Starts meh, gets good for 90 minutes, and then loses its mojo in the last hour

Rating: 5/10 (2 December 2017)

RELEASED IN 1995 and directed by Mel Gibson, "Braveheart" chronicles the life of Scotsman William Wallace (Mel Gibson) from his youth in 1280 to his execution in 1305 and events shortly thereafter. Parts of the First War of Scottish Independence are depicted, like the Battle of Stirling Bridge, the Battle of Falkirk, as well as Wallace's betrayal, capture and execution.
The film is notorious for its inaccuracies. For instance: (1.) kilts did not become a popular form of men's wear in Scotland until almost 400 years later. (2.) The first night or Primae Noctis wherein English nobles had the privilege of sleeping with Sottish brides is considered a historical urban myth by most historians. While there are plenty of writings that allude to it, there's very little legitimate evidence that it was ever actually used by any nobles anywhere. (3.) Scots at the time of Wallace didn't paint their faces for battle, although the Picts did wear blue face paint to scare off the Romans centuries earlier. (4.) We see no bridge at the Battle of Sterling Bridge in the movie. In the real battle the English had to cross a small bridge to attack the Scottish, but the bridge only allowed for three cavalrymen to cross at a time, which Wallace's men took advantage of, immediately killing the English once they made it to the other side.
(5.) Princess Isabelle of France (Sophie Marceau) was actually only 3-4 years old during Wallace's military campaigns and, in fact, never met Wallace. (6.) Although it's one of the best scenes in the movie, Phillip was never defenestrated (thrown out a high window), but lived long after Longshanks' death. However, it is likely true that wimpy Prince Edward II had homosexual affairs, although he fathered as many as five children. (7.) While Longshanks was present at the Battle of Falkirk and was known for using Irish & Welsh conscripts, at no point did the Scots and Irish stop in the middle of battle to shake hands. Also Edward I (aka Longshanks) never told his archers to fire blindly into the mêlée of English and Scots. (8.) Robert the Bruce (Angus Macfadyen) never betrayed Wallace, although he initially disowned him publicly, he secretly supported his war effort and openly admitted it later.
Despite these inaccuracies, the gist of the tale is true: William Wallace existed. He fought a battle with the English at Stirling and won. He fought another battle with the English at Falkirk, but was betrayed and lost. He was deceived and captured by the English, taken to London and excruciatingly executed (although it was even worse in real life than in the film). Wallace's rebellion set Scotland on the road to freedom.
About half the movie makes it worth seeing: It starts weak for the first 25 minutes or so, gets good for the next hour and a half and then inexplicably loses its mojo in the last hour. The problems in the last hour include: the story losing its drive, the eye-rolling betrayal scene; the equally eye-rolling episode where Wallace rides into a noble's bed chamber on a freakin' horse and easily escapes (Why Sure!); and, lastly, the overlong and dull execution sequence wherein the Christ symbolism is laid on too thick.
Highlights, beyond those already noted, include Gibson in the title role (speaking as someone who's not even a fan), the magnificent locations, Wallace's initial rebellion, Patrick McGoohan's delightfully diabolic portrayal of the pompous Longshanks, the brutal fight sequences and the moving score by James Horner.
THE MOVIE RUNS 2 minutes shy of 3 hours and was shot in Scotland & Ireland with the impaling of the horses sequences shot in Arizona. WRITER: Randall Wallace.
GRADE: C