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Braveheart (1995)

Director: Mel Gibson

Average user rating
13 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

Scotland at the end of the 13th century: William Wallace (Gibson) purposes to free his country from the tyranny of Edward Longshanks (McGoohan). From the opening shots, swirling through the mists o' time over snowy peaks and silvery lochs, to the final torture scenes in which disembowelment provokes only a brave grimace, Gibson's epic offers a stew of Hollywood clichés. Political analysis is not on the menu; this is a tale of heroes 'n' villains, pure and simplistic. The Sassenachs are rude stereotypes, while the Scots are either macho hunks or, should they be aristos, dour quislings. The battle scenes are staged effectively, but for the most part this is a vehicle for Gibson, graduating from cocky Lethal Weapon register to something more one-dimensional and rhetorically solemn. Pure hokum.

Author: GA 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide


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User reviews of this film

  • William said...
    Posted on Nov 05 2009 13:41 Do the people posting negative comments about Gibson realise that he didn't actually write the moive. Get your facts straight, its funny because everyone is criticising Gibson for having incorrect facts/history. It was entertaining, and interesting, everyone with a brain cell knows that it was never intended to be historically accurate.
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  • Josh said...
    Posted on Nov 04 2009 09:39 This film is not made for the intellectuals. It is a film written, directed and acted for the average Jo and the Middle Class family. It offers no exploration of important, or analytical themes. Nor does it provide an in-depth psychoanalytical examination of the human heart and It is certainly is an historical documentary, no, its a rousing and inspiring epic. It is the typical Hero versus villain, "Hollywoodised" movie set in the 13th or 14th century with Scottish patriotism as a front. It's moving and inspiring, the average viewer would trade a rainy day to sit down and watch the few hours of entertainment Braveheart has to offer. The film is entertainment at its best, worthy of its awards, and its acclaim. Not the perfect film, but the perfect distraction. 8 out of 10.
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  • Allan said...
    Posted on Apr 19 2009 00:34 This movie was a trite piece of rubbish. Only the truly simple think it is a good film.
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  • kel said...
    Posted on Mar 06 2009 14:14 Historically inaccurate? YES! Still fantastic? Yes
    Will have you bubbling, laughing and cringing all at the same time! Beutiful film score too!
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  • Alex said...
    Posted on Feb 10 2009 20:30 This movie was fvcking awesome. What movie were you watching MR REVIEWER. Go watch it again.
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  • tim said...
    Posted on Jan 14 2009 22:12 Apart from some well directed battle scenes and a stellar performance from Patrick McGoohan, this film sucked the big one. Mel has a poor grasp of what real history is like, and his characters are two dimensional caricatures. This film did not deserve to win the Oscar for best picture, nor for best director. His Scottish accent is pretty lame as well. He has a hate-on for Jews and the British as well (see "The Passion" and "The Patriot"; two other horrible movies) His films are too violent and he has a tendency to overact.
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  • Justin Vest said...
    Posted on Jan 12 2009 18:50 Say what you will about Mel Gibson...the man captures the potential of a male's virtue like no other filmmaker in history. If you're a male, and you don't like this movie, shut down the computer and go get your balls back. Your cowardice may mask itself as intellectualism. Don't let it. You may reject Gibson's portrayal of macho William Wallace citing the usual nonsense of jingoism or bloodlust, when the simplest explanation will do: the thought of having to fight for anything terrifies you. You gave up your balls long ago. Go get them back, it's not too late! I'm not trying to be funny, I'm serious.
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  • Jackson Browne said...
    Posted on Sep 12 2008 15:39 Offensive stereotypical rubbish for drooling vacant nationalists. An egotistical farce from Gibson and full of his usual Anglophobic bile. The wode worn was a fetching shade of blue thought but like the rest of the film as intellectually healthy as a deep-fried bridie.
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  • terri said...
    Posted on May 18 2008 22:04 this movie is beautiful. Full of exitement, it is a real ride.
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  • John said...
    Posted on Apr 09 2008 20:13 It's astonishing to think this film was made 13 YEARS ago. It seems like only yesterday. Let's get rid of the "negatives" (there aren't any, that's sarcasm), the films incredibely historically incorrect, and Mel Gibson leaves Scotland as a 6 year old boy, and comes back about 18 years later as a middle aged man. SO WHAT. He gives his best ever performance as an actor, completely owning the screen as William Wallce. His mastering of the wee Scottish accent is very good, and gives an excellent portrayel of a common man just wanting to live a normal life and raise a family, but is not allowed to do so in peace becasue of the despicable English King Longhanks. All the performances are great, notably that of Catherine McCormack(Murrin, Wallace's woman) and David O'Hara(As a Crazy Irishmen). The cinematography in nothing short of stunning, as the camera moves across the Scottish highlands through to the beautiful green fields of battle. The film in my opinion is perfect (I know not everyone agrees), as it's has everything I could ask for in a movie (Great storylines, great Action and an Absoluteley stunning actress as Gibbo's squeeze). A masterpiece from a man who proved later on that this film was no fluke (Apocalypto and Passion of the Christ both critical and box-office sucesses). If you have never seen the film, stop what your doing, go to your nearest video shop or closest 24 hour supermarket, by or rent it and watch this film now. By the end credits the only thing you'll be thinking of is Freedom!
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  • Sam said...
    Posted on Jan 17 2008 00:29 Sorry my English friends. This is the Best movied Ever.
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  • Miguel said...
    Posted on Jan 08 2008 19:17 Did the reviewer actually WATCH the movie? It's amazing.
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  • JEN said...
    Posted on Sep 26 2007 14:00 NOT THE MOST ACCURATE HISTORICAL FILM, BUT A FANTASTIC ROMANTIC MOVIE. GIBSONS PORTRAYAL OF WALLACE IS MOVING AND THE SOUNDTRACK IS ALSO EXCEPTIONAL!!
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