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1:08:35. This is the 1 part of the movie I can't stand. There was no point during the Revolutionary War where a church was burned with colonists inside as that would have been considered a war crime. The colonists were still considered British subjects, so him giving the order to burn the church like this would have likely ended his military career. & I get the film is portraying him as a villain, but there is only so much leeway I can give a historical fiction film before it's inaccuracy is hard to ignore.
The fog you guys are seeing at 5:20 is just South Carolina in the early morning. SC, NC, and GA can all look like that in the mornings. Especially after a heavy rain the night before.
40:05 so Mel Gibson’s character Benjamin Martin is based on a few real people. Dan Morgan, who was a veteran of the French and Indian War and commanded a pseudo special forces regiment during the American Revolution called “Morgan’s Riflemen” that functioned as scouts and guerrilla ranger light infantry. But he’s mostly based on General Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion who was actually from South Carolina like Benjamin Martin, and after he enlisted he was put in command of forces of the South Carolina Militia, again like Benjamin. And he engaged the British in what the Patriots called “irregular” warfare, what today we would call unconventional or asymmetrical warfare. He used guerrilla tactics and ambush maneuvers to harass the British even with significantly fewer numbers. He’s considered one of if not the father of guerrilla warfare and much of his military doctrine is still used by the 75th Rangers which are also sort of pseudo special forces.
@@theawesomeman9821 Actually, Tarleton was not a "Loyalist." That term pertained to colonists who remained loyal to George III. Tarleton was not a "loyal" colonist, rather, he was British officer deployed with his regiment from England. Educated at Oxford, he moved upward in rank fairly quickly. He later served in Portugal and Ireland, and was eventually elected to Parliament.
The movie where Mr. House, William Wallace and the Joker, team up to fight Lucius Malfoy and the leader of the Jun Tau crime organizations. But with muskets.
I'm not American, but this is the most MURICA movie out there and I love every second of this classic. I must have watched it 10 times, such a good movie. And of course Jason Isaac being the villain is GREAT and having Heath Ledger is such a treat along the rest of the cast, which is so so great. Everything works in this movie, It's at times gripping, at times fun, at times horrifying, It makes you go through all the emotions while still being an "action & adventure epic", It's really a masterclass of a movie.
29:50 Very simple. Firstly, you need to stand up to load a muzzleloader such as a musket, which is long. Secondly, since muskets were slow to reload and had a limited effective range, massed firepower was crucial. And so was the timing of the volleys. Large formations of infantry soldiers grouped together for attacks, at least a percentage of the shots will hit the target.
The formations were also leftovers from the melee combat of old, and it was easier to hear orders in tight formation. Even if you couldn’t hear, you could follow a bugle or someone who did closer to the officer.
I do not purport to be a sword expert, but the sword Tavington used to kill Gabriel and slice up Benjamin Martin is called a saber; specifically, a calvary saber. The bend in the blade is meant to facilitate cutting, especially from horseback. This was my introduction to Jason Isaacs and why I was excited when I learned he was cast to play Lucius Malfoy.
It is the most American film ever as in everything that happens is a complete fantasy made up to make the colonials look like the heroes and the British and loyalists look like the villains. In reality slaves were everywhere in the Caloinas in this era, and the war crimes were committed by the colonial militias.
Misconception is that Mel Gibson is Australian. He was born in New York. He holds dual American and Irish citizen through his parents, as well as Australian. This movie never fails to make me emotional.
@@fullmoonprepping4024 sure he has permanent residency regardless if he hasn’t lived there in a long time. Most people’s misconception is that he was born there. His father moved them there at the onset of the Vietnam war to partly to avoid his sons from being drafted.
28:34 I have an answer! Marching tunes, or pipe marches, needed to use specific instrumentation and be in a specific tone in order to carry better across the battlefield. Armies would use pipers to signal orders, different tunes meant different things. They would also be used like in this capacity we see here to help the soldiers keep time, marching to the tempo of the music.
His kids, especially the boys, would have known how to shoot from an early age, remember the very first scenes they were returning from hunting. Many Americans find it hard to believe that many Americans continue to learn those types of skills at an early age, I did, before I was 10. Live in a rural area growing up, you’ll learn. Drove a tractor on the road before a car, was legal at 14, and had to drive to grandpas to help, often. Between family and Scouts by the time I was 16 I had learned more than most do in a lifetime. Now imagine how much more pronounced that was in the 18th century, you better have grown up by 14. This film isn’t terribly accurate, historically, but as a period piece it’s well done. As an “American” movie, it’s one of the best.
28:20 In answer to your question the music and drums was actually a means of signaling to the whole army what the next move was going to be. Officers would be spread out within earshot of said music and would relay those orders to the men nearby. So whenever you hear the drums, know the the officers are actively giving out orders.
As I recall from college, the smoothbore muskets used in the Revolution (and up through the mid-19th century) were accurate enough to hit a mass of men at about 100 yards and a well drilled soldier could get off about 3 aimed shots per minute. Which is why they used the tactics they did. I believe it's an evolution of the pike square that was used before firearms to protect the infantry against a cavalry charge. With the mass of men all stood shoulder to shoulder and several rows deep, they gave a greater density of blades (whether pikes or muskets with bayonets attached) than a cavalry force can achieve due to the space required for horses to maneuver. An infantry unit that doesn't break discipline ought to be able to repel a cavalry charge.
So, i know mel gibson has had his problems over the years. But as an actor, i have to say nothing makes me cry more that watching someone like mel gibson try NOT to cry.
