Not Even Historically Accurate...

Rating: 5/10 (19 December 2013)

For whatever reason, I hated almost everything about this film. Yes, I am a girl. That probably contributes a lot. Mel Gibson's accent and acting seemed overdone. The story was constantly overshadowed by an overly dramatic battle scene. The film was pretty much made to flaunt machismo, daring, and flashy firework-battle scenes.
To make matters worse, not even historically accurate. Wallace was not the poor villager the film depicts, but a landowner and minor knight. Queen Isabella, his love interest, was only a few years old at the time period used in the film; the kilt was not worn for another few centuries; Robert never betrayed Wallace; The Scottish did not paint their faces.
Sure, overlooking this, as a film is primarily fiction, this could have been a good film. But I could not see it. Sure, there were some intense scenes, some scenes that made me smile. But, as a whole, Braveheart was a loss. What I take away from this film, actually, is the idea of Primae Noctis, the legendary right that feudal lords supposedly had to peasants' marriage beds on their wedding nights. Sadly, this is not proved fact, but a myth. Still, it is interesting trivia that could be true.
I will say that the landscape was beautiful and lush for much of the film, with impressive costume design and a production element that must have taken some talent. The accompanying soundtrack was also well done, with music played at the right moments in the right amounts.
An ambitious film with an overuse of blood, battle scenes, and paint, Mel Gibson does not impress. I found myself turning away several times either in disbelief and/or loss of interest.