Posted 2:12 AM by Paul
Patriot Games

I caught the last 10 minutes of "The Patriot" starring Mel Gibson before I went to bed. I would reccomend it to anyone. It is a real hoot. Not because the English are characatured as child murderers (par for the course) but because of the positive depiction of the French.

If they filmed it in 2004 they oculd never get away with casting a Frenchman as Mel's great friend and comrade at arms in the fight for Liberty. I gather that the Frenchman had also lost children thanks to the war unleashed by the corrupt British - so the pair had an unbreakable bond. Despite the fact that huge swathes of the Brithish Army were staffed and commanded by Scots, Welsh and Irish the only accents on show were "plum in the mouth" Oxbridge English. This was topped off by the sub-plot of a freed slave who faught willingly with his former masters. One of his new white buddies says "I respect you." I half expected the black man to roll his eyes and cry out "Oh Gee Thank you Massa. Hallelujah." Of course Mel finshes off the dastardly Brit who killed his sons and sepite being ripped open with bayonets and shot he survives with no scars to show for his experience. They probably shot an ending where he died wrapped in the flag but the focus groups didn't like it so they gave the film a more upbeat ending.

Then the film strayed into the field of the Historically Correct by pointing out that the English had their escape to the sea blocked by the French Navy. The baddies surrended in a cowardly fashion. The USA owed its birth to France's desire to cause trouble for the Britain.

Maybe in future we will look back on 2003-and 2004 and thank France for its actions. Actions undoubtedly motivated to a large extent by self interest but the right actions all the same