My 'Braveheart' Movie Review.

Here's a question for you. What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word “freedom”? Me? “Braveheart.” So this is actually my first movie review that I've ever done because I've actually never done one before (I don't know if I'll still continue to do this), and after seeing a few “Braveheart” reviews on YouTube, I thought, “Hey. Maybe I should give it a shot.” Alright. So “Braveheart” is a 1995 epic war drama film directed by and starring Mel Gibson. Now, I'm not sure how many people still like Mel Gibson because he's kind of crazy (no offense to Mel Gibson fans, but it's true; please don't kill me!) and all that, but look. When it comes to Mel Gibson, I don't care about his personal life. I mean, I do, but I don't care about all the negative things that happened in his life (i.e. his fights with his girlfriend Okana Grigorieva, etc.), because when I think of Mel Gibson, I don't think of him being all psycho, but I think of him back when he was less crazy. Now, I'm not sure if I've seen any of his recent movies (like “Edge Of Darkness”, etc.), but back when he was less crazy, he was really good, because I still think he's a great director and actor, and “Braveheart” is definitely one of my favorite movies of his. If you asked anyone who knew me on what my all-time #1 favorite movie is (and favorite Mel Gibson movie), they'd say “Braveheart” because that's my favorite, and it's been my all-time #1 favorite movie since childhood and still is. I was one year old when “Braveheart” came out. I was born on May 11, 1994, and “Braveheart” came out on May 24, 1995. Oh yeah. (*Warning.* The following review contains spoilers for the movie “Braveheart.” If you've not seen this movie, though I'm sure most of you have, then please go watch the movie, so you understand the story, and then come back here and tell me what you thought about it.) Anyway, onto the review. I'll try and not give too much away.


So “Braveheart” tells the story of the real life Scottish rebel William Wallace who goes up in a fight against the English and King Edward I (a.k.a. “Longshanks”). Now you're probably wondering: “Why would he want to fight the English?”


Well, when he was a little boy, his father and brother were killed in a war against the English, which left his (William) uncle Argyle to take William under his wing, and leave his childhood home, Elderslie. William was born in 1270, and the movie takes place in 1280.


So I think according to the “Braveheart” Wiki, sixteen years later in 1296 (correct me if I'm wrong), he reunites with his childhood friends and childhood sweetheart Murron MacClannough (in real life, her name was Marion Braidfute), and they eventually fall in love and get married.


However, Longshanks set up a law called “prima noctes”, which is when an English nobleman beds a Scottish woman on the first night of her wedding. So, because of this, William and Murron ended up marrying in secret. But, tragedy struck when she ended up being killed by the English after a soldier tried to rape her and claim her for himself. I kind of felt bad for William though because first he loses his family, then he loses the love of his life.


So he wants to get revenge on the English, and also to fight for Scotland's freedom, because that's what basically this movie is about. Eventually, William ends up meeting Robert The Bruce, who is another very interesting character because although his father tells him to become the king of Scotland, Robert really wants to fight alongside William so he too can fight the English. I won't tell you what happens between Robert and William because you have to see for yourself.



Anyway, also, as William wages a guerilla war against the English from 1298 to 1305 (seven years), he ends up having a love affair with Princess Isabelle (in real life, her name was Isabella) of France, who is the wife of Edward II, even though she doesn't love him (Edward II), and falls in love with William.


But the love story between William and Isabelle, and the love story between William and Murron was one of my favorite parts of the movie.


Another one of my favorite parts of the movie was the famous freedom speech that William gives at the Battle Of Stirling to his men before they fight the English:


“And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom?! Alba gu brath! (Scotland forever!)”


I love that speech, which is probably one of my favorite all-time movie speeches in movie history.


Also, another one of my favorite parts of the movie (yeah I know, I have almost a lot of favorite parts in the movie) is not only the scene where William tells Isabelle the famous line, “Every man dies, not every man really lives,” but it's also the part at his execution before he dies, and he shouts “FREEDOM!!!!!” as well as seeing Murron's spirit and they smile at each other.

Well, now that I'm done talking a little bit about the summary, let me talk about what I loved about the film (not just my favorite parts in “Braveheart.”) First off, the cinematography. Oh my gosh. It was outstanding while at the same time, breathtaking. John Toll (the cinematographer) is awesome, and the way he captured the beauty and landscape of Scotland, it made you feel like you were actually there at the time it happened, although I don't think most of us were born around William Wallace's time. Now, after seeing “Braveheart”, it makes me want to go to Scotland.


