Enjoyable romp but oh, the inaccuracies!

Rating: 1/10 (18 July 2001)

This is a well-constructed film with many fine performances - I truly enjoyed it the first time I saw it. In fact I enjoyed it so much, I was curious to find how much of it was true - unfortunately very little.
There are too many inaccuracies to list here, but I will limit myself to a few main ones:
1) Robert the Bruce was no traitor. Portaying him as such is quite simply wrong and disrespectful to his accomplishments - particularly in Bannockburn (a far more tactical affair than represented in the film. ) - his father, who did not betray Wallace either and was not a leper - and his memory as a whole. Confusion with John Balliol perhaps? Or deliberate "artistic licence"
2) The Irish fought against the scots - not just during this period but also for the next two centuries - and the crazy Irishman character in the film is the only truly annoying one in the entire length of the picture.
3) Edward the second (Longshank's son) was 13 years old during the time portrayed in the film and his bethrothed was 5.
4) Mel is about 11" too short - Wallace was exceptionally tall and usually wore metal armour.
5) His followers were not a bunch of wild men from the hills - the majority would have been kitted out very similar to the English irregulars.
6) Wallace's first kill was not in retribution, in 1291 the son of Shelby, an English knight with control of Dundee Castle - approached Wallace in the marketplace and demanded his dirk. Wallace stabbed him through the heart although he was much larger and his opponent had no weapon drawn.
7) Wallace continued attacking anything (or anyone) English - Soldier, commoner or merchant. In Lanark he fell in love with Marion, who was 18 years of age. This did not stop him from attacking the English in Lanark, a battle during which he and his men fled back to Marion's house and continued to fight there before escaping. Unsuprisingly, Marion was put to death as an accomplice. Wallace returned to Lanark during the night where no guard had been kept (foolishly), killed the Sherrif in his bed, killed his son and then burnt everyone else in the house to death, including women and children. By the time he finished in the town, 240 people were killed, armed or unarmed - only the priests were spared. (Wallace almost ended up in the priesthood)
8) The battle of Stirling. During the filming, Mel was asked by a local why they did'nt film on the original site. Mel responded saying that he felt that the bridge would get in the way. Ay - said the local, That's what the English found....
9) Who in reality betrayed Wallace? Sir John de Mentieth, one of his friends.
This film could have been so much more, without losing ticket sales - never mind.....