The Patriot

The movie the Patriot is one of the numerous movies that explain the American history in details to ensure that most of the viewers understand the American history in details. The Patriot film tries to explain the numerous wars that took place in America hence bringing about the major changes in the American people.  The film mainly focuses on the American revolutionary war, which took part between the years of 1775, and 1783, known as the wars that brought about independence in America[1]. The American revolutionary was between the Great Britain kingdom and the key colonies of the great British. The war was mainly about the American revolutionist who tried to overcome the rule of the Great Britain[2].

The colonists after organizing cold war, they overthrew the British rule and in the year 1775, the revolutionaries were capable of controlling the government formerly one by the brutish. The conjunction of the revolutionaries formed a single army, which enabled them to unite and create the continental army. In the next year, the colonists were able to unit and become independent hence acquired the name united states of America. The Americans used the advantage of the blacks and the Native Americans to contribute to the power needed in fighting the war. In the Patriot film, the war is vividly illustrated and the characters represent exactly what happened in the United States. Just like any other nation, the United States originated through the struggle of the revolutionaries that fought against the British power[3].

The Patriot, which is one of the leading films in the American history, elaborates the war and the consequences of the fight to both the Americans and to the British. Emmerich Ronald who is well known in the movie industry to produce best of the selling movies directed the Patriot film. The key staring in the Patriot film are Ledger Heath, Gibson, Mel and Cooper Chris. The film produced by the Mutual film and company and distributed by the Colombia pictures.  The Patriot film is produced in rural parts of New York in the town of Carolina and reveals the story of the American swept[4]. In the swept, the American revolutionary war threatens the family of the protagonist Benjamin martin. Martin Benjamin being a member of the continental army, it was simple for the key officers of the war to attack his family. This made it risky for him and his family since the revolutionary was figures were still coming for his family. However, the Patriot film attracted attention from the viewers and the American historians because of the misconnections in the film. According to the film, there were numerous historical inaccuracy mostly depicted by the Gibson’s army which is indicated to win over the British[5].  However, according to the reality history, the American lost in the war making it difficult for the British to take over the current American society.

How faithful is the film’s portrayal to what historians argue actually happened?

The Patriot film is one of the films that expose the American history, which in most cases is not exposed in most of the movies and novels. According to the movie, the Americans, this was a combination of continental army, fought against the British army. The fighting in the movies made it almost impossible for the British to overrule over the American natives. The American revolutionary war agitated by the blacks, introduced to fight against British. Although the movie tries to explain the actual events of the American revolutionary war, there are various historical inaccuracies[6]. This makes the movie inappropriate especially to the young generation and the students that are willing to learn more about the American history. The movie hides most of the American history that actually means a lot especially to the development of the current American society[7].

In the Patriot movie, numerous events have also been exaggerated to make the movie appealing and interesting to the viewers. The director and producer of the Patriot film suggest that it was essential for the film to have numerous exciting incidents. For this reasons, numerous changes were actually made to the original historical events. The produced also imply that the movie had to sell and compete with other fiction movies[8]. To be capable to face the completion imposed by the other films, the Patriot film had to be accompanied by some hilarious incidents. Since it was revealing the American revolutionary war, there was need of exaggeration of the actual events to make the film more appealing and interesting[9].

The only changes that were to be made to the historical war to alternate some events since very little hilarious changes would be made. For instance, one of the noticeable controversies that was noticeable in the entire movie and complained of numerous viewers was the historical inaccuracy. According to the movie, it is noticed that Gibson’s troop was victorious against the British soldiers. However, according to the accurate historical records, it is known that the American army lost numerous times against the war before defeating the British. However, in the film, only a single war made it possible for the Americans continental army to defeat the British. However, Glancy Mark the who is a professor in the University of London suggest that atrociously attributes that the film was mainly focused on the crimes that were done against Nazis who was only a fraction of the actual war.

What actually happen if not?

