One of times greatest and glorious masterpieces

Rating: 10/10 (5 August 2001)

**SPOILERS** I have seen this, I believe, nine times. I saw it for the first timelast summer on my big-screen and it wouldn't be prudent to watch much on a small or normal TV screen. It was fabulous! When it came out on DVD I of course got it and I started to love it even more.

As the Paramount and Lightstorm emblums come on, James Horners gripping score starts and through the cloudy fod on the dark screen BRAVEHEART in powerful title come towards us. Then the great hills of Scotland ar shown as though you were in the Onimax Theatre. The bagpipe music owns you as you soar through the lands.

Robert the Bruce's great voiceover words "I shall tell you of William Wallace" take you. Then there are the other following qoutes of compelling grip. "It's our witts that make us men" Have the courage to follow it," "Then I'll teach you to use this," it's greatly done. William was a child when his father and brother were killed, fighting the English after a tragic "Nagotiating meeting" which was a hanging massacre. William is adopted by his uncle and before he leaves with him he shares a passion with a little girls, Morron.

In England, The daughter of the King of France has his daughter marry the son of King Edward I the Longshankse, a ruthless ruler. Edwards son is not respponsible and is weak. Longshanse is also not thrilled that he is actually homosexul and is in love with a local man. Longshankse tries to controll Scotland. He comes up with the old custom Premodocte'. English nobles can have sexual rights to Scotish brides on the first night of her union.

When William returns to Scotland as a man, he finds Moron and secretly marries her. After there wedding, tradgedy strikes when an English commander attempts to rape her. William saves her, but when they seperate for a rendevous, she is caught by English and her throat is slit. "An attack on the king's soldiers is an attack on the king himself," the magistrate says. William fights off the British with other Scots. When he finally get to the magistrate, there is a long moment betwee them untill he finally puts him to Morons execution poll and slits his throat.

After this they join with other clangs to battle the British. They go to a head quarters and take them captive. "Go back to England and tell them that Scotlands son and daughters are yours no more! Tell them Scotland is free!" Finally, the Northern army is sent to fight them at Stirling. The Scotish nobles have brought their army. The battle looks like David vs. Galyeth. Many Scots want to flee. Then William gives them the great powerful speech. "Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live. At least for awhile, and dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that to come back here and tell our enemies, that they may take our live, but they'll never take our freedom?! The battle is a great success. There's that great seen when he holds his sword and yells and they yell his name as he pusses his sword into the ground.

Mel Gibson's directing is fabulous! As is his performance. There is critisism of accuracy problems. Why wouldn't a lot of this had happened?

Wallace then invades York in England. To settle a deal, Longshankse send the French princess. Passion is between them and she decides to take his side. She worns him of a battle schemed at Falkirk. There, he is betrayed by his noble alleis Locklan, and Moneigh. He was also given unition by Robert the Bruce, but his father convinced him otherwise. Wallace is defeated and his men take heavy casulaties. The Bruce is outraged at what has happened.

Eventually, Wallace is again warned of danger by the princess. They meet and passion takes act.

SPOILER SECTION BEGINNING-(If you haven't seen the film and don't want to know spoilers, don't read this part, but go on down to after "SPO ILER SECTION END" and read on)-The nobles come to Wallace and offer him a metting for legiance. When he goes, he is taken prisoner by the British. This was set up by Robert's father the VVVII Bruce. Robert again is outraged and is opposed to his father. Now, I have read reviews saying The Bruce wasn't a traitor and that this film is disrespectful towards him. The VVVII Bruce did arrange Wallac's capture. I've seen history things. Wallace is of high treason of the king. He is sentenced to a purifying death with extreme pain because he wouldn't confess treason to what they called "his" king. He is tortured, untill he is finally disembowled infront of a crowd. The executioner repeatedly tries to get him to pleed. Finally he says "The prisoner wishes to say a word." This to several people yelling for Wallace to say mercy. Finally Wallace yells "FREEEEEEEEEEE-DOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" One of the absolute most powerful moments in film. He is then, finally, beheaded. The final seen in Banockburn is also one of the absolute most powerful seens in film. As Robert and his associate head towards the BNritish to pay holmage for the crown, Robert haults. We watch in pure lock. "You have bleed with Wallace! Now bleed with me!" As Hemish throws Wallace's sword, our insides our froze. As the charge towards the British in battle mode with Wallac's narration voiceover, it is like one of the things more deeply powerful then ever. "They fought like warrior poets. They fought like Scotsman, and won their freedom." This as we view Wallace's sword in the earth. Incredible.-SPOILER SECTION END

Now, I've read reviews, and these reviews I speek of are from the IMDb, that are even disrespectful. Wallace was an incredible hero. Now, I don't even think I have Scotish in me. It's been written that Wallace was as bad as the British. Horrible bull. When you are a war leader you take jurraastic steps like sending body parts as messages. It can work also. How about we look at for example General George S. Patton. At this point, I don't particularly like the rather broing film, but it tells a lot. "Go down and get yourselves killed so I can get ahead of Monty and look good in the papers."

Well, geese! The British couldn't have been evil like that! It's history. During the time period there were several times when the British were an evil empire. It's pretty arragant that modern Brits might get upset with films like this. Your among the people who did the raping, stealing, murdering, etc. Am I gonna go on and say we were so great to the Indians or African Americans? No. It's history. It should be eccepted.

John Toll is a master! This was his second oscar in row after "Legends of the Fall." This is a man who know how to use a camera. He also mastered with "The Thin Red Line." Epic cinamatography. James Horner's score, superb. Fantastic editing. Powerful script, Randall WALLACE. Good production design. Costume design. Make-up which got the oscar. Of course, acting and directing.

This is a very emotional, touching, gripping, powerful, uplifting, masterpiece. It should hold that reputation forever.