Braveheart

Rating:
Summary: A MUST HAVE
Review: I find it fascinating that people find a hard time telling the difference between a MOVIE and reality(see next review). However, if you CAN seperate the two, then Braveheart is a great escape. With good performaces and a beautiful backdrop to a great STORY.

Rating:
Summary: ENTERTAINING BUT FLAWED
Review: Before you slaughter me for giving Braveheart only three stars (actually I'd give it three and a half), let me start by putting my review into some kind of perspective. Not only am I Scottish, born and bred but like all Scots I am extremely patriotic and proud of my country's heritage and its history, particularly the likes of William Wallace. I also acknowledge that Braveheart (and Rob Roy) undoubtedly gave our tourism industry a great boost, particularly with the number of American visitors and for this I am truly grateful BUT, not only is Braveheart a historically questionable account of the events surrounding William Wallace's rebellion against the English in defence of Scotland's 'Freedom!', the modern and truly cheesy dialogue totally spoilt this movie for me.

I could give you a very long list of historical inaccuracies to justify why I'd only give Braveheart three stars: First off, there is the fact that Mel Gibson is about a foot shorter than the great big hairy man that was William Wallace (but that doesn't actually interest me). Or the fact that the actual battle that Wallace defeated the English was called the Battle of Stirling Bridge, yet there is no sign of a bridge in Braveheart. Or, what about the fact that the 'prima nocta' (legislation allowing English overlords to sleep with Scottish women on their wedding night) just did not exist. Perhaps the most ludicrous suggestion is that Princess Isobelle's child (the future Edward III) was sired by Wallace. Not very likely unless she was impregnated at about the age of four and had a twenty year long pregnancy. Actually there are so many historical inaccuracies I could go on and on BUT I DON'T REALLY CARE ABOUT THE HISTORICAL INACCURACIES or the dodgy Scottish accents. I can even forgive the fact that Robert The Bruce (Scotland's greatest ever king and much more famous Scottish hero) is portrayed here as quite a weak, indecisive and possibly even cowardly character. I can also forgive the misguided patriotism that Braveheart has stirred in the uneducated and uncultured part of Scottish society, who didn't even know who Wallace was before Braveheart, and the fact that the councillors of Stirling have erected a horrible tacky dwarf sized statue at the foot of the Wallace monument that closely and embarrassingly resembles Mel Gibson.

What bothers me most, and detracts from my enjoyment of Braveheart, is the truly awful dialogue. I don't think I actually realised just how cheesy it was until I saw it second time around but it really makes me wince. Blame for this lies solely at the feet of Randall Wallace (no relation) who wrote the screenplay. This is the same man who was subsequently responsible for The Man In The Iron Mask (with Leonardo DiCaprio); its dialogue is also far too modern and also extremely corny. It's so bad it's almost on a par with Titanic.

Don't get me wrong BRAVEHEART IS AN ENTERTAINING MOVIE and I'm very glad Mel Gibson made it, but it just isn't culture and it just isn't brilliant. It's a good entertaining movie, better than average and it has a lot of other things going for it. For example, good supporting performances from the likes of Patrick McGoohan, Catherine McCormack, Brian Cox, Sophie Marceau and James Cosmo). THE BATTLE SCENES ARE EXTREMELY DRAMATIC, EXCITING, WELL FILMED AND DIRECTED. The music is also excellent, the scenery is beautiful (although some of it was actually filmed in Ireland because it was cheaper). As a patriotic Scotsman, I'd truly love to say this was the greatest movie ever made and I wish I could but unfortunately I just can't get past the truly awful dialogue and personally in terms of Scottish historical movies I'd have to recommend Rob Roy.

***1/2 stars.

Rating:
Summary: One of my all-time favorite movies!
Review: If you haven't seen Braveheart yet, I highly suggest it. Something in the story struck a chord with me. I saw it seven times in the theater (okay, so I was a teenager at the time with much time to waste), and rented it twice more before buying the two-tape set. In fact, when I loaned it to someone who didn't return it, I went out and bought it again, only this time on widescreen. Now I don't loan it out anymore.
This movie is a true story about William Wallace, a man in medieval Scotland who wanted to free his land from British control. The king of England is truly evil, Willam's loves are breathtaking and heartbreaking as well, and his friends are by turns loyal and traitors.
The cinematography is beautiful, and Mel Gibson really should direct more films, as he really has an eye for the job.
All in all, a film well worth its Best Picture Oscar.

Rating:
Summary: Spartacus in a Kilt
Review: That's one way of looking at "Braveheart", with Mel Gibson playing the Scottish national hero, William Wallace. Like Spartacus, Wallace was also a real-life person. Like Spartacus, he strove against a mighty oppressor nation that was destroying the liberty of others. And like Spartacus, Wallace died for his cause in a brutal fashion.

I saw "Braveheart" after I returned from a moving trip to Scotland, where I learned of the brave hero from countrymen who still love and revere him, centuries after his struggles for their liberty. I heard in advance from them where there are inaccuracies in the story (the Battle of Stirling was fought on a bridge, for instance, not a plain), but still and all, I found it a moving depiction of man's fight against injustice. Mel Gibson turned in a great performance of Wallace, and Patrick McGoohan as the evil King Edward of England was wickedly good as well.

