(Before watching, please check your ’’historically-accurate checklist’’ at the door. This is not, nor is it meant to be a 100% true story.)
When I watched Braveheart at the theater, in it’s widescreen format, I expected a good war movie. What I got was an emotional rollercoaster, intense and relenting, which made me proud or my convictions.
This movie, based around William Wallace, who spurred Scotland to rise up against England’s tyranny, and grab independence.
Music - Never in my life have I watched a movie, whose music so craftily threaded the story together. Veteran James Horner provided beautifully atmospheric, swelling, and emotional music which stirred my heart and mind. It was the first instrumental soundtrack I ever purchased, and I listen to it regularly.
Action - Gripping, violent, bloody, unsettling. Taking cue from the classic Spartacus battle scenes, Mel Gibson’s direction brought you there. I felt like I was in the middle of it all. It’s amazing, and unfortunately unable to be duplicated even on DVD.
Drama - Slow motion scenes played perfectly. Wallace’s return to town, after the killing of his wife, takes more than 5 minutes, but is so perfectly shot, that you do are just pulled in. You feel the anger and passion which runs through his veins, through the end.
Angus McPherson, who played Robert the Bruce, did an amazing job, torn between loyalty to his father, and love of Scotland. Historically, he was the final thrust for Scotland’s liberty.
Braveheart is my favorite movie (followed by Ben Hur and Saving Private Ryan), and it’s passion is the same today than it was in ’95.
The DVD version contains the ’’Making of..’’ featurette which provides special effects insight, as well as historical background on the characters.
I will not give the ending away, but you are a hard man if you are dry eyed.