It is far better if you think of it as high fantasy epic

Rating: 8/10 (6 February 2019)

This film is aggressively ahistorical. Some choices examples: serfs don't know what freedom is, there should be a bridge at Sterling, Isabelle was under 10 when Wallace got executed, prima nocta was not a thing. Basically, the film gets most of the names right. It also tends to get locations and broad outcomes of battles right. But that is it. If you think too much about this stuff the film becomes a farce. However, on my last viewing I decided to think of it as a LOTR sequel and lo I was swept up in it like I hadn't been before.
A lot of the strength of the film is thanks to Gibson's direction (and psychological leakage). The film's violence is brutal and gory. The vistas are utterly gorgeous but the characters are all dirty. The framing, composition is all bold and mathematical. The film has a very masculine energy that is very compelling. The script might be ahistorical nonsense but it has a blunt sense of just desserts. I.e. Prima Nocta and Isabelle's secret.
This is a great film to watch with just the music.