28:20 the song being played is The British Grenadiers marching song. Used by the British and the music is to communicate officers' orders over long distances and to large groups of soldiers
The Colonel of the Dragoons, is based on Banastre Tarleton, known for Tarleton’s Quarter refers to a phrase coined during the American Revolutionary War, specifically after the Battle of Waxhaws on May 29, 1780. The phrase means “no quarter offered” or “brutal death at the hands of a cowardly foe.” This term was born out of the brutal treatment of Patriot prisoners by British Colonel Banastre Tarleton and his Loyalist troops. In the Review it reminds me: its better to be a warrior in a garden, then a gardener in a war
This was one of my faves of 2000. Coming from the duo who gave us Universal Soldier, Stargate and Independence Day. Fictional stories in a historical time have always been entertaining. Because filmmakers take the time to make the right approach and vision with some fiction involved. The story itself in the era of war for independence is just gratifying to see come to life. Mel Gibson of course on his A-game, being a man of peace and a force of nature all his own. The character of Benjamin Martin is an algamation of 4 real-life people who were soldiers/politicians in those times. Jason Isaacs as Tavington was great as an villain and you knew he was gonna get his in the end as all bad guys do. It's a great assembly of cast and filmmakers together. Along with the late Ledger, other actors have passed. Tom Wilkenson (General Lord Cornwallis), René Auberjonois (Rev.Oliver) and sadly, Skye McCole Bartusiak (Susan, Ben's youngest daughter) died at age 21. Other classics by Roland Emmerich:The Day After Tomorrow (2004), 10,000 B.C. (2008), 2012 (2009) and White House Down (2013).
RIP to the actress that played Gibson's daughter that wouldn't talk until she yelled his name for him not to leave to fight. Her death was ruled an accidental OD. I think she was only like 21 or 22.
Gregory Smith who played Mel's onscreen son went on to appear in Everwood and became an accomplished director directing several episodes of Superman and Lois and other Arrowverse crossover episodes. The extended version has an extended scene with Adam Baldwin who gives information to Jason Isaac's character about where Mel's character would hide. Also RIP to the actress who played the youngest daughter that finally speaks when she tells her dad don't go.
“And my men are excellent marksmen.” This is important. A lot of focus historically is placed on the conventional Continental Army, and militia is sort of looked down on. Even this movie does it to an extent. But my personal opinion, as a US history major emphasizing on the American Revolution, is that militia really won the war. Conventional army definitely played a huge part, but these backwoods trappers and rangers like Dan Morgan’s Riflemen, Ethan Allan’s Green Mountain Boys, and others fought the British in a way that the British didn’t know how to counter. The British were used to conventional warfare, open lines of infantry lobbing volleys of shot at each other being supported by cavalry. They didn’t know how to fight an enemy that wouldn’t fight you in the open. And Washington actually encouraged this. He would give bonuses to marksmen (mostly militia) who got confirmed officer kills. There’s even a tall tale of a British marksman refusing to shoot an American officer in because the officers back was turned and it would be “ungentlemanly” to shoot an officer in the back. And that officer turned out to be George Washington. Which sort of makes sense because Washington never liked leading from the rear. He was the Commander in Chief of all Patriot forces and he led from the front of the charge.
Bundling was indeed a thing. They would both be sew into separate bags. And of course, the running joke of the time was about who had proficiency with knots etc.
Originally Harrison Ford was casts in the lead, but he dropped out. Ford felt the movie became a revenge movie more than a historical movie. The movie was nominated for three Academy Awards, cinematography, score-John Williams and Sound.
This is a movie that doesn't give a fuck about your feelings or your "they can't kill this character" ideas. I grew up in north Carolina and a kid from my karate class got to go down to south Carolina and be an extra in this movie.
The cannoneers firing prior to the battles beginning are marking distances from where their artillery is posted up so they can fire more accurately once it starts to go down.
1:05:46 This scene always gets to me. It makes me especially sad because the actress, Skye McCole Bartusiak, died of an accidental drug overdose in 2014.
39:51 Cool factoid #2. The “ghost” is a reference to Francis Marion. Often referred to as the “Swamp Fox” who changed warfare in the Revolutionary War. The ambush tactics and guerilla warfare were highly effective in South Carolina. Very interesting history.
Gah the HOLD this movie had on me when it came out! (I was in middle school) had the dvd. I love this movie! Now I haven’t watched it in like 10+, but recently re watched. I still stand by that I love this movie! And I have never cried more than this re-Watch 😭😭
I saw "The Patriot" in the movie theater in 2000 and was mesmerized. It's a masterpiece. From the performances and storytelling to the cinematography, Brilliant. 👏🏽🇺🇸🎥
The rocking chairs were built by a Master craftsman near me. He built a total of eight, if I remember correctly. During filming, when the chair was supposed to break, the prop department couldn't get them to break because the builder simply built them the way he always did, to last. They resorted to cutting the supports to finally get them to break.
It is still absolutely baffling that he played Joker, especially the way he did it. I remember laughing at the idea when it was announced, I was NOT right.
Having flutes and the music during war back then was indeed for morale. Most flute players and drummers were no more then children. And the standard of warfare was to march directly at each other. It’s how “gentlemen fight” which is lightly touched on when Mel and Cornwallis are talking about the way the militia fight using guerilla warfare tactics and killing the officers first in combat. And he responds saying as long as you are killing civilians we’re gonna keep doing it. And cornwallis said “this is not the conduct of a gentleman.” Which is a brief look into the idea of warfare. Guns turned the tides of war and in a newer world to them war had to evolve to a higher standard which is why they straight up just walked into each other. Because of the revolutionary war the Americans never lost the use of guerrilla warfare tactics, in fact expanding them with longer range and more accurate rifles. Utilized in the civil war spencer rifles were a destroyer of infantry.
This movie is better than Braveheart, I said what I said. This was my introduction to Heath Ledger. Loved him & his character so much I swore if I ever had a son I’d name him Gabriel. This was also my introduction to Jason Isaac’s. Hated him for YEARS because I could not separate him from this role. I of course love him now. If one does not sob when Susan finally speaks & when Gabriel dies, one is a robot. This is a stunning film, & my favorite performance of Mel Gibsons ❤
We have a ton of Spanish moss in SC... but don't touch it unless you want small red "chiggers" insects that make you itch like crazy! For days. (Yes, they are actually called chiggers. It isn't a made up word.)