Also, I loved the music. James Horner is my all-time favorite movie composer. Hey, not only do I like “Braveheart”, but I also love “Titanic”, Legends Of The Fall,” and many other James Horner films. It's kind of a shame that “Braveheart” didn't win Best Original Score at the Oscars. Also, here's another interesting fact about me. Now because my step-grandfather (December 19, 1923 – November 29, 2003) was born in England and raised in Ireland, both he and “Braveheart” introduced me into Celtic music, which is why bagpipes are my favorite instruments when it comes to that genre of music. Every time I hear bagpipes, I think of “Braveheart” and it's main theme, and every time I hear it, I get a sense of nostalgia because as I said before, this movie has been one of my all-time favorites since childhood, and it still is even to this day. I could watch it a thousand times, and never get bored.


Anyway, at the Oscars, “Braveheart” (like another movie “Gladiator”) won five Academy Awards (including Best Picture and Best Director for Mel Gibson) and was nominated for ten. I know some people may not agree that “Braveheart” shouldn't have won its Oscars, but I disagree because I think it deserved it (in my opinion).


Next, I'll talk about the acting. The acting was great. Mel Gibson is such a great actor and director (despite what some people may say about him). He really put a lot of effort into making “Braveheart.” Even now, I kind of wonder how he could do two jobs at once. I mean, I know he directed and starred in “The Man Without A Face.” Even though he won Best Director for “Braveheart”, I'm surprised that he didn't win Best Actor for it because he was THAT good. Now the first recent times I watched “Braveheart”, I had no idea and was pretty shocked to find out that it was historically inaccurate and is considered to be one of the most historically inaccurate modern films of all time.


In real life, I don't know that much about the real William Wallace even though I've seen “Braveheart” like God knows how many times.


However, I obviously know that “Braveheart” was based off of him, but a fictionalized version of his life. In real life, yes he did have a woman that he fell in love with, but I'm not sure if he was actually married or had children.


But one of the most inaccurate things that I dscovered was that he never met or had a love affair with Isabelle because he was born in 1270, and she was born in 1295, meaning that she was only three years old at the time of the Scottish rebellion and was living in France at the time. I think she was about nine or ten years old when William died in 1305. Now, I'm not sure if this is true, but according to the poem “The Wallace” written by Blind Harry (Henry The Minstrel), it said that William had a love affair with Longshanks' wife. Again, I could be wrong because, well, I'm not a historian. I'm surprised I didn't learn about William Wallace in my history class at school. Well, if I remember correctly, that is.


But you know what? In my opinion, just because “Braveheart” is historically inaccurate and has controversies about it, doesn't mean it's not a great film when it really is. I mean, I have heard that this movie is overrated because you hear “freedom” a bunch of times throughout the story.


Above all, “Braveheart” is a fantastic and such an inspiring film with a great storyline (the screenplay was written by Randall Wallace, who also directed another Mel Gibson movie “We Were Soldiers”). It's over 9000! (Dragonball Z/DBZ reference) Okay, not really. I give it a 10/10. It's got it all: action, adventure, drama, betrayal, friendship, war, love, and most of all, freedom. Not only does William Wallace fight for love (because not only is it an epic war drama, but it's also a love story, hence why I mentioned the love affair between William and Isabelle), but he also fights for freedom. It's also one of the first movies that introduced into the medieval genre.


It's sad that on September 18, 2014, Scotland didn't get its independence. Oh boy. If William Wallace was alive right now, he would have been so ashamed. I'm not sure if he gave the freedom speech at the Battle Of Stirling in real life though. If he was still alive, then he'd give the freedom speech for Scotland's independence in today's world.


Lastly, thank you, Mel Gibson, for making such a wonderful and inspiring film like “Braveheart.” This movie changed my life, and will always hold a very special place in my heart forever. ^_^


Well, those are my thoughts on “Braveheart.” If you haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend it because it's such a classic film. I do not own “Braveheart,” sadly or the movie poster. It all goes to Mel Gibson. Here's my reaction when “Braveheart” won Best Picture:

“FREEDOM!!!!!”


Sorry. I just had to do that. Also, I'm currently writing an ongoing “Naruto” crossover fanfic with “Braveheart” called “Freedom,” so be sure to check it out. While the fanfic is rated T for mild violence, language and some sexual content, “Braveheart” is rated R for violence, language, sexual content and nudity. After that, I will write a “Braveheart/”Legend Of Zelda”/”Naruto” fanfic (which will be called “The Legend Of William Wallace: Braveheart”), which will be rated M, for violence, language, some sexual content and nudity.


See ya. ;)


www.fanfiction.net/s/10677691/…