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Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan, Catherine McCormack, Brendan Gleeson ... see more see more... , Ian Bannen , Alun Armstrong , Michael Byrne , Liam Carney , Martin Dempsey , Martin Dunne , David Gant , Peter Hanly , Bernard Horsfall , John Kavanagh , Phil Kelly , Jimmy Keogh , Angus Macfadyen , Sean McGinley , Barry McGovern , Peter Mullan , Martin Murphy , Alex Norton , Niall O'Brien , David O'Hara , Ralph Riach , Joe Savino , Tam White , Mal Whyte , Brian Cox , David McKay , James Cosmo , Malcolm Tierney , Sandy Nelson , Sean Lawlor , Jeanne Marine , Gerard McSorley , John Murtagh , Robert Paterson , Alan Tall , Rupert Vansittart , Donal Gibson , James Robinson , Julie Austin , Tommy Flanagan

Mel Gibson, long-time heartthrob of the silver screen, came into his own as a director with Braveheart, an account of the life and times of medieval Scottish patriot William Wallace and, to a lesser d... read more read more...egree, Robert the Bruce's struggle to unify his nation against its English oppressors. The story begins with young Wallace, whose father and brother have been killed fighting the English, being taken into the custody of his uncle, a nationalist and pre-Renaissance renaissance man. He returns twenty years later, a man educated both in the classics and in the art of war. There he finds his childhood sweetheart Murron (Catherine McCormack), and the two quickly fall in love. There are murmurs of revolt against the English throughout the village, but Wallace remains aloof, wishing simply to tend to his crops and live in peace. However, when his love is killed by English soldiers the day after their secret marriage (held secretly so as to prevent the local English lord from exercising the repulsive right of prima noctae, the privilege of sleeping with the bride on the first night of the marriage), he springs into action and single-handedly slays an entire platoon of foot soldiers. The other villagers join him in destroying the English garrison, and thus begins the revolt against the English in what will eventually become full-fledged war. Wallace eventually leads his fellow Scots in a series of bloody battles that prove a serious threat to English domination and, along the way, has a hushed affair with the Princess of Wales (the breathtaking Sophie Marceau) before his imminent demise. For his efforts, Gibson won the honor of Best Director from the Academy; the movie also took home statuettes for Best Picture, Cinematography, Makeup, and Sound Effects. ~ Jeremy Beday, Rovi

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83% liked it

31,195,186 ratings

Critics

79% liked it

48 critics

R, 2 hr. 57 min.

Directed by: Mel Gibson

Release Date: May 26, 1995

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DVD Release Date: August 29, 2000

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Stats: 1,195,138 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,195,138)

  • spielberg00
    May 6, 2012
    spielberg00
    Mel Gibson seems to work best when in the realm of historical epics. If you need proof of this, seek out his leading role in 2000?s THE PATRIOT, set during the American Revolution, or his grossly underrated 2004 project THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, chronicling the last twelve hour... read mores of the life of Jesus Christ. He only acted in the former instance, and he produced, wrote, and directed the latter, which proves that as long as he has some involvement with such films, he performs quite well. Gibson combines his quality effort of producing, directing, and acting for BRAVEHEART, the film that ran home triumphantly carrying the 1995 Academy Award for Best Picture. His performance as William Wallace, the 13th century Scottish commoner who dedicated his life to overthrowing English rule, is absolutely stellar. Everything from his flawless accent to his overt display of courage, makes him disappear as an actor and rather transform into his character.

    READ MORE ABOUT THIS BRAVE GIBSON MOVIE:
    http://themoviefreakblog.com/2012/05/06/review-braveheart/
  • superclerk25
    March 19, 2012
    superclerk25
    long
  • fb100000883534329
    March 5, 2012
    fb100000883534329
    Now there's no doubt this is one of the highest points in Mel Gibson's carrer. This epic is one of the best films to happen to Scotland sence Trainspotting (But in a completely different way). It has a great flow of story which is a good change from other epics where plot would... read more happen in the begining and then just be 2 and half hours of blood and gore. Now this film has blood and gore... alot of it, but the story progresses through the entire film. This film also has one of the most insperational speeches in cinamatic history. It's not a perfect film but it's not half bad :)
  • CloudStrife84
    February 9, 2012
    CloudStrife84
    Mel Gibson's monumental masterpiece, of which he is both the leading star and the director, is a sweeping and majestic ode to one of history's most beloved heroes, William Wallace. Each and every scene a pure cinematic delight, this is a motion picture for the ages, that just get... read mores better and more dazzling with time. Breathtaking scenery, sensational, Oscar-winning action scenes and one of the most beautifully orchestrated music scores ever produced, merits this grand and stunning epic a very special place in my movie-loving heart. Say what you will about Mel Gibson's sanity and the historical accuracy of the film. For at the end of the day, he knows how to make quality that counts.
  • fb701560354
    December 19, 2011
    fb701560354
    No doubt an epic film, Braveheart is unnecessarily violent and long and historically incorrect. Nevertheless, Mel Gibson is riveting as William Wallace, the medieval Scottish patriot, the action and drama and romance have a decent balance, and the cinematography is absolutely p... read morehenomenal.
  • fb729949618
    October 21, 2011
    fb729949618
    Just watched this movie yesterday.....WOW I was missing out for YEARS. This is exactly my type of movie: medieval, thriller, adventure, bloody, great story......the list goes on. Inspiring to say the least, as Mel Gibson delivers an amazing performance, EPIC.
  • phubbs1
    October 10, 2011
    phubbs1
    Although rather historically inaccurate and biased against the English, this is an awesome medival romp with plenty of bloody action displayed in golden war sequences. The look and feel of the whole flick is perfect and very accurate to look at whilst the whole cast looks like th... read moreey have been plucked right from the chronicles of history hehe excellent costumes all round.