Although Mel Gibson's character is fictional, the character is based on the historical figure Francis Marion, AKA The Swamp Fox. This movie was excellently made, in spite of the lack of historical accuracy. You definitely get engaged in the story. Awesome reaction!❤
29:45 firing line style combat had a lot to do with the limited technology of the time. Muskets, and even early rifle (those are different, muskets don’t have rifling inside the barrel) were very inaccurate. So armies needed to be close in order to even be effective. But combat like this was also much more focused on outmaneuvering your opponent rather than killing then all off. There were entire battles in the American Revolution where only 2 or 3 dozen men were killed from both sides total. If you could outmaneuver and outflank your enemy you could take the field and drive them back without having to engage them for too long.
The battle at the end of the movie is known as the Battle of Cowpens. Tactically speaking it might be the most brilliant victory the Continental Army achieved in the whole war. It wasn't nearly as dramatic as the film makes it out to be, but it was that decisive.
Great reaction as always! If you haven't already seen it, I'd highly recommend The Last of the Mohicans. A fantastic period film with the amazing Daniel Day Lewis. Definitely a must watch. I would absolutely love to watch your reactions to that film.
Excellent reaction! I especially enjoyed Tara and John calling out all the various cinematic techniques throughout... I get so caught up in the story of a film that I often forget to take a step back and appreciate how it was executed. Bravo! Edit: Greg - you simply must allow these two to watch Braveheart!!! The internet needs this!
In regards to the weapons, Americans, especially militias were know to use Rifles muskets, with more accuracy and range. The reason this wasn’t more widely used is because it was a lot harder and slower to reload rifles because the ball was packed tightly into the barrel with the ramrod. Because armies fought with vollies at the time, the normal muskets were better because they were faster to reload and therefore faster to shoot.
*Super simplified* Military technology and theory hadn't changed much since the introduction of the cannon. The set up is like chess, where your pawns are important, but limited and expendable. Not until the first World War did the tech for offense change, but defense had not. *Historical accuracy* I give them a C. It has historical moments and the sets/costume/dates bring it up a bit. It really is a very fun watch and they change things to make it more cinematic.
One of my favorite scene's when Gabriel's future wife stands up in the church and shames those men into living by their principles. That is a real woman.
It’s not a movie but a mini series about the founding fathers writing un the Declaration of Independence the bill of rights. There is some big war stories in it though. It’s called John Adams I believe who is played by Paul Giamatti and he really nails it
Not a revolution war movie but Gettysburg is a great movie to watch. It's often overshadowed by Glory (which also is a good movie). I suggest you watch both Gettysburg and Glory.
The reason behind lined formations was due to the technology of the musket. A smooth bore musket of that time has a range of 300 yards, however the accuracy was limited to 50-100 yards. More soldiers equals a higher chance of targets getting taken out. The revolutionary war did change the tactics of the British army but it was the invention of the rifled barrel during the civil war that made this type of battle completely ineffective.
I wonder who wins ? Don’t care if this is historically inaccurate it’s such a great film. Action film in colonial America , historical fiction is always fun. I miss this Mel Gibson before his anti semitism -I love the cinematography of the movie, things are clean and vibrant and foreground but got this matte painting in the background
Mel's character fought in the French and Indian war, hence why he's so proficient with a hatchet. As well it's not the rifles we're inaccurate, close to mid range they were pretty accurate, just not over long distance. And them growing up and being hunters would help with how accurate they were.
I have great respect for all of Mel Gibson's movies the ones he directed and just acted in. He always puts in 100 percent and has great vision on how to tell a story.
The brutal British officer was based off an real officer during the war but was never killed but after war returned to England to live a rich glorious existence to my knowledge
Even knowing how many different people and how many true events are condensed into one movie... I love this movie. Living at a site 20 minutes from 2 major battles (including Cowpens, the basis of the final battle) it has been around my whole life.
Absolutely love this movie!!!!!!!!!! Gets you right in the feelings... The acting is great, one of Mel Gibson´s finest performances, you really buy him as an aged warrior you became a family man and that deeply loves his kids and would go back to his killer days to protect his family (the axe scene is fantastic!!), Heath is also fanatstic and his father-son chemistry with Mel is really good, Jason Isaacs is an amazing villain. The musical score is great of couse done by John Williams!! Really good action sequences as well... All in all, it is a very underrated movie!! Oh and I don´t care at all if the movie is not historical accurate, I didn´t want a documentary... I wanted an entertaining movie and that´s exactly what I got, a great movie!!!! PS- You guys should watch We Were Soldiers with Mel Gibson, a war film in Vietnam that is absolutely fantastic as well!!
I remember the first time i watched this, it was in my 7th grade social studies class. My teacher was a cheeky fellow, (see what i did there?) because the class time was 45 minutes(?) we had to watch the movie in chunks, but i do remember one moment specifically he cut us off for the day. It was during the night scene at the sister-in-law's plantation. When Ben's family runs into the bushes, and we see the rifle barrel come up behind them, he cut us off right there, before we found out it was Gabriel behind them.
1:08:35. This is the 1 part of the movie I can't stand. There was no point during the Revolutionary War where a church was burned with colonists inside as that would have been considered a war crime. The colonists were still considered British subjects, so him giving the order to burn the church like this would have likely ended his military career. & I get the film is portraying him as a villain, but there is only so much leeway I can give a historical fiction film before it's inaccuracy is hard to ignore.
