10 Dumbest Decisions In War Movie History

10. The Patriot - Trusting A Local Militia Force

Starting off, we have The Patriot directed by Roland Emmerich. It arrived in 2000 and took place at the height of the American Revolutionary War. It pits Captain Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) against the deadly Colonel William Tavington in several major battles.

The character is based on the real-life Banastre Tarleton, an infamous British soldier who led his band of raiders to aid in the recapture of Charleston. The cinematic portrayal of this individual goes for a more ruthless tone as Tavington brutalises many of his continental victims. Despite his methods, he's taken on by General Charles Cornwallis to eliminate the enemy by any means necessary.

This quickly proves to be a mistake. Putting his trust in the violent colonel only stokes the fires of rebellion even more and the result is a decisive battle at Cowpens. This loss, acting as a domino effect, leads to defeat after defeat for the seasoned British commander. He's forced to retreat many times over the coming weeks.

These events, while heavily fictionalised for the film, led to the final siege of Yorktown in 1781. With this final encounter, the British were driven out of the continent and forced to accept the United States as its own independent nation.