According to the actual history that took place, the British in the wars that happened before the continental army was formed which defended the defeated of the Americans. The formation of the continental army made it possible for the Americans to fight against the Americans. However, a group of Americans that made it possible for the number of the Americans fighting against the British to increase formed the continental army. The British defended the Americans since they were well trained and had superior weapons[10].

Since the British had gained independence before the Americans, they were exposed to superior weapons. This was an added advantage especially in the wars since the British would fight at long-range distances than the Americans. However, after a while, the Americans gained the knowledge of war and formed the continental army, which encompassed numerous soldiers[11]. This made it possible for the Americans to win the war against the British. This historical fact is what is hidden in the film since the movie only indicate how the Americans won the war against the British in the first war that it the only war in the entire Patriot film.

 

What ethical issues and moral challenges are introduced in the film?

Several ethical issues introduced to the viewer while watching the film, Patriot film however, the key ethical issue attributed in Patriot film is the war that emerges between the American and British. In the movie, the viewers introduced to the revolutionary war between the Americans in desire of independence from the British[12]. In addition to the war, the viewer is also introduced to hatred that exists between the continental soldiers and the officials. This contributes to the lack of moral ethics between the Americans and British, which contributes to the fight between the two nations.

Would you recommend this film to someone attempting to understand the cultural or event under consideration? why? Or Why not?

Several movies have been acted and reveal the actual historical events that happened in the American revolutionary years. The number of the movies that explains the historical events in a logical and sequential manner has increased. This implies that the Patriot film is not rated as the best movie that can be used to elaborate the American revolutionary wars. According to the sequence of events in film, it is vivid that there are a number of historical events that are mislead[13]. In the Patriot film, there are also a number of events that have been explained and mean a lot especially to someone that what to know exactly what happened during the American revolutionary war that lead to the independence of America. There are number unexplained events hence the viewer is supposed to figure out on himself what actually took place. For instance the inaccuracy in whether the Americans defeated the British or not implies that the there are a number of faults in the Patriot film[14].

There are also a number of historical events that are not mentioned in the Patriot film since the key concentrate of the film was only a single year, 1770s[15]. This implies that the film is not accurate in giving information concerning the actual historical events. For this reason, I would not recommend the Patriot film to a person that wants to learn the historical events that took place in America. The students who want to learn more about the historical events concerning the revolutionary war that took place in America are not supposed to watch the movie. The lack in the accuracy and logical flow of the events make the film in appropriate for the students to learn from the scenes[16].

What does the film’s interpretation of the historical topic under consideration tell us about our own cultural assumptions?

The interpretation of the Patriot film concerning the revolutionary war in the American society contributes to our understanding concerning the cultural assumptions that before gaining independence there was the need of struggle. Every nation has to indulge into fighting events before gaining independence. For this reason, the cultural assumption is that before attaining independence there is the need to fight and struggle[17].

 

Bibliography

Davis, Christopher. 1998. The patriot: poems. Athens: University of Georgia Press.

Harrod, William. 1769. The patriot: a tragedy. Michigan: the University of Michigan

Goldsmith, Dewey. 2005. The Patriot. New York: Author House

Rickard, J. (25 May 2003), American War of Independence (1775-1782), Retrieved on 18th April 2012. Accessed from: http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/wars_american_independence.html

Us wars. 2012. American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). Retrieved on 17th April, 2012

Accessed on: http://www.uswars.net/revolutionary-war/Britishbattles.com 2010. The war of the revolution 1775 to 1783. Retrieved on 17th April 2012.            Accessed on: http://www.britishbattles.com/american-revolution.htm

[1] Davis, Christopher. 1998. The patriot: poems. Athens: University of Georgia Press

[2] Harrod, William. 1769. The patriot: a tragedy. Michigan: the University of Michigan

[3] Rickard, J. (25 May 2003), American War of Independence (1775-1782)

[4] Harrod, William. 1769. The patriot: a tragedy. Michigan: the University of Michigan

[5] Davis, Christopher. 1998. The patriot: poems. Athens: University of Georgia Press

