USA: PREMIERE OF MEL GIBSON' LATEST FILM "THE PATROIT" ABOUT THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

Record ID: 389754

  • Title: USA: PREMIERE OF MEL GIBSON' LATEST FILM "THE PATROIT" ABOUT THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE
  • Date: 11th June 2000
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 11) (REUTERS) SCU (SOUNDBITE) (ENGLISH) ROLAND EMMERICH SAYING We like, really trained everybody. We had, like, re-enacters for a big part of the movie. We had weapons specialists, we had the Smithsonian Institute. We had, like, a lot of people really advising us and training the people so the moment we actually started shootin
  • Embargoed: 26th June 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, US AND FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3M097MBH27TOLK3GGDA2P357E
  • Story Text: Mel Gibson attempts to turn an American Revolutionary War drama into a summer movie blockbuster with the new film "The Patriot." He and his co-stars joined director Roland Emmerich at the film's World Premiere in Los Angeles.
    At first glance, "The Patriot" doesn't seem like the typical summer movie blockbuster because it lacks car chases, aliens and gratuitous teenage sex. At its heart, it's the story of an ordinary farmer, played by Gibson, who desperately struggles to keep his family out of the American Revolution in 1776 South Carolina.
    But when Columbia Pictures put in charge director Roland Emmerich and producer Dean Devlin, the team responsible for films like "Independence Day" and "Godzilla," they knew they were in for an epic production.
    In this case, the epic consisted of 63 principal actors, 95 stuntmen, 400 extras and 400 professional Revolutionary War re-enactors who staged the historic clashes of Camden and Cowpens for the cameras.
    For the first time in history, historians at the highly respected Smithsonian Institution acted as historical advisors for a major studio production.
    Despite all of this attention to detail and authenticity, the film is already being criticized for its loose interpretation of historical events and characters.
    It has generated controversy for its negative portrayal of British officers, especially the character of the snobbish and brutal Colonel Tavington, played in villainous style by Jason Isaacs.
    Rounding out the cast is Australian newcomer Heath Ledger, who plays Gabriel Martin, the eldest son of Gibson's character.
    For Ledger, working on the film was a dream come true, especially since he grew up watching the films of fellow Aussie Gibson.
    Both Gibson and Ledger spent hours perfecting the weapons and fighting styles of the period militia men they were portraying.
    Their new talents included horseback riding, hand to hand combat with tomahawks, and the cumbersome process of loading and firing an 18th century musket.
    Although the film has all the makings of a hit, including Mel Gibson and eye-opening pyrotechnics, Hollywood analysts are wondering if Americans will flock to a nearly three hour epic about the Revolutionary War in the midst of the heat of summer. Traditionally, films set during this time period have failed at the box office.
    Obviously, Columbia Pictures and German-born directorRoland Emmerich hope to break that curse when "The Patriot" opens in theaters throughout the United States on Wednesday, June 30.
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