Mel Gibson kicks major Redcoat butt in the uneven Revolutionary War saga, "The Patriot." While the movie benefits from good acting and striking cinematography, a turgid length and an obsession with battlefield gore keeps it from truly soaring. Despite its shortcomings, "The Patriot" is perfect viewing for the July 4^th holiday. It has everything you need to honor this star-spangled event. We’ve got brave heroes! Gratuitous flag-waving! POV shots from an oncoming cannonball! Drop those fireworks (after safely extinguishing them, of course) and get yourself to the multiplex.

Gibson, director Roland Emmerich ("Independence Day") and writer Robert Rodat ("Saving Private Ryan") have turned a chapter of our nation’s history into a slam-bang adventure. Gibson plays Benjamin Martin, a prominent landowner in 1776. He’s struggling to raise his seven children following the recent death of his wife. Meanwhile, the American colonies are on the brink of war with the British Empire. Benjamin, a veteran of the French & Indian War, is not eager to return to battle. His two oldest sons, however, can’t wait to see combat. Their heads are full of boyish fantasies of war while Benjamin is well aware of its horrors.

Drop those fireworks (after safely extinguishing them, of course) and get yourself to the multiplex.

When confronted by his fellow landowners about his pacifism, Benjamin reminds them that this won’t be a war fought on some foreign countryside. It will be a battle waged in their backyards in full view of their families. The filmmakers echo his sentiments by shooting many skirmishes from the vantage point of a front porch or bedroom window. When you realize that we haven’t had to fight a war on our native soil in modern times, these images become especially gripping. Scenes of children lying in bed listening to cannon fire are also quite chilling.

Ultimately, Benjamin’s family is torn apart when eldest son Gabriel (played by Heath Ledger of "10 Things I Hate About You") joins the Colonial army against his wishes. A rebel defeat brings him limping home with the British forces hot on his trail. A tragic confrontation with the dastardly Colonel Tavington (played by Jason Isaacs from "The End of the Affair) finally convinces Benjamin that the only way to protect his family is to fight.

The movie really starts cooking once Benjamin joins the fray. He has spent most of his life trying to escape from his violent past, but now he must embrace his darker self. This transformation takes place when Benjamin and his young sons ambush a small group of British soldiers holding Gabriel prisoner. His boys watch him change from their loving father into a brutal killing machine. The horrified looks on their faces as he savagely dispatches the enemy is one of the most startling images I’ve seen on film in a long time.

It’s hard to believe that "The Patriot" was directed by the same guy that made "Independence Day" and "Godzilla." While those movies had their moments, they are guilty pleasures at best. They’re mainly a mishmash of special effects and bad jokes. Emmerich exhibits more finesse with "The Patriot." There’s a maturity here that’s missing from his other films. Maybe he just needed a break from aliens and giant monsters in order to find his creative voice. Partnering with some of the most gifted people in the business probably helped a great deal, too.

You could cut about 30 minutes from "The Patriot" and still not lose any momentum.

Like "Gladiator," this action flick hosts some top notch performances. The scenes between Gibson and Ledger are as emotionally compelling as any I’ve seen recently. Gibson is much better as a dad here than he was in previous paternal outings, like the kidnapping thriller "Ransom." While he’s mainly known as a movie star, he’s pretty under-rated as an actor. I think his work will definitely turn some heads. Ledger is equally good as the passionate Gabriel. He doesn’t hide in Gibson’s shadow.

While Emmerich’s movies always have a generous helping of special effects, he’s never seemed to be a very visual director. I’ve always attributed those eye-popping opticals more to his effects team. I mean, it doesn’t take a creative genius to call ILM and order up some eye candy. He proves me wrong with the camerawork in "The Patriot." He and cinematographer Caleb Deschanel ("The Right Stuff and "Anna and the King") have created some really wonderful images. Several of the shots – the rebel base in the swamp amidst the fog-enshrouded ruins of an old church, for example – transcend the film. I’d like to take some of these pictures home with me.

The movie, however, is not without flaws. The biggest of which is its two hour and 40 minute running time. You could cut about 30 minutes and still not lose any momentum. There are also several unnecessary subplots that could have been trimmed, including an awkward romance between Benjamin and his sister-in-law (played by Joely Richardson from "Event Horizon"). An interlude at a seaside refuge about 90 minutes into the film nearly grinds things to a halt. The movie barely recovers.

"The Patriot" also suffers from a villain that might just be too evil. In other reviews, I’ve remarked about bad guys that weren’t bad enough, but Isaac’s Colonel Tavington takes villainy to the extreme. I understand his vile deeds are supposed to motivate our hero, but this guy provides waaaaaay too much motivation. After the umpteenth time Tavington’s killed or maimed someone dear to us, we stop taking him seriously. It’s like "Okay, we get it. You’re evil."

He and Benjamin get their inevitable showdown during the film’s climax – a crucial battle that could change the course of the war. Most movies save their biggest battle scenes for the end, but there’s nothing in this finale to rival anything that’s gone on before. We get a lot of flag-waving, but that’s about it. There have been so many skirmishes prior to this point; you’re just desensitized to the whole thing. Plus, the filmmakers linger too long on the final confrontation between Benjamin and Tavington. It’s like CNN covering a boxing match when you want to see coverage of the D-Day invasion.

"The Patriot" has a lot going for it, but ultimately doesn’t live up to its potential. A weak final hour produces a very lopsided film. If the filmmakers had focused more on the story and less on the gory details of Colonial era warfare, this movie would have an instant classic. A spectacular union of action flick with historical drama. As it stands, it is merely a fun diversion. Rambo meets Paul Revere.