My Favourite Film of all time

Rating: 10/10 (8 April 2005)

I didn't get to see this till '96 and always wondered what all the fuss was about. When I finally got to see it I was so disappointed I hadn't watched in on the big screen. I loved it. I loved it so much in fact, I've now watched it 52 times. Every time I watch it, I love it. It has everything a film should have. Great acting, amazing story, awesome sets and nice humour. I'm not the kind of person who can watch films over and over. There are a few, but when it comes to Braveheart, each viewing is like the first time all over again.
What I do have a problem with is the attitude of some people to the historical inaccuracies, the homophobia and the anti English tilt to it.
1. Every film can't be 100% historically accurate. It's not possible. The whole idea of a film is to entertain the audience. If history is missing something that makes a story even better, then the film makers are going to add that something to appeal to the masses. It's just common sense. Unless you're a low budget, independent, historian who wants to make an historically accurate (what is historically accurate anyway? We only know about history based on the writings of Men. Men who could very easily write what they want) film. He doesn't want to make millions on the film so he doesn't care if historical facts get in the way of entertainment. When millions is spent on an epic like Braveheart, you have to expect historical inaccuracies. We all know Wallace never met the Princess of Wales, but it makes for a great story.
2. The Homephobic angle - Well, what do you expect? This was the 14th Century. Do you think being Gay was accepted in society? Do you think Longshanks would have welcomed his sons Boyfriend into the family? The film needed to portray the Prince as a weak and useless man. It also opened the door for the King himself to do any procreation as the prince wasn't interested in sex with the princess. This makes the scene when the King is dying even more appropriate as she get's to tell him that she's pregnant, but not with his child.
3. The Anti English flavour - Duh! It's a film with a Scottish Rebel as the hero. Of course it's going to have an Anti English flavour to it. Do you think it should have been more sympathetic to the English? Why? Should Shindlers List have portrayed the Nazis in a better light? the audience needs to feel some of the feelings the hero's felt. To do this, we have to also hate the English as they are in the film. It makes it a lot more enjoyable watching soldiers getting their legs chopped off etc etc :)
All in all, Braveheart for some is an excellent film, for others it's the greatest film of all time and for some reason, some people think it's crap. We are all entitled to our opinions but please don't try to tell us that it's the worst film ever, just because you don't favour it's anti English feel or it's portrayal of it's gay prince or it's historical inaccuracies. These do not take away from the fact that the film is excellently made, brilliantly acted and very well deserving of all it's Oscars!