Le patriote

The Patriot (nothing to do with the Mel Gibson film of the same name) came out Steven Seagal was still doing that 'saving the environment' thing in his movies. Which is fine. But it doesn't make for good action.

When the plot(?) of this film finally kicked in I saw the twist(?) coming a mile off. Seagal's anti-warfare, care-for-mother-nature stance is not very subtle. For a film that was originally going to debut in the cinemas it is shot very much like a TV movie despite some wonderful shots of the country by Dean Semler, the photographer of Dances with Wolves.

Steven Seagal does like 1 fight scene in the entire film and it's totally boring. As an action film it fails, as a drama it stinks, as an environmental message it's obvious. Avoid like Ebola crossed with plague.

I've just seen the Patriot, released directly to Sky television in the UK I was expecting a really bad film, but I enjoyed it.

Okay it may not be as action packed as his earlier movies but if you watch this film in its own right rather than an unofficial Under Seige part III then i think it stands up very well.

As to someone's point that the action was just "tagged on" rubbish, I thought it was relevant to the story at that point.

Continuing my plan to watch every Steven Seagal movie in order I come to

The Patriot (1998)

Following his split from Warner Bros, Segal's business partner, Jules Nasso, put together a four-picture deal for Seagal. This was the first film that the financing had been solely raised by Seagal/Nasso Productions. There were no company logos, just Inter light Pictures and Baldwin/Cohen Productions present in association with Seagal/Nasso Productions

Apparently Seagal thought audiences were paying to see his movies for his acting ability, so he tries to show case that here as Doctor Wesley McClaren and its pretty embarrassing when he does try to do some serious acting. Like attempting to portray frustration as the soldiers die despite his best effortsnto save them.

I have to say, for me, this is the first bad movie in his filmography. Seagal adopts a really bad Western accent here. When combined with his trademark whispery voice, half the time I could not make out what he was saying. I'm the end I had to put the Subtitles.

Most of this movie is so moronic and implausible it beggers disbelief. There is lots of easily spotted foreshadowing and screenplay 101's littered all the way through the movie. I did make it to the ridiculous end, though.

The Patriot was the first Steven Seagal movie to be released straight to video in most countries. In just 10 years he had gone from promising action star to straight to video.

There are only three movies that have shown Steven Seagal can act and this is one of them. Along with "Fire Down Below," and "The Glimmer Man" Seagal has shown he has talent.

Though there is not that much action, "The Patriot" is the best film because it means that the supporting cast along with Seagal must come together to pull off a winner.

I enjoyed everything about this film from the plot, casting and pace of the movie.

I was completely impressed by the performance of Camilia Belle who portrayed the daughter because she was a breath of fresh air to Hollywood even though she was in other films.

This is worth everyone's attention because Steven Seagal has finally made a movie that is tolerable and can be watched in comfort with the knowledge that it will not be boring.

I give "The Patriot" an 8 out of 10.

I've seen a lot of Steven Seagal movies. I enjoy a lot of them. But I have to be honest, I don't always know if "laughing with him or at him". If you know what I'm saying. Steven Seagal in "The Patriot" is the Seagal I like best. He speaking quietly of "important" issues and then throws some guy through a window. He's a modern day Billy Jack and, every now and then, I need that. "The Patriot" is not Seagal's finest hour but it's not one of his weak ones either. It okay. It gets a passing grade.