Reel Critics

* EDITOR’S NOTE: The Reel Critics column features movie critiques

written by community members serving on our panel.

*

Gibson’s war epic is best film of the year

There have been many fireworks this week for our country’s birthday

but none brighter than the latest Mel Gibson epic, “The Patriot.” The

poignant story--with a backdrop of cannon fire and bayonet charges on the

lush hills of South Carolina--and a masterful cast create the most

amazing movie of the year.

Benjamin Martin (Gibson) is the father of seven children at the time

of our Revolutionary War, having been a hero of the French and Indian

War. But time has tempered his blood, and while he does want freedom from

England, he thinks war is too high a price for the privilege. His son,

ashamed by his father’s mild stance, enlists in the Continental Army, and

war comes to the Martin home.

Skirmishes are fought on the fields between his house and those of his

neighbors. No one is free from it, especially not the movie audience.

The key to the film’s power is the struggle between our heroes--Martin

and his son, Gabriel (Heath Ledger)--and the brutal and bloodthirsty Col.

Tavington (Jason Issacs). Their hunt for one another is gripping, and

sends the overwhelming presence of war into the background, which is a

major feat.

The battle scenes are awe-inspiring and so graphic that it’s easy to

become sickened, but the superb acting and compelling story line steal

the show. It will bind you to your seat for nearly three hours and leave

you wanting to see it again, right away.

Although Gibson is the main draw of the movie, Ledger nearly takes the

spotlight away from his famous co-star. His Gabriel is trying to climb

out of the shadow of his father; and he becomes a great man, matching his

father’s abilities.

Ledger holds his own with Gibson, and if it’s possible, may even weave

the story better. His acting skill will be only one of many surprises in

this film.

“The Patriot” is very worthy of its title as an epic. It belongs up

there with the greatest movies of all time.

It is bloody and violent at times, but that’s war. It tells an

intriguing story and does it superbly. Everyone should see “The Patriot”

at least once.

It is horrible that this movie came out at the same time as “Perfect

Storm,” but “The Patriot” is the better movie, without a doubt.

They are both worth seeing, but if you have time to see only one of

them this weekend, go to “The Patriot”--you’ll get a bonus, a great film

and fireworks.

*

* MELISSA RICHARDSON, 19, is a Costa Mesa resident and a junior at

UCI.

*

Film steals cliches from an array of movies

Mel Gibson’s latest is “The Patriot,” an overblown Revolutionary War

epic from Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin (“Independence Day,”

“Godzilla”), which shamelessly borrows cliches from so many other films

it’s almost laughable.

I list only a few:

“Conspiracy Theory”: No one believes Ben Martin (Gibson) when he

predicts “the innocent will die with the rest of us.”

“Ransom”: Mad Mel, crazed with guilt and obsessed over the safety of

his son.

“Lethal Weapon”: Mel’s unconventional warfare strategies include

head-butting the redcoats.

“Braveheart”: Mel leads a rabble militia in numerous, slow-motion

charges against the enemy--covered in blood instead of blue paint.

“The Road Warrior”: Beat-up, bereaved, homeless Mel takes a licking

but keeps on ticking.

“Titanic”: Handsome, headstrong son Gabriel (Heath Leger) is caught in

a doomed romance with feisty young girl.

“Gladiator,” “Saving Private Ryan”: Graphic shots of decapitations,

limbs blown off by cannonballs, horses impaled, etc. I am not squeamish

but had to turn my head almost as many times as I looked at my watch.

“Glory”: The former slave, nobly fighting for his country and freedom,

wins the grudging respect of the white men in his regiment.

“M*A*S*H”: Veteran actor Rene Auberjonois reprises his role as a naive

padre.

And of course, we have Romantic Mel, who between bouts of “fighting

for the cause,” is given to slow, burning stares at his sister-in-law. As

played by Joely Richardson, she has little to do but stare back and

reveal more decolletage than was probably the norm for the Colonial

period.

And someone explain to me how former slaves, driven away from their

homes by the redcoats, wound up at Club Med?

Parents should heed the R rating. One shocking scene had Gibson so

intent on revenge that he forces his two young boys into helping him kill

off 20 men, then watching in horror as their father literally hacks one

to bits until he’s drenched in their blood.

With such a flawed hero, it is only fitting to have the best screen

villain since Hannibal Lecter. Jason Isaacs, as the sadistic Col.

Tavington, was the only real surprise of this nearly three-hour film.

*

* SUSANNE PEREZ, 45, lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant

for a financial services company.

*

‘Perfect Storm’ will blow you away

All we can say is “batten down the hatches for the most realistic

movie this year.” Special effects create booming 120-mph winds and

crashing rain so intense it drowns birds in flight with waves higher than

any human has ever seen.

This suspenseful retelling from Sebastian Junger’s book about the

October 1991 Atlantic primal storm--men against the sea aboard the

fishing boat Andrea Gail--will keep you squirming in your seat the entire

time.

Grimy-looking George Clooney (Billy Tyne) stars as a Gloucester boat

captain who is having a run of bad luck at the end of the fishing season.

The boat owner threatens him, lighting the fires for just one more trip

to the Grand Banks. October is an angry month for storms.

It’s the enormous storm and the rescue attempts you have to see.

There are breath-holding sequences with the fight against Mother

Nature and the Coast Guard craft and accompanying helicopter crew. You

are captivated by an attempt to refuel the chopper that might have

rescued the Andrea Gail. But the mighty winds and waves won’t pause.

“The Perfect Storm” deserved the applause it received. As we exited

the theater. we were absolutely exhausted.

We say it’s perfect for a night out--even at full price.

*

* GAY WASSALL-KELLY, 59, is the editor of a Balboa newspaper and is

active in the community. BILL KELLY, 58, is an industrial engineer.