release year: 2000
genre: war/action/drama
viewing setting: home DVD, 10/28/00
what I expected: more mayhem a la Braveheart
what I got: something that didn't quite feel complete
synopsis: The Revolutionary war is fought in the home as well as the battlefield.
impressions: It had good battle scenes, some nice scenery, an evil villain...so why did I not love it? I can't say. It could be that so many good guys ended up dying - accurate, but it bums me out. I'm really having a hard time putting my finger on it. Anyway, the movie's epic in scope and ambition, and is probably the best Revolutionary War movie ever made. It's also a good demonstration of why war isn't glamorous at all.
acting: Mel Gibson did a good job, though his accent seemed to slip at times. The kid who played his oldest son also did a good job, as did the Frenchman and the evil colonel.
final word: Worth seeing, but your mileage may vary.
rating: C