He is a few years younger than his brother Gabriel and is unable to join his older brother in enlisting to fight because he is underage. He hates the face that he has to remain on the farm and not figh tin the war. He is like his brother Gabriel in the sense that he wants to fight in the war.

[edit] Historical Inaccuracies

The two biggest criticisms of the film were the portrayal of the British, and the complete ducking of the slavery issue by making the Martins unrealistically open-minded. As a tobacco farmer in South Carolina, the idea that all of the blacks working on Martin's farm were free and not slaves is ridiculous. The only explanation for that is that the filmmakers didn't want to introduce shades of grey by admitting that yes, the hero was still a slaveowner, and that the "bad guys"--the British--actually did free slaves who fought for the Crown.nmw 05:27, 5 January 2006 (UTC)

Of course it's ok to pretend that the blokes who got the enigma from u571 were Americans, but don't mess with the revolution :) --203.206.64.106 12:48, 11 March 2006 (UTC)

no mention either in this article of the likes of spike lee callikng for a black boycott.--Gothicform 17:38, 3 August 2006 (UTC)

It's because Spike Lee doesn't really matter. He boycotts anything that doesn't have a starring black actor.Zchris87v

I agree that pistols are depicted too accurate in the movie, but the muskets (not rifels!, rifles weren't used in this war) are not. Simply because the fighting distances are much shorter than they had been in reality. In the movie the lines progress until they are 40-50 yards close to the enemy and then they open fire, in reality they opened fire at 300 yards or so. Ther common ranges for muskets were 100 - 300 yards. At such short ranges as shown in the movie, muskets were highly accurate!! PS: And usually the British didn't let the rebels fire one volley, before self opening fire. .Kai-Arne

[edit] Anti Semitic?

Is there any proof that some people see this movei as antisemitic??? By my knowledge there are no Jewish people in the movie nor are they mentioned. Or is this why? Jorgenpfhartogs 12:59, 25 August 2006 (UTC)

I hate the Jews also... -- fdewaele, 25 August 2006, 15:40 (CET).

i REALLY hate the jews. Like, times a millionJorgenpfhartogs 11:07, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

• Please go see the film and decide for yourself. By the way, FYI, it's about the "American Revolution", and there are no Jews to be seen in it. ResurgamII 21:54, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

• Sentence about "underlying themes of anti-semitism" removed. No citation or proof given. Zchris87v 02:38, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] benjamin martin

[edit] Anti-Semitic Themes?

Can anyone give a link or source for this? I'm no fan of the guy, but somehow i don't think he blame the Revolutionary War on the Jews.

Also, Mel Gibson didn't direct the movie, nor did he write the script. Why should he be held accountable for it?

First, be sure to sign your name. Second, I don't know how this film would be anti-semetic considering it has nothing to do with Jews or the Jewish religion/culture.ResurgamII 21:53, 30 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Addition of South Carolina to categories

South Carolina films was added to the categories, because if you look it up [1] you can see that this movie, in its entirety, was filmed in South Carolina.Zchris87v 16:30, 2 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Benjamin Martin based on Thomas Sumter?

Does anybody know if Mel Gibson's character Benjamin Martin is inspired on the life of Thomas Sumter? (Caracas1830 21:34, 3 September 2006 (UTC))

Mostly he is based mostly on "Swamp Fox" (Francis Marion). If you read about Francis Marion and then note the similarities in the movies, they are quite similar characters. Zchris87v 02:35, 8 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Movie title?

I do have to wonder if there was any conflict with the movie title, as there was another movie called The Patriot released just two years before, and the movie had an entirely unrelated plot.--71.156.60.219 01:26, 1 March 2007 (UTC)