A movie worthy to honour Wallace

Rating: 10/10 (16 August 2010)

I have read a lot of flak about this movie and how it is historically inaccurate. Like that really matters in Hollywood! In fact, many many parts of this movie accurately portray the stories, myths, legends and historic truth around the true life hero, William Wallace.
Sure we can argue over a good single malt all night over whether the ancient kilt was being worn yet in Scotland in the 13th century when William Wallace returned to Scotland from France in a bid to unite the clans and achieve independence. It really doesn't matter. It's a movie about Scotland, and the ladies demand we wear kilts, it's only fitting.
I accept the director's conflicted portrayal of Robert the Bruce, torn between loyalty to his diseased evil father and the dream of an independent Scotland, and I forgive him his introduction of the French Princess as a love interest, we have to give the lassies something to watch after all.
Most amusing is his use of the diminuative Mel Gibson to play a man who was apparently tall for his generation. William Wallace may well have grown an inch each time his story was re-told, and started out a short man as well. Mel did his best on the accent, and I found it pleasing to the ear, Scottish with a bit'o Aussie, what's the harm?
Did you know some believe Braveheart (William Wallace) may have been the inspiration for Robin Hood? Wallace was skilled in archery as were his men, they wore green camouflage, hid in the woods, and hit the English in commando style raids. Much of their spoils would have been passed on to the dirt-poor Scottish around them.
Those rich Scots, who took English bribes in return for loyalty to the English crown, are the ones who got to write history, and of course they despise the commoner Wallace for his attempt to upset their applecart. They brand him to this day a villain.
But to this commoner Scot, Mel portrayed my mythological hero accurately and true to heart.
May Scotland be one day free of English dominance and re-assert it's true culture!