Braveheart Review
by Magus (magus AT mindspring DOT com)August 2nd, 1996
BRAVEHEART
A film review by Magus
Copyright 1996 Magus
Starring Mel Gibson
OK. I just saw this movie a few days ago. Why so late? I missed it in the theatres mainly cause I was worried about its length. I have missed it on video for a while since there is never a copy at the local Blockbuster. But a few days ago, and after my friends convincing me to see it, good old Blockbuster had a copy. So was the movie spectacular enough to win the numerous Oscars it did? Read and find out...
Braveheart has a lot good things going for it. One is the surprising fact that the 3 hours go by relatively quickly. Another is the wonderful scenery and the stirring music in the background. Yet another is the solid acting. So what WAS the problem with the movie? A generally ho-hum plot.
OK. I know that Braveheart was "based on a true story". I have never read anything on William Wallace (Mel Gibson's character). But the plot has no surprises in it. Nothing is very original about it. But the stuff that is there is watchable at least.
The plot basically begins when William Wallace is a kid and his father is killed in an attack on the English. William Wallace lives in Scotland and the evil King of England is ruling over Scotland. The Scotland peasants want their freedom. William Wallace then gets a visit from his uncle who tells Wallace to come with him. William basically has no choice since he only lived with his father, so he goes with his uncle and it is implied that he learns sword fighting skills as he grows up.
Then the film continues on to when William Wallace is grown up. The rest of the film deals with Wallace gathering more people in his army of peasants and engaging them in huge epic war battles. It has your standard lost loved-one and double crossing along the way.
Overall I would reccomend Braveheart to Mel Gibson fans or to people who loves battles where thousands of people charge against eachother and fight on huge fields. Or if you want to see a violent war epic with some drama thrown in.
I give Braveheart *** out of ****.
/\/\agus
"Evil is a point of view"
"Fear is the mind-killer"
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