Rebellion in Defiance of Tyranny

Rating: 10/10 (21 September 2005)

Mel Gibson stars, directs, and produces in this fantastic motion picture epic about the life and loves of the famous Scottish rebel William Wallace. Set at the time of Edward the Longshanks the story starts as a young William Wallace leaves his highlands home after the death of his father and brother at the hands of English soldiers. The greedy English king (Patrick McGoohan) has claimed the throne of Scotland for himself as the last king died without an heir. The Scots believe that the next king is there own noble Robert the Bruce (Angus Mcfadyen) Years later William Wallace returns a man, handsome brooding and daring. He quickly makes his mark on his old formidable friends and neighbours and is instantly smitten with the local beauty Murron (Catherine McCormack). But in order to marry Murron he will have submit to Longshanks orders that every common girl inhabiting lands is married the local English noble will have sexual rights to her. In deepest secrecy the couple marry keeping their union form even their close families. But when Murron is murdered by a local English sheriff William wreaks his revenge in a bloody battle that was to make him famous and unites the all the Scottish nobles in a bid to battle the English and gain their freedom. But as battles and are won and lives are lost William grows increasingly closer to danger avoiding death and traps set by Longshanks William finds an unlikely ally in the form of Longshanks daughter-in-law Princess Isabella, the Princess of Wales (Sophie Marceau), a beautiful woman trapped in loveless marriage to the homosexual Prince Edward. But as the Scots gain advantage William is summoned to a meeting of utmost secrecy by Robert the Bruce to his Edinborough castle the English capture him and take him to England to trial for treason.