You need to watch "we were soldiers." Starring mel gibson. Written and directed by randall wallace. Writer of braveheart and coincidentally, pearl harbor as well. It is excellent and you can play spot the actor throughout the flick. After you watch this one then check out hacksaw ridge. That was directed by mel gibson. A wonderful performance from andrew garfield. Then watch apocalypto. It is an intense film unlike anybyou have seen. Also directed by gibson, but takes place during mayan times. It is intense with a climactic chase scene. Just awesome flick
35:50 I choke up at this scene literally every time. Makes me wonder if I in that moment would be man enough to stand up and fight. Especially seeing the Fathers and Sons standing together, gets me every time.
RIP Skye McCole Bartusiak - she played Susan. She passed away in 2014 from an accidental drug overdose. Sadly, same cause of death as her co-star Heath Ledger.
Gun accuracy? You're thinking of muskets. The Martins are shooting rifles and are quite accurate for about 300 yards. The downside is that the rifle was much slower loading due to the difficulty getting the ball down the rifled barrel, which gripped the ball. It is questionable whether the boys would have the muscle to push it down. Muskets can be reloaded 3 times per minute, if you're good. Rifles? Maybe 2.
The sprightly flute tune the British marched to was "The British Grenadiers" a traditional marching song of British and Commonwealth military units, dating from the 17th century.
No fog machine needed for early morning coastal GA/SC . The curved cavalry sword is called a sabre, a slightly longer version of the earlier naval cutlass. Benjamin Martin was loosely based on a badass Marine, Francis Marion - the "Swamp Fox" !
Alot of people forget or did not know, that slavery has been in existence since beginning of time and was thought as "normal" ... and the slaves in America was brought by the British (majority) before Revolutionary War.. and was Purchased by the African Tribes as they would kill any independent "slavers" ... 1/3 of the slave owners were African in America and the first slaves were Irish and the First slave owner was African in America --- via Historian Thomas Sowell
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1:08:35. This is the 1 part of the movie I can't stand. There was no point during the Revolutionary War where a church was burned with colonists inside as that would have been considered a war crime. The colonists were still considered British subjects, so him giving the order to burn the church like this would have likely ended his military career. & I get the film is portraying him as a villain, but there is only so much leeway I can give a historical fiction film before it's inaccuracy is hard to ignore.
Please do this reaction again with Aaron Alexander and someone else that hasn't seen it.
@@jessetorres8738 There's no evidence that it never happened. There's millions of unrecorded events throughout history.
The fog you guys are seeing at 5:20 is just South Carolina in the early morning. SC, NC, and GA can all look like that in the mornings. Especially after a heavy rain the night before.
Great reaction. Can’t wait for you to watch Braveheart
I’ve seen this movie over a dozen times
And each and every time
That little yells “Papa Don’t Go I’ll Say Anything”
Hits me straight in the feels.
I know, right? I felt like a broken man every time with that scene. And I don't even have kids.
@@priestpeace219 Same. There’s just something about little girls and their fathers.
That hits different than boys and there fathers.
i have also saw this movie so many times because its an awesome movie with great actors
It didn’t used to for me. Then I had two daughters and now it’s insta-ugly cry
That line breaks me everytime
The scene where Gabriel dies and Mel Gibson cries, Mel was actually thinking about how he’d feel loosing his own. Great acting! Great reaction guys!
I agree. Such a powerful moment.
Yes. That’s how you act lol. Perfect acting though besides 👌
40:05 so Mel Gibson’s character Benjamin Martin is based on a few real people. Dan Morgan, who was a veteran of the French and Indian War and commanded a pseudo special forces regiment during the American Revolution called “Morgan’s Riflemen” that functioned as scouts and guerrilla ranger light infantry. But he’s mostly based on General Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion who was actually from South Carolina like Benjamin Martin, and after he enlisted he was put in command of forces of the South Carolina Militia, again like Benjamin. And he engaged the British in what the Patriots called “irregular” warfare, what today we would call unconventional or asymmetrical warfare. He used guerrilla tactics and ambush maneuvers to harass the British even with significantly fewer numbers.
He’s considered one of if not the father of guerrilla warfare and much of his military doctrine is still used by the 75th Rangers which are also sort of pseudo special forces.
Excellent, accurate comment!
And Jason Isaacs character is based on the Loyalist Tarleton.
@@theawesomeman9821 Banastre “Bloody Ban” Tarleton.
Don't forget the other group in the north that became the marines.
@@theawesomeman9821 Actually, Tarleton was not a "Loyalist." That term pertained to colonists who remained loyal to George III. Tarleton was not a "loyal" colonist, rather, he was British officer deployed with his regiment from England. Educated at Oxford, he moved upward in rank fairly quickly. He later served in Portugal and Ireland, and was eventually elected to Parliament.
"You're MY child!" is such an underrated line in this movie
I agree 100%. I saw "The Patriot" in the theater in 2000, and that line by Mel gave me chills.
@@LadySophiaVelaryon Same!
“A shepherd must tend his flock….and at times fight off the wolves.”
The movie where Mr. House, William Wallace and the Joker, team up to fight Lucius Malfoy and the leader of the Jun Tau crime organizations. But with muskets.
The Dominion!
Rip Rene auberjonois
@@scimbrelo Odo! I met him twice at Star Trek Conventions!
that one the You're MY child! and papa sequences destroyed me ...
Of course the evil Brit is played by Lucius Malfoy
This character was worse than Malfoy imo, zero humanity
He also voiced the Grand Inquisitor in Star Wars Rebels and Tales of the Empire
Took me until today to realize 😮
@@15blackshirt as well as Zhao in ATLA (a character inspired by his character in this movie)
No way! That's incredible @@ser132
You two haven't seen Braveheart?! Unbelievable! You MUST watch that movie! It is Gold!
I know! We must for sure !
FREEDOM!!!
Pure comedy gold you mean!
Braveheart is a MUST watch!
You want them to cry cry😂
The movie that put Jason Isaacs on the map.
One of the greatest villains in cinema history. 🙌
It would have been nice to have more nuance in a villain, BUT sometimes you just want a walk about it talk about it twot bad guy
Never forget Doc D.J. from Event Horizon.
