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Summary: A passionate case for individual liberty and sovereignity.
Review: I like this movie for much the same reasons I like the Last of the Mohicans, however violent these movies may seem. It's about man's fight for his inalienable natural rights to life, liberty, and self-government in the face of tyranny of the state and evil men. My Anglo blood isn't thick enough for me not to be stirred by this historic movie about Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace.
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Summary: Excellent Masterpiece
Review: This is truly a masterpiece. Mel Gibson plays the role of William Wallace, Sophie Marceau supports as well as others. This Movie has everything a movie could have, action, comedy, romance, etc. The battles are a thing to remember, very well done. The ending is without a doubt one of the most memorable on movie history. A MUST See!
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Summary: Review by a Scotsman
Review: Written by an American, starring and directed by an Australian, this is still a great Scottish movie. Why? Because it feels right. There are certain touches which are so convincing; for example, the early scene where they are discussing whether to fight the English or not: Someone says they can't win, to which Wallace's father replies, "We don't have to win, just fight." This phrase sums up Scottish history - a country hemmed in by a neighbor over ten times its size in population, a country with no hope of ever winning, but determined never to lose. It was under these unique conditions that the hardy strain of Scottish freedom developed of which this movie is a paean.Of course it is full of historical inaccuracies. There is no bridge at the Battle of Stirling Bridge and no-one would ever think of setting fire to a Scottish battlefield as Wallace does at Falkirk (even with modern napalm this wouldn't work!). Also, the whole sub-plot about the Princess of Wales owes more to Princess Di than it does to 13th century realities. But culture is the editing, rearrangement, and mutation of factual reality. Such inaccuracies are permissible if they help the movie reach a higher plane of truth. This is a test, like so many others, which Braveheart ably passes. The key points that emerge are that Wallace was a man of the people, often at odds with the nobility, a brilliant warrior and general who hated the invaders of his country, a hero who fought against enormous odds without even the thought of surrender. The battle scenes are the best ever with great special effects and editing. The music score succeeds both in heightening emotions and giving the movie a jaunty Celtic rhythm that helps carry it along. Mel can't help looking like a major Hollywood star, but at times he seems possessed by a demon spirit and gives a rousing performance. As for the other actors, Patrick McGoohan is suitably arrogant, scheming, and callous as Edward Longshanks, while David O'Hara's portrayal of Stephen, the crazed Irishman, is the central support of the strain of gallows humor that runs throughout the movie and allows us to keep the right distance from the emotionally overwhelming events. Some people find the ending extremely traumatic, and indeed it is, but for me this is also one of the triumphs of the film as Wallace's spirit of freedom starts to infect the English rabble who have come to see him tortured and butchered. Even if you don't believe in freedom philosophically or politically, emotionally it is still the strongest idea in the Universe.
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Summary: The story of a heroic man
Review: One of the two best movies I have ever seen, this movie seems to be about the Scottish fight for freedom from Britain. But that fight is the background of the movie, not its driving purpose. This movie is about the rarest kind of man -- the man who won't break.
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Summary: Modern Classic
Review: This is truly a movie both men and women can enjoy. Great action/battle scenes for men a touching story of a mans love for a woman (well two women actually) Not to mention the story is great. For those few who don't already know, this movie follows the story of William Wallace and his attempt to free Scotland from England's rule. Perfect cast, honestly found every performance believable. You don't need to be Scottish to feel the stirrings of patriotism when Mel delivers his speeches to his troups. And Mel does a good job making you believe he is Scottish, unlike say....Costner's attempt to be in English in Robin Hood. 3 hours of pure epic goodness.
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Summary: Mel Gibson has done it again! Braveheart is a classic!
Review: I rented this video earlier this year, and flipped. It has everything you need in a medeval movie; action, drama, love story, tragedy, adventure and more! buy it today!
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Summary: Myth vs. Reality
Review: Braveheart is not a documentary and was never intended to be. It is about myth and legend. It is an epic that uses a historical background to tell us a story about the struggle for freedom against oppression and tyranny that is just as important today as it was in Scotland in the Middle Ages. People who are hung up on the minutae of historical accuracy are missing the story that the storyteller is trying to tell. Great epics use history as a background to tell an engrossing tale. This is a tradition that dates back to the Iliad and beyond. Hollywood didn't just invent this. The story of William Wallace is perfect for this type of storytelling. Wallace himself is something of a mystery to historians and most historical knowledge of him is based on narrative poems and tales told through the generations. There really isn't that much that historians know about him other than that he was a violent and charismatic leader who led Scotland to a great victory over England in the battle of Sterling Bridge and was eventually executed in London. Most of Wallace's "history" is based primarily on speculation and studying the legends about him that have been passed down through time. This is fertile ground for a writer and filmmaker to use a broad brush to paint a picture of Wallace and his life and times. And Randall Wallace and Mel Gibson did this brilliantly in Braveheart. Just enjoy the film and the story that it tells and don't get hung up on whether or not every detail is historically accurate.
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Summary: Braveheart
Review: I think that this movie was one of the best movies that I have seen in a long time. It has a great story, great acting and the locations the movie was filmed at was breath taking. You are sad, happy and enraged many times through out the movie. This movie left me wanting to watch it again right away. I only feel this way when a movie moves me with that much emotional energy.
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Summary: Spectacular movie by Mel Gibson. A Must Buy on DVD
Review: I was really surprised that Mel Gibson could make such an amazing movie. The story follows William Wallace (Striking a odd similarity to the screenwriters name.. hmm..)leading his people to freedom. The reason that this DVD is a must buy is because it is a magnificent movie, and it has directors audio commentary by Mel Gibson. That's the main reason that I'm buying it. What's better than the director talking about his whole film scene by scene?
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Summary: Exceptional filmmaking
Review: It is rare that a film can be called one of the greatest love stories, war stories, epics, and so on, and so on. Well it is. It's basically the best of everything and that might just be an understatement. The acting is superb and nothing less. Mel Gibson gives the best performance of his life so far and one of the best performances I have seen. In this movie, the characters really interact with each other on an emotional level, they fight for the things they have passions for. Some say the movie is not historically accurate. Well I don't know if that's true, but who really cares? This movie is stunningly realistic. The battle scenes really bring the audience in. There is no censorship here, and there is no looking away, they are purely shocking. The emotions that the characters go through are realistic and moving, I dare anyone not to be affected emotionally. This movie is also beautiful visually and aurally. The scenery and art direction is right-on, and takes us to a different world. The musical score by James Horner is haunting and melodic, not to mention one of his best. This movie is exceptional, it makes you part of it. If you haven't seen it, you have no idea what you are missing. MOST HIGHLY RECCOMENDED!
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