[6] Goldsmith, Dewey. 2005. The Patriot. New York: Author House

 

[7] Goldsmith, Dewey. 2005. The Patriot. New York: Author House

[8] Harrod, William. 1769. The patriot: a tragedy. Michigan: the University of Michigan

[9] Davis, Christopher. 1998. The patriot: poems. Athens: University of Georgia Press

[10] Goldsmith, Dewey. 2005. The Patriot. New York: Author House

[11] Davis, Christopher. 1998. The patriot: poems. Athens: University of Georgia Press

[12] Britishbattles.com 2010. The war of the revolution 1775 to 1783

[13] Us wars. 2012. American Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

[14] Rickard, J. (25 May 2003), American War of Independence (1775-1782)

[15] Davis, Christopher. 1998. The patriot: poems. Athens: University of Georgia Press

[16] Goldsmith, Dewey. 2005. The Patriot. New York: Author House

[17] Harrod, William. 1769. The patriot: a tragedy. Michigan: the University of Michigan

The Patriot

Select a movie that covers an historical topic or era and compare the storyline/characters/factual events with more objective historical records. I am thinking "The Patriot" would be a good movie if you can do it.

MOVIE REVIEW GUIDE

The movie review assignment is intended to challenge students to consider historical accuracy and the content depicted in a powerful art form – film.

The movie selected can include one made in any year, by any studio or television production company so long as the rating is “PG-13” or less (G, PG), was made for prime-time television, or holds an “NR” because it was produced before 1970. This category includes mini-series produced for television, movies based on novels, and those that are in the documentary style without actually being documentaries. Please Note — using authentic documentaries is not permissible.

The movie’s setting should be within the time period covered by the course and should be set in an historical period, rather than the present. In other words, the movie’s focus should take place in a setting sometime between 1400 and 1990.

The Review should include the following paragraphs:
One to two paragraphs providing the basic details of the movie selected, including date released, production company, actors, theme, and format (black & white, etc.).
One to two paragraphs providing details of the story line.
An analysis of 3 specific elements (a scene, a character or group, a location, etc.) and their historical accuracy, based on the information you possess from your textbook or other readings.
One paragraph or more that discusses why you think the movie remained either true to the historical record or veered into a less historically- accurate mode; and, what you thought of the movie, overall.
Write 2-3 pages in the format required (12 point Roman font, double spaced, etc.)
2. A paragraph or 2 about the movie itself
3. Synopsis of the story
4. Analyze 3 elements
5. Historical analysis paragraph or two

The Patriot

Select a movie that covers an historical topic or era and compare the storyline/characters/factual events with more objective historical records. I am thinking "The Patriot" would be a good movie if you can do it.

MOVIE REVIEW GUIDE

The movie review assignment is intended to challenge students to consider historical accuracy and the content depicted in a powerful art form – film.

The movie selected can include one made in any year, by any studio or television production company so long as the rating is “PG-13” or less (G, PG), was made for prime-time television, or holds an “NR” because it was produced before 1970. This category includes mini-series produced for television, movies based on novels, and those that are in the documentary style without actually being documentaries. Please Note — using authentic documentaries is not permissible.

The movie’s setting should be within the time period covered by the course and should be set in an historical period, rather than the present. In other words, the movie’s focus should take place in a setting sometime between 1400 and 1990.

The Review should include the following paragraphs:
One to two paragraphs providing the basic details of the movie selected, including date released, production company, actors, theme, and format (black & white, etc.).
One to two paragraphs providing details of the story line.
An analysis of 3 specific elements (a scene, a character or group, a location, etc.) and their historical accuracy, based on the information you possess from your textbook or other readings.
One paragraph or more that discusses why you think the movie remained either true to the historical record or veered into a less historically- accurate mode; and, what you thought of the movie, overall.
Write 2-3 pages in the format required (12 point Roman font, double spaced, etc.)
2. A paragraph or 2 about the movie itself
3. Synopsis of the story
4. Analyze 3 elements
5. Historical analysis paragraph or two