Not a villain to us.
He's actually based on a real historical figure named Tarleton The Butcher.
@@blakemcelrath54 a Great War leader. A true patriot for king and crown.
I'm not American, but this is the most MURICA movie out there and I love every second of this classic. I must have watched it 10 times, such a good movie.
And of course Jason Isaac being the villain is GREAT and having Heath Ledger is such a treat along the rest of the cast, which is so so great. Everything works in this movie,
It's at times gripping, at times fun, at times horrifying, It makes you go through all the emotions while still being an "action & adventure epic", It's really a masterclass of a movie.
29:50 Very simple. Firstly, you need to stand up to load a muzzleloader such as a musket, which is long. Secondly, since muskets were slow to reload and had a limited effective range, massed firepower was crucial. And so was the timing of the volleys. Large formations of infantry soldiers grouped together for attacks, at least a percentage of the shots will hit the target.
The formations were also leftovers from the melee combat of old, and it was easier to hear orders in tight formation. Even if you couldn’t hear, you could follow a bugle or someone who did closer to the officer.
Also, since Cavalry was still a major component, those formations made it better to withstand charges.@@erickkirby
@@Flavius_Belisarius Indeed
I’m a proud British man and loved watching this movie as a kid growing up in England. Great film, great soundtrack!
Tara and John FTW!!!
I Need a Tara and John reaction to braveheart next historical tuesday!!!
I do not purport to be a sword expert, but the sword Tavington used to kill Gabriel and slice up Benjamin Martin is called a saber; specifically, a calvary saber. The bend in the blade is meant to facilitate cutting, especially from horseback.
This was my introduction to Jason Isaacs and why I was excited when I learned he was cast to play Lucius Malfoy.
*Cavalry Saber, not Calvary.
Mel Gibson literally kills the main villain with an American flag... this is the most American film ever.
Technically it was his horse 🐎
It is the most American film ever as in everything that happens is a complete fantasy made up to make the colonials look like the heroes and the British and loyalists look like the villains. In reality slaves were everywhere in the Caloinas in this era, and the war crimes were committed by the colonial militias.
@bryanreynolds8721 pretty sure war crimes were committed by both sides just like in every war. It's war lol
@@chadwickvon8019that guys thought process doesn’t go farther than “America Bad”
He killed him with two bayonets.
Issac does a great job at being the villain. This and his role as Malfoy really are some of his best performances IMO
Misconception is that Mel Gibson is Australian. He was born in New York. He holds dual American and Irish citizen through his parents, as well as Australian.
This movie never fails to make me emotional.
I thought he immigrated to America as a child from Australia?
@@theawesomeman9821 nope. He was born in New York, and moved to Australia with his parents when he was 12.
He is Australian. He is a permanent resident of Australia regardless of where he was born or his mother's lineage. His bio classifies him Australian.
@@fullmoonprepping4024 sure he has permanent residency regardless if he hasn’t lived there in a long time. Most people’s misconception is that he was born there. His father moved them there at the onset of the Vietnam war to partly to avoid his sons from being drafted.
@@Ladmia k
28:34 I have an answer! Marching tunes, or pipe marches, needed to use specific instrumentation and be in a specific tone in order to carry better across the battlefield. Armies would use pipers to signal orders, different tunes meant different things. They would also be used like in this capacity we see here to help the soldiers keep time, marching to the tempo of the music.
The same w/ some of the flags too: a lot of that was to signal formation movements that could be seen from across the field by the command
Alot like the American calvary of later years used bugels to make different commands
His kids, especially the boys, would have known how to shoot from an early age, remember the very first scenes they were returning from hunting. Many Americans find it hard to believe that many Americans continue to learn those types of skills at an early age, I did, before I was 10. Live in a rural area growing up, you’ll learn. Drove a tractor on the road before a car, was legal at 14, and had to drive to grandpas to help, often. Between family and Scouts by the time I was 16 I had learned more than most do in a lifetime. Now imagine how much more pronounced that was in the 18th century, you better have grown up by 14.
This film isn’t terribly accurate, historically, but as a period piece it’s well done. As an “American” movie, it’s one of the best.
the amount of energy this started with i was like "oh no their hearts are gunna break XD"
28:20 In answer to your question the music and drums was actually a means of signaling to the whole army what the next move was going to be. Officers would be spread out within earshot of said music and would relay those orders to the men nearby.
So whenever you hear the drums, know the the officers are actively giving out orders.
As I recall from college, the smoothbore muskets used in the Revolution (and up through the mid-19th century) were accurate enough to hit a mass of men at about 100 yards and a well drilled soldier could get off about 3 aimed shots per minute. Which is why they used the tactics they did.
I believe it's an evolution of the pike square that was used before firearms to protect the infantry against a cavalry charge. With the mass of men all stood shoulder to shoulder and several rows deep, they gave a greater density of blades (whether pikes or muskets with bayonets attached) than a cavalry force can achieve due to the space required for horses to maneuver. An infantry unit that doesn't break discipline ought to be able to repel a cavalry charge.
Every soldier melted into musket ammo was a round fired in vengeance for his son. His sons memory literally tore flesh and bone in vengeance. EPIC!
Technically the contentals were using early rifles the Kentucky long rifle mainly
Mel Gibson is incredible!! Braveheart is 100 % is best movie!! You guys have to watch!!
So, i know mel gibson has had his problems over the years. But as an actor, i have to say nothing makes me cry more that watching someone like mel gibson try NOT to cry.
Mel Gibson is one of the greatest actors and directors of the modern era. He deserves a lot more credit than he gets
28:20 the song being played is The British Grenadiers marching song. Used by the British and the music is to communicate officers' orders over long distances and to large groups of soldiers
The Colonel of the Dragoons, is based on Banastre Tarleton, known for Tarleton’s Quarter refers to a phrase coined during the American Revolutionary War, specifically after the Battle of Waxhaws on May 29, 1780. The phrase means “no quarter offered” or “brutal death at the hands of a cowardly foe.” This term was born out of the brutal treatment of Patriot prisoners by British Colonel Banastre Tarleton and his Loyalist troops.
