DIRECTOR
Roland Emmerich

WRITER(S)
Robert Rodat

CAST
Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Jason Isaacs, Chris Cooper, Joely Richardson

MPAA RATING
R

RUNNING TIME
157 Minutes

STUDIO
Columbia

I must admit, going into this picture, I didn't have high hopes. After knowing it wasn't the huge hit Sony was expecting, and how it got crushed on opening weekend by "The Perfect Storm", I didn't think this would be much of a film. Boy, was I wrong.

When you have to tell people that you were responsible for "Godzilla" and "Stargate", you have to expect people to question your next film. I'm referring to the team of Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich, the two responsible for the disasters mentioned above. Hey, they screwed up those films, but not this one. I'd say the main reason is one man: Mel. The other is Robert Rodat's speechy, but tightly written script. He also penned the script for the greatest war film ever, "Saving Private Ryan".

Mel Gibson is a patriot who doesn't believe in the war against the British. He vocals his opinions during a meeting, but they go ignored. His oldest son (Heath Ledger) wants to fight and enlists, against his father's consent.

When some unfortunate, and tragic things, happen to Gibson, he is forced to join the US in the fight against those nasty Red Coats. But it's not under the Army, rather a rag-tag group of Militia Men. Hey, when you've got Mel leading this group, of course they're going to kick some major butt. And so does Mel, alot of it. He is the British's worst nightmare. He's often referred in the movie as "The Ghost".

Jason Isaacs plays General Cornwalis, who may be the only true character in the film. Gibson's is based on a similar hero, but his name is different. The real bad guy here is Jason Issacs, a very fine, yet underrated British actor. He plays the nasty Colonel Tavington, who Gibson wants revenge on.

Ledger, who could have easily messed this whole thing up, does a great job as Gibson's son. I'd say we'll be seeing alot more of this guy.

Enough about the acting, you want to hear about the battles, don't you? They are intense beyond belief. Very realistic and very bloody, the fights against the British are not pleasant at all, and they shouldn't be, this is war.

The camera doesn't shy away from anything, including a disturbing sequence involving a dead British soldier, Gibson, and a bloody hatchet. Enough said.

There are minor flaws, mostly coming from the aforementioned speechy script. Seems like everyone in the film is making a speech about freedom (we get the idea after #1), and a heroic score is playing in the background. Sometimes the film is a little too patriotic.

Nonetheless, this film is just great. Authentic as it gets. Some of the cry babies will gripe that the accuracy isn't 100%, but what war movie is? This is still Hollywood, people, and let's remember, no matter how real it looks, it is still only a movie.