For the past two weeks, my dad has been asking me to get him a DVD copy of Mel Gibson’s The Patriot. As to why, I don’t know. My mom and I think that his desire to see the The Patriot again is one of the “cravings” he’s having nowadays. He’s also craving for different kinds of food — the new chicken steak at Jollibee, the combo meal at Greenwich, the thin-crust Shakey’s Special pizza, the all-you-can-eat buffet at Dad’s, and the noodles at Chowking to name a few. What can I say? TV and billboard advertisements are very effective. lol.
Anyway, last night I had the chance to purchase a DVD copy of The Patriot. He was asleep when I came home so I just gave it to him first thing this morning before I took a shower. The minute I gave it to him he immediately turned the player on, inserted the DVD, and sat comfortably on his chair to watch the film. My mom and I had to laugh because he was acting like a little kid who just received a fancy present.
After I’ve taken my bath and changed into my “work clothes”, I headed downstairs to eat breakfast and watch with them. They were already at the part where Benjamin Martin’s (Mel Gibson’s character) son, Thomas, was shot in the chest by Col. William Tavington because Thomas was trying to free Gabriel (his older brother) from the hands of the soldiers who captured him. That scene is probably the most dramatic part of the movie. Benjamin Martin rushed to catch Thomas just before he fell to the ground. His little brothers and sisters also witnessed Thomas die in their father’s arms and they were all crying. And it’s needless to say that the movie also made me shed some tears! And it was only 7:15 in the morning!
The scene right after that one is probably the highlight of the movie. After the cold-hearted soldiers left, Mel Gibson’s character was forced to avenge his son’s death and free his other son from the hands of the British. He, with the help of his two other sons (who are very young to be holding guns!) went ahead of the soldiers (who held Gabriel captive) and positioned themselves behind the bushes for an attack. Martin handed each a musket and instructed them to “Aim small, miss small” when taking a shot at the “redcoats”, while he kept running back and forth to create distraction and kill more of them. There were 20 British redcoats, and it was only Martin and his two little boys who killed them all (except for one who lived to tell the tale about “the ghost in the forest”).
Not to sound as though I like watching people kill each other, but that particular scene was just so cool. The kids were very brave that you can’t help but love them.
The Patriot may be just a “one man’s revenge” melodrama and is not really about the whole Revolutionary War in the 18th century, but the story is, evidently, focused more on “family”. Martin is a widower who barely had help in raising his seven children. More than just America’s freedom (with help from the French) The Patriot is about a father who was willing to do everything he can to protect his children.
It was nice to see The Patriot again. I can see why my dad loves it so much.
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