In the Review it reminds me: its better to be a warrior in a garden, then a gardener in a war
This movie has a link to the French and Indian War. Makes sense to watch "The Last of the Mohicans" next.
This was one of my faves of 2000.
Coming from the duo who gave us Universal Soldier, Stargate and Independence Day.
Fictional stories in a historical time have always been entertaining.
Because filmmakers take the time to make the right approach and vision with some fiction involved.
The story itself in the era of war for independence is just gratifying to see come to life.
Mel Gibson of course on his A-game, being a man of peace and a force of nature all his own.
The character of Benjamin Martin is an algamation of 4 real-life people who were soldiers/politicians in those times.
Jason Isaacs as Tavington was great as an villain and you knew he was gonna get his in the end as all bad guys do.
It's a great assembly of cast and filmmakers together.
Along with the late Ledger, other actors have passed.
Tom Wilkenson (General Lord Cornwallis), René Auberjonois (Rev.Oliver) and sadly, Skye McCole Bartusiak (Susan, Ben's youngest daughter) died at age 21.
Other classics by Roland Emmerich:The Day After Tomorrow (2004), 10,000 B.C. (2008), 2012 (2009) and White House Down (2013).
RIP to the actress that played Gibson's daughter that wouldn't talk until she yelled his name for him not to leave to fight. Her death was ruled an accidental OD. I think she was only like 21 or 22.
21
Oh no 😮
Her name was Skye McCole Bartusiak (September 28, 1992 - July 19, 2014) aged 21. RIP to her and Heath Ledger
And RIP to Heath Ledger who played Gabriel. He was not only the eldest child of 7 kids, but also a patriot who fought for America.
Gregory Smith who played Mel's onscreen son went on to appear in Everwood and became an accomplished director directing several episodes of Superman and Lois and other Arrowverse crossover episodes. The extended version has an extended scene with Adam Baldwin who gives information to Jason Isaac's character about where Mel's character would hide. Also RIP to the actress who played the youngest daughter that finally speaks when she tells her dad don't go.
Damn I didn’t know that. I just thought she stopped being in movies I had no idea she died. RIP she was talented.
he’s not really an accomplished director tho
Gregory Smith came a long way from playing Bobby from Andre and Ephraim from Everwood.
Y'all forgetting his greatest accomplishment, leading the gorgonites to a upset defeat of major chip hazard and the commando elite
@@warriornico80 it was Phil Hartman's final theatrical film.
“And my men are excellent marksmen.”
This is important. A lot of focus historically is placed on the conventional Continental Army, and militia is sort of looked down on. Even this movie does it to an extent. But my personal opinion, as a US history major emphasizing on the American Revolution, is that militia really won the war. Conventional army definitely played a huge part, but these backwoods trappers and rangers like Dan Morgan’s Riflemen, Ethan Allan’s Green Mountain Boys, and others fought the British in a way that the British didn’t know how to counter. The British were used to conventional warfare, open lines of infantry lobbing volleys of shot at each other being supported by cavalry. They didn’t know how to fight an enemy that wouldn’t fight you in the open.
And Washington actually encouraged this. He would give bonuses to marksmen (mostly militia) who got confirmed officer kills. There’s even a tall tale of a British marksman refusing to shoot an American officer in because the officers back was turned and it would be “ungentlemanly” to shoot an officer in the back. And that officer turned out to be George Washington. Which sort of makes sense because Washington never liked leading from the rear. He was the Commander in Chief of all Patriot forces and he led from the front of the charge.
Their dad points out they took breaks to swim but didn't even think to punish them in any way. Work got done, but kids will be kids, love that bit
The actor who shoots himself was played by, Leon Rippy.
Yeah, it was not JT Walsh like John thought. Pretty sure JT Walsh had already passed away before this movie was ever in production.
Bundling was indeed a thing. They would both be sew into separate bags. And of course, the running joke of the time was about who had proficiency with knots etc.
Susan makes me sob every time I watch this.
Every. Time.
Pa pa!
Originally Harrison Ford was casts in the lead, but he dropped out. Ford felt the movie became a revenge movie more than a historical movie.
The movie was nominated for three Academy Awards, cinematography, score-John Williams and Sound.
The music and drums helped keep marching in sync and also served to relay general commands quickly.
This is a movie that doesn't give a fuck about your feelings or your "they can't kill this character" ideas. I grew up in north Carolina and a kid from my karate class got to go down to south Carolina and be an extra in this movie.
52:25 You guys missed a really good line from Mel.
"If the conduct of your officers is the measure of a gentleman, I'll take that as a compliment."
The cannoneers firing prior to the battles beginning are marking distances from where their artillery is posted up so they can fire more accurately once it starts to go down.
Great reaction! Actually, Mel Gibson was born in the U.S., lived in New York, and his family moved to Australia when he was like 12 or 13.
1:05:46 This scene always gets to me. It makes me especially sad because the actress, Skye McCole Bartusiak, died of an accidental drug overdose in 2014.
"combined toxic effects of hydrocodone and difluoroethane with carisoprodol" were listed as the main cause of death (similar to Aaron Carter).
39:51 Cool factoid #2. The “ghost” is a reference to Francis Marion. Often referred to as the “Swamp Fox” who changed warfare in the Revolutionary War. The ambush tactics and guerilla warfare were highly effective in South Carolina. Very interesting history.
