The combat soldiers I know say Saving Private Ryan is the most realistic combat movie they have seen. It is hard hitting though, not kids stuff.
Sometimes these movies are edited for the classroom and they take out what they deem to be too bloody or controversial. They may have recorded edited versions from television.
As a history teacher both the Patriot and Saving Private Ryan have limited value to teaching about both WWII and the American Revolution.
There are far better documentaries out there that give far better information.