Mel and Bill

Rating: 10/10 (20 February 2001)

I would like to begin this review by lodging a complaint against Mr. William Shakespeare. The man was a joke. His works were not historically accurate. Hamlet-- not historically accurate. MacBeth-- not historically accurate. Richard III-- uh uh, no way.
Let's face it-- despite the fact that Braveheart is a better movie than any filmed Shakespeare (outside of Kurosawa)-- it is not historically accurate, either, and if that is the sole standard by which you judge movies then you are going to be sadly disappointed in it. If, on the other hand, you appreciate good characters, heart-lifting drama, and exciting battle sequences, then you should be thrilled with Braveheart. Each to his own taste.
Personally, I think Mel Gibson stands in pretty good company with Shakespeare.