Gah the HOLD this movie had on me when it came out! (I was in middle school) had the dvd. I love this movie! Now I haven’t watched it in like 10+, but recently re watched. I still stand by that I love this movie! And I have never cried more than this re-Watch 😭😭
I saw "The Patriot" in the movie theater in 2000 and was mesmerized. It's a masterpiece. From the performances and storytelling to the cinematography, Brilliant. 👏🏽🇺🇸🎥
The rocking chairs were built by a Master craftsman near me. He built a total of eight, if I remember correctly. During filming, when the chair was supposed to break, the prop department couldn't get them to break because the builder simply built them the way he always did, to last.
They resorted to cutting the supports to finally get them to break.
I vote The Postman with Kevin Costner down the road. Such an under rated movie!!
I cry every time I see Susan run after her father. This time was no different.
It is still absolutely baffling that he played Joker, especially the way he did it. I remember laughing at the idea when it was announced, I was NOT right.
Having flutes and the music during war back then was indeed for morale. Most flute players and drummers were no more then children.
And the standard of warfare was to march directly at each other. It’s how “gentlemen fight” which is lightly touched on when Mel and Cornwallis are talking about the way the militia fight using guerilla warfare tactics and killing the officers first in combat.
And he responds saying as long as you are killing civilians we’re gonna keep doing it.
And cornwallis said “this is not the conduct of a gentleman.”
Which is a brief look into the idea of warfare. Guns turned the tides of war and in a newer world to them war had to evolve to a higher standard which is why they straight up just walked into each other. Because of the revolutionary war the Americans never lost the use of guerrilla warfare tactics, in fact expanding them with longer range and more accurate rifles. Utilized in the civil war spencer rifles were a destroyer of infantry.
This movie is better than Braveheart, I said what I said.
This was my introduction to Heath Ledger. Loved him & his character so much I swore if I ever had a son I’d name him Gabriel.
This was also my introduction to Jason Isaac’s. Hated him for YEARS because I could not separate him from this role. I of course love him now.
If one does not sob when Susan finally speaks & when Gabriel dies, one is a robot.
This is a stunning film, & my favorite performance of Mel Gibsons ❤
Facts.
We have a ton of Spanish moss in SC... but don't touch it unless you want small red "chiggers" insects that make you itch like crazy! For days. (Yes, they are actually called chiggers. It isn't a made up word.)
Easy with the hard r there.
Calm down there chigga...
@@ReallyGoodandKind Snigger
Although Mel Gibson's character is fictional, the character is based on the historical figure Francis Marion, AKA The Swamp Fox. This movie was excellently made, in spite of the lack of historical accuracy. You definitely get engaged in the story. Awesome reaction!❤
The scene with little Susan makes me cry every time. 🥲
I actually liked this movie and haven't seen it in years. Thank you so much for doing this reaction.
29:45 firing line style combat had a lot to do with the limited technology of the time. Muskets, and even early rifle (those are different, muskets don’t have rifling inside the barrel) were very inaccurate. So armies needed to be close in order to even be effective.
But combat like this was also much more focused on outmaneuvering your opponent rather than killing then all off. There were entire battles in the American Revolution where only 2 or 3 dozen men were killed from both sides total. If you could outmaneuver and outflank your enemy you could take the field and drive them back without having to engage them for too long.
The battle at the end of the movie is known as the Battle of Cowpens. Tactically speaking it might be the most brilliant victory the Continental Army achieved in the whole war. It wasn't nearly as dramatic as the film makes it out to be, but it was that decisive.
Great reaction as always! If you haven't already seen it, I'd highly recommend The Last of the Mohicans. A fantastic period film with the amazing Daniel Day Lewis. Definitely a must watch. I would absolutely love to watch your reactions to that film.
Excellent reaction! I especially enjoyed Tara and John calling out all the various cinematic techniques throughout... I get so caught up in the story of a film that I often forget to take a step back and appreciate how it was executed. Bravo!
Edit: Greg - you simply must allow these two to watch Braveheart!!! The internet needs this!
axe combat comes from fighting with Native tribes against the French.
In regards to the weapons, Americans, especially militias were know to use Rifles muskets, with more accuracy and range. The reason this wasn’t more widely used is because it was a lot harder and slower to reload rifles because the ball was packed tightly into the barrel with the ramrod. Because armies fought with vollies at the time, the normal muskets were better because they were faster to reload and therefore faster to shoot.
*Super simplified* Military technology and theory hadn't changed much since the introduction of the cannon. The set up is like chess, where your pawns are important, but limited and expendable. Not until the first World War did the tech for offense change, but defense had not.
*Historical accuracy* I give them a C. It has historical moments and the sets/costume/dates bring it up a bit. It really is a very fun watch and they change things to make it more cinematic.
I don’t usually cry watching movies but yes the scene with daughter “papa I will say anything, just don’t go”, was heart wrenching.
One of my favorite scene's when Gabriel's future wife stands up in the church and shames those men into living by their principles. That is a real woman.
Also an incredibly underrated score by John Williams. The main theme gets a lot of hype, but as a whole it's impressive.
What are some other good Revolutionary War Films??
Hamilton
The crossing
Johnny Tremaine
1776
it's a civil war movie, but Glory is amazing
It’s not a movie but a mini series about the founding fathers writing un the Declaration of Independence the bill of rights. There is some big war stories in it though. It’s called John Adams I believe who is played by Paul Giamatti and he really nails it
Not a revolution war movie but Gettysburg is a great movie to watch. It's often overshadowed by Glory (which also is a good movie). I suggest you watch both Gettysburg and Glory.
Yeah, not a ton of Revolutionary War films out there, but John Adams miniseries is an amazing coverage of that time period.
The reason behind lined formations was due to the technology of the musket. A smooth bore musket of that time has a range of 300 yards, however the accuracy was limited to 50-100 yards. More soldiers equals a higher chance of targets getting taken out. The revolutionary war did change the tactics of the British army but it was the invention of the rifled barrel during the civil war that made this type of battle completely ineffective.
The curved sword is a cavalry sabre. Great reaction !! thank you . Tara Erickson is my new crush 😍😍
❤❤
“You’re my child!” That gets me every time 😢
I wonder who wins ?
