St. Patrick: The Irish Legend

Customer Reviews:

Based On Mythology Rather Than History.......2007-05-26

This is a simplistic made for television movie based on the myths surrounding St Patrick the "legendary hero" rather than the facts about the actual historical person. For example, some rather cheesy special effects are used to depict Patrick's supposedly God inspired visions and magical powers.

I suppose this could be considered all in good fun, especially for kids. But the problem is that some people are going to believe this is based on real historical events rather than legend and mythology. Of course, the true story of St Patrick the man is far more interesting and I would have preferred a movie about him rather than all this silliness about using magic to defeat the "evil pagan" enemies. This film is not worth watching.

Saints Preserve Us!!.......2007-04-08

This film seems to have striven to use B-grade everything: The actors were hammy, the dialogue sophomoric, and the special effects were seemingly pulled of the dumpsters behind the lot where Cecil B. DeMille's "Ten Commandments" was made.

Still, somehow I enjoyed seeing a version of Patrick's life (how accurate I couldn't say) and somehow ended up finding the film entertaining, though not always in the ways the filmmakers intended. I found myself laughing at things meant to be serious, and cringing at things intended to be moving.

Excellent Product!.......2006-11-10

This movie gives an excellent depiction of the life and times of the real St. Patrick. This is the best movie of his life I have seen.

Cecil B. DeMille films in Ireland.......2005-10-12

This film gives the basics of Patrick's life in an entertaining fashion. I think children will probably like it. Older people have been influenced enough by Hollywood magic to consider its limited effects rather old fashioned. Its style reminds me of Cecil B. DeMille's "10 Commandments".

If you want an intertaining film on the life of Patrick, this is it. If you want a study with a little more depth and little less legend I'd pick the docu-drama PATRICK. Liam Neeson narrates and Gabriel Byrne provides the voice of Patrick.

Grievously disappointing.......2005-03-01

If you want a film that, as has been previously and repetitiously described, is a "feel-good movie" about the patron saint of Ireland, then look no further. The kids will love it. Younger ones will, at least. It's only 90 minutes long, so it may even keep their attention.

If you want real substance, however, do not waste your time or money on this film.

I realize that this movie was made for television, and that it was made for Fox Family, at that, but I sincerely wish that the producers had spent a little more time and effort on this film. St. Patrick's is a wonderful story that should be told with much more reverence and sincerity than this production offers.

The plot of the film is very rushed, the acting is very cheesy, with the exception (barely) of Patrick Bergin and Malcolm MacDowell, the costuming is questionable for 5th century Ireland, and the special effects are of little better qualtiy than those late 1950s/early '60s Hercules and Jason and the Argonauts movies. I think someone's middle-school son or daughter created the FX for a class project. There is absolutely no depth to this movie. I'm not sure if any real research went into the making of the film, since it is based almost entirely on the Patrick of myth than the Patrick of history. The movie is based more on what someone would learn in Catholic school as a young child than on what we learn from history.

Then, again, this may be the whole point, and I am ranting for nothing. I believe the target audience was the wee lads and lasses, rather than those of us who are older, and inspired more from the real St. Patrick than the fairy-tale Patrick, driving out nonexistent snakes and breaking up pagan virgin sacrifices which probably never happened, either.

Please pardon me if I am overly critical of the technical merits of the film, as I realize it was probably never intended to enter into the running for an Oscar. Perhaps I simply had higher expectations for the film, as an Irishman and a big fan of St. Patrick. This movie hurt my feelings.

If you are truly interested in being inspired by the story of St. Patrick, read Philip Freeman's "St. Patrick of Ireland: A Biography," at least as a start.

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