An epic film

Rating: Null/10 (19 February 2001)

I have heard some complain about how bloody this film is. Well, folks, this is a war movie, plain and simple and war is bloody. The Gulf War was bloody....you just didn't see it. This film is very real as it depicts how horrible war is. William Wallace was a warrior and warriors make people bleed. Enough about that. The film is magnificent. The facts are somewhat stretched and some artistic license is taken, but the film is a more or less accurate description of life in Scotland at that time. Wallace is the national hero of Scotland to this day and his fight to free the Scots from the English yoke is the stuff of legend. This film attempts to capture the essence of that legend. Never mind that there are some inaccuracies...the film is a work of art. Mel Gibson as Wallace (and director) really shines in this work. Wallace is shown to be a man, one who tried to live quietly and peacefully. However, it was not to be and he and his men ended up fighting the entire English army (and the Scottish Nobles). The battle scenes are indeed bloody (if perhaps a bit too long) and realistic. The story also revolves around the ascention of Robert the Bruce, who eventually became King of Scotland. This is a long and ambitious work and Gibson the actor and director made it work beautifully. The cinematography is truly great, the scenery magnificent and the story undeniably a classic. If you don't own this film, buy it now!