Re: The Patriot

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Posted by Diana on July 05, 2000 at 15:41:13:

In Reply to: Re: The Patriot posted by Ayesha on July 05, 2000 at 14:41:58:

: When we came out of the film, the fireworks display was going on at the nearby Shoreline Ampetheater! It was incredible! Collin and I sat on a bench and watched the show. The timing couldn't have been more perfect, with the way the movie ended and then coming outside to see the celebration, it was like the "icing on the cake". It was so meaningful! When I see films like this one, I want to delve deeper into finding out what the history really is. If the film gets many others interested in this time period, then I say "yeah"! Bottom line: A must see!

: All the best,

: Ayesha

Hi all,

I too LOVED "The Patriot". Saw it last Saturday with my *bud* Cecelia and what we loved most was the feeling of wanting to know more about the actual events, knowing that the words "based on" has a WIDE range in movie making (from loosely based to tightly based?)!

When watching the final scene and its impact on the course of the war, I was certain the final battle was the Battle of Cowpens so I raced to B&N to procure ANOTHER copy of "A Devil of a Whiping" by Larry Babits to find out more about it (since I donated my copy to the raffle before reading it - intent on getting an autographed one). And low and behold, in the front window was not only my autographed copy of the book I was seeking, but a companion book to the movie. It is full of GREAT pictures and has lots of info on who was based on who, what event was similar to this event ...and so on! Interestingly, Benjamin Martin is based on several Revolutionary War heroes who had also fought in the F&I War. One or two we had heard about, but they mentioned a few I had not heard about. The three main ones were, of course Francis Marion, but also Daniel Morgan and his role in the Battle of Cowpens and also Thomas Sumpter (the Carolina Gamecock), and also little bits of Andrew Pickens and Elijah Clark. In the article, birth dates of the three main men were listed and they all were in their mid to late forties at the time of Cowpens (1781). BUT, Tarleton, also known as "Bloody Ban" and the "Butcher", was only 27 years old at the time of the battle and Cornwallis was only 43 years old. I just found that interesting when one thinks about the images one starts to form from movie characters. But as Ayesha, and Rich, and Sgt. Toot all said, whatever it takes to get folks thinking and seeking new knowledge!

I will say it made me get a lump in my throat each time I looked at the flag this 4th of July. Yea, it did contain a few *Mel-isms*, but I forced them down with a big dose of those BIG BLUE EYES! And I didn't think the church burning with folks still in it added much to the movie. Tavington was loathesome enough as it was!

Anyway, guys, "HERE, HERE" for learning more about history!!! And I plan on attending my very first re-enactment in January in Cowpens, SC. I've got a lot to learn and read about until then!

Another scene that really affected me was when Martin walks out on his front porch to see the British pursuing Continentals into his own yard. Can we even imagine how fortunate we are to have had men like Marion, and Morgan, and Sumpter "defend their farms and families" as they did, so we can rest easy each night?

Bad movie, Good movie (*shoulder shrug*)... things happened we need to remember!

Diana


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