If you're found of Kirk Douglas as Spartacus, then you'll be very happy with Mel Gibson's epic, too.

Rating:
Summary: Action with a Purpose
Review: Unlike many others of today's action films, Braveheart was actually written with a plot and purpose. It is truly a great film and is possibly the epitome of love and war movies. I don't really see the point in babbling on about how great it is, seeing that most people that buy DVD's have already seen the movie, so I'll just note that the DVD has several special features, namely commentary by Mel Gibson himself. The trailers are good, and the making-of featurette is also top-notch. An essential for all buyers.

Rating:
Summary: Anything but five stars is blasphemous
Review: Ok, most men will love this movie. Yes, its got a love story blah blah blah, but it has BATTLE, and WAR, and KILLING!!! WOHOO.

Ok, seriously, this movie is one of my all time favorites. If your weak of stomach it may not be the movie for you (or you can close your eyes during the bad parts). There is a lot of war, and they do not hold back the struggles and difficulties of battle within this movie. You feel terrible for those that have to run in on the battle lines and hope to survive the fight.

However you also get a rich storyline with struggle, love, and deception. All the characters are full of life, detail, and history. There are comic acts to help break the tension as well. All bundled into a short 3 hour movie called Braveheart. It is a movie you will not soon forget.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT MOVIE, NOT SO GOOD FEATURES, BUT WORTH THE 5
Review: Well, by now I think everyone has seen Braveheart, but who cares, this movie is one that you can see over an over, it is very good, the acting, the story, the soundtrack, everything is awesome, except the DVD, what a let down, practically nothing, just a commentary, trailers and a little documentary, no featurettes, deleted scenes, alternate ending, talent files, or all the other great special features that make a great DVD. Sure it was not a special edition, but why not, this film deserves one, another letdown by Paramount, like Apocalypse Now Redux, or the Untouchables, great movies, not so great DVD, just the film and a little stuff which is not enough, you see bad movies that get awesome special features, example, MIB, not so good a movie, what a load of special features, but these films, they deserve better, the quality is not such a problem, good sound, good picture, but where are the features, we need the features, the film is worth it though but dot be so lazy. Anyhow, the film is so good it deserves the money.

Rating:
Summary: NOT BAD, BUT NOT GREAT
Review: Aside from the fact that, like "Gladiator" and "The Patriot", it completely ignores historical reality, this wasn't a bad film. The fight scenes were appropriately bloody (realistic without being too intentionally grotesque) and Mel Gibson is always fun to watch. So, to sum it up, while not great history, it is fun to watch in a one dimensional kind of way so if you don't go in with great expectations, you shouldn't have any problem with it.

Rating:
Summary: They may take our lives but they will never take our FREEDOM
Review: That dialogue has to be one of the most inspirational and moving speeches ever given on film. It speaks volumes too about the war that we have been forced to wage recently. Anyway, Braveheart is nothing short of spectacular. The battle sequences are breathtaking, epic, and completely convincing. Mel Gibson does an excellent job directing such a large scale project and Braveheart succeeds on multiple levels. The character development is excellent and the viewer comes to deeply care about the Wallace character and his motley crew. At it's core, Braveheart is a love story. The tale of a man forced to wage a war that he had no intention of fighting. Avenging the death of his slain love, William Wallace besieges the English colonizers and liberates Scotland in the name of freedom. This film is an inspirational call to arms and is truly American down to it's very core. Funny that this would come from an Aussie, eh? I can honestly say that Braveheart is one of the best films I have ever seen, no DVD collection will be complete without it. Highest Recommendation.

Rating:
Summary: Worth watching again and again
Review: It is hard to recall any really bad movies that Mel Gibson has been in, and this is no exception, the only question being; "Is it his best?" Perhaps...

In an interview about the film I learned that after Gibson read the script he decided that he didn't want to merely act in the film, but direct it as well. The script was written with the historical William Wallace in mind, but as it turns out, the history is a bit shady, so most of the film is fiction based on a few known facts and a lot of legend. But it doesn't hurt the story in the least.

Besides the cinematography which was fantastic, the script which was captivating and the costumes which were amazing; the film delivered some very strong object lessons in love, morality, loyalty and justice.

In the movie 'The General's Daughter' the question is raised "What could be more terrible than rape?" and the answer is "betrayal". The same brutality and utter destructiveness of betrayal is shown in Braveheart and its power is graphically displayed. The movies power is in being able to take the viewer on highs and lows, to make us see and feel the anger, pain, love and victory.

The other important message about family, loved ones and community and the importance of protecting them, even with the cost of one's own life cannot be understated. In America after 9/11 we realize that danger is close and that peace and justice often come with a bloody price tag. I never felt that the film gloried war or death, and it certainly was very graphic, this isn't a film for the young, but it did a good job of showing the hearts and minds of the warriors and the strength that allowed them to fight for what they felt was right and just.

The call of Braveheart, "Freedom" is a timeless message and this movie is a timeless story. It can be watched over and over again. Highly recommended.