Don’t care if this is historically inaccurate it’s such a great film. Action film in colonial America , historical fiction is always fun. I miss this Mel Gibson before his anti semitism
-I love the cinematography of the movie, things are clean and vibrant and foreground but got this matte painting in the background
Mel's character fought in the French and Indian war, hence why he's so proficient with a hatchet. As well it's not the rifles we're inaccurate, close to mid range they were pretty accurate, just not over long distance. And them growing up and being hunters would help with how accurate they were.
I'm British and proud to be. That said kudos to America, we were wrong and you deserve your independence
This movie and The fifth Element were the first to DVDs I got with a DVD player for Christmas one year
This was the final film I watched theatrically with my dad who passed away about 6 months later, because of that I will always love this film 😢
I have great respect for all of Mel Gibson's movies the ones he directed and just acted in. He always puts in 100 percent and has great vision on how to tell a story.
The brutal British officer was based off an real officer during the war but was never killed but after war returned to England to live a rich glorious existence to my knowledge
Even knowing how many different people and how many true events are condensed into one movie... I love this movie. Living at a site 20 minutes from 2 major battles (including Cowpens, the basis of the final battle) it has been around my whole life.
That's not JT Walsh. JT Walsh died in 1998. This movie is from 2000 the actor in this movie is Leon Rippy and he's currently 74 years old
43:45 yes, you are correct
Absolutely love this movie!!!!!!!!!! Gets you right in the feelings... The acting is great, one of Mel Gibson´s finest performances, you really buy him as an aged warrior you became a family man and that deeply loves his kids and would go back to his killer days to protect his family (the axe scene is fantastic!!), Heath is also fanatstic and his father-son chemistry with Mel is really good, Jason Isaacs is an amazing villain. The musical score is great of couse done by John Williams!! Really good action sequences as well... All in all, it is a very underrated movie!!
Oh and I don´t care at all if the movie is not historical accurate, I didn´t want a documentary... I wanted an entertaining movie and that´s exactly what I got, a great movie!!!!
PS- You guys should watch We Were Soldiers with Mel Gibson, a war film in Vietnam that is absolutely fantastic as well!!
I remember the first time i watched this, it was in my 7th grade social studies class. My teacher was a cheeky fellow, (see what i did there?) because the class time was 45 minutes(?) we had to watch the movie in chunks, but i do remember one moment specifically he cut us off for the day. It was during the night scene at the sister-in-law's plantation. When Ben's family runs into the bushes, and we see the rifle barrel come up behind them, he cut us off right there, before we found out it was Gabriel behind them.
I think putting Tara & Andrew together for reactions is dangerous since they sense the future in all the reactions
1:18:56 Correct, the musical score for The Patriot was composed by John Williams.
1:08:35. This is the 1 part of the movie I can't stand. There was no point during the Revolutionary War where a church was burned with colonists inside as that would have been considered a war crime. The colonists were still considered British subjects, so him giving the order to burn the church like this would have likely ended his military career. & I get the film is portraying him as a villain, but there is only so much leeway I can give a historical fiction film before it's inaccuracy is hard to ignore.
Right?? It's embarrassing.
the ONE part???
The music you're referring to is to keep everybody in step when they are marching, so they stay in a straight line
You need to watch "we were soldiers." Starring mel gibson. Written and directed by randall wallace. Writer of braveheart and coincidentally, pearl harbor as well. It is excellent and you can play spot the actor throughout the flick. After you watch this one then check out hacksaw ridge. That was directed by mel gibson. A wonderful performance from andrew garfield. Then watch apocalypto. It is an intense film unlike anybyou have seen. Also directed by gibson, but takes place during mayan times. It is intense with a climactic chase scene. Just awesome flick
They have already done so recently.
Robert rodat, writer of this movie also wrote saving private ryan
35:50 I choke up at this scene literally every time. Makes me wonder if I in that moment would be man enough to stand up and fight. Especially seeing the Fathers and Sons standing together, gets me every time.
The girl who played Susan, Skye Bartusiak, died so young at 21. It's tragic.
Oh man that's sad what did she died from
RIP Skye McCole Bartusiak - she played Susan. She passed away in 2014 from an accidental drug overdose. Sadly, same cause of death as her co-star Heath Ledger.
Gun accuracy? You're thinking of muskets. The Martins are shooting rifles and are quite accurate for about 300 yards. The downside is that the rifle was much slower loading due to the difficulty getting the ball down the rifled barrel, which gripped the ball. It is questionable whether the boys would have the muscle to push it down. Muskets can be reloaded 3 times per minute, if you're good. Rifles? Maybe 2.
Glad you guys didn’t accidentally watch the Mark Wahlberg movie!
😅
😂
The sprightly flute tune the British marched to was "The British Grenadiers" a traditional marching song of British and Commonwealth military units, dating from the 17th century.
1:23:01 Can we get these guys to react to Braveheart?
No fog machine needed for early morning coastal GA/SC .
The curved cavalry sword is called a sabre, a slightly longer version of the earlier naval cutlass.
Benjamin Martin was loosely based on a badass Marine, Francis Marion - the "Swamp Fox" !
how this dude doesnt make a whistle sound every time he uses an "s" sound is beyond me
The concept of "the end justifies the means" is mentioned in "The Prince" by Niccolo Machiavelli.
Alot of people forget or did not know, that slavery has been in existence since beginning of time and was thought as "normal" ... and the slaves in America was brought by the British (majority) before Revolutionary War.. and was Purchased by the African Tribes as they would kill any independent "slavers" ... 1/3 of the slave owners were African in America and the first slaves were Irish and the First slave owner was African in America --- via Historian Thomas Sowell
holy shit none of this is true lol, Thomas Sowell is a notorious hack
This was my favorite reaction that you all have done, and there's been soooooo many that the Reel Rejects have done that I've loved!