In a historically inaccurate film, Mel Gibson shows William Wallace's fight against the English

Rating: 3/10 (3 December 2012)

The film may have a memorable quote. It may have a well known actor. But that in my mind does not redeem this film. Here Mel Gibson pushes forth quite extreme prejudices, showing Anglophobic and Homophobic ideas. The Film has a very black and white morality and the villains are quite one- dimensional. It badly alters history, exaggerating what the British did. The myth of Primae Noctis was established by this film. The chronology is quite poor, Isabella was nine when Wallace died and Edward III was born seven years later. William Wallace committed some atrocities in his fight for 'Freedom' and raided England. You could make a good film out of this by showing the moral dubiousness of his actions, but instead a quite one-sided portrayal is given. Not only does it install bad ideas but it increases a quite negative stereotype of the British. Not all Americans think like this, but such films reinforce the stereotype of them thinking in such basic terms. I feel that this film has often been overrated, even as a film it can be quite poor. The only joy the film give me is venting out my rage at those who tarnish history.