    Gibson does feel kinda miscast to be honest, he's too much of a 80's action man, too Hollywood, they needed someone alittle less well known and a bit more gruff, but the rest are near perfect especially McGoohan as the English king. The film really hits the spot with the battles, the rest is alittle dull but needed for the emotionally packed story and ending but the battles are some of the most fierce and brutal battles I've seen on film. I think this film started off the tidal wave of historical epics with extremely realistic brutal clashes as it was a real shock when first viewing at the cinema. Truly monumental pitched battles in this film, no mercy haha.

    Warning, it is very tearful near the finale, very well done, but the adrenaline sure does kick in ;)
  • moonrivers
    October 2, 2011
    moonrivers
    Gibson fights the nationalistic English hordes in this big brawling tribute to a Scotland that never was. Better than most medieval fare, there's still not much in the way of acting as there's no parts written that require any. An entertaining time but not meant to be taken ser... read moreiously.
  • DreamExtractor
    June 17, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    Braveheart deserved the Oscar. The plot never lets down and was great. The action was amzing and had every correct step to it. It was a masterful movie and I will watch it again one of these days.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    April 8, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Braveheart for me, at least has got to be one of the most epic films that I have seen. The film tells the story of William Wallace a Scottish Patriot who fights against the British during the 13th Century and the height of the rule of Edward Longshanks. Wallace's forces fought fo... read morer independence from British rule. There is no denying the scope of this film. Everything about it is grand. The Music and the battles are simply epic. This is by far Mel Gibson's best film since the Mad Max films. What makes Braveheart so interesting is the history behind the man. A common man who fought against all odds to get Scottish independence. Braveheart is a near flawless epic, and of course there are it's shares of inaccuracies, and thats why the film doesn't get a perfect score in my book. The casting decisions are phenomenal, Patrick McGoohan plays Longshanks with the cruel intensity that one could probably have expected from the real life Longshanks. It's hard to imagine a different person in the role. What thing that really stood out for me was the music score composed by James Horner. The music in this film is superb and the Braveheart score is one of my favorite film scores of all time. Braveheart is an action packed drama that combines history and romance in a film thats sure to please the diehard historical buff. As a history nut myself, I love it because it shows a very important side of Scottish history. For those who want to check out Mel Gibson's best directorial effort, here it is. No other film that he made has had the epic quality of Braveheart. A truly terrific film that has remained one of the best film epics since Lawrence Of Arabia.

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Critic Reviews

Jack Kroll
January 28, 2008
Jack Kroll, Newsweek

Braveheart looks like a true epic -- even if it is both bloody and bloody long. Full Review

Brian Lowry
January 28, 2008
Brian Lowry, Variety

A huge, bloody and sprawling epic, Braveheart is the sort of massive vanity piece that would be easy to disparage if it didn't essentially deliver. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Though the film dawdles a bit with the shimmery, dappled love stuff involving Wallace with a Scottish peasant and a French princess, the action will pin you to your seat.

Peter Rainer
February 13, 2001
Peter Rainer, Los Angeles Times

As a filmmaker, [Gibson] lacks the epic gift, but the movie, scripted by Randall (no relation) Wallace, works on a fairly basic level as a hiss-the-English medieval Western. Full Review

Paula Nechak
January 1, 2000
Paula Nechak, Film.com

Braveheart opts to turn cowardly, settling for the magnification of Gibson's idol status, forfeiting the complex, more nebulous magnificence of the real Sir William Wallace and virtually excising the ...

John Hartl
January 1, 2000
John Hartl, Film.com

There's a matter-of-fact grittiness about Braveheart that infects even its occasional touches of mysticism and photogenic romance.

Sean Means
January 1, 2000
Sean Means, Film.com

Gibson's raw energy and storytelling power in Braveheart are undeniable. If the film doesn't meet his ambitions, it's because he set the bar so high.

Peter Stack
January 1, 2000
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

At times the film seems an obsessive ode to Mel Gibson machismo. Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

With its clashing armies, heartstopping action, and grand sense of romance, this is the sort of film it's a pleasure to see and review. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

An action epic with the spirit of the Hollywood swordplay classics and the grungy ferocity of The Road Warrior. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Robert the Bruce: I have nothing. Men fight for me because if they do not, I throw them off my land and I starve their wives and their children. Those men who bled the ground red at Falkirk, they fought for William Wallace, and he fights for something that I never had. And I took it from him, when I betrayed him. I saw it in his face on the battlefield and it's tearing me apart.
    • Robert the Bruce's leprous father: All men betray. All lose heart.
    • Robert the Bruce: I don't wanna lose heart. I wanna believe as he does.
    • William Wallace: Every man dies, not every man truly lives.
    • William Wallace: That's my friend, Irishman. And the answer your question is yes - if you fight for me, you get to kill the English.
    • Stephen: Excellent!
    • William Wallace: It's all for nothing if you don't have freedom.
    • Magistrate: The prisoner wishes to say a word.
    • William Wallace: [shouts loud and long] Freedom!
    • William Wallace: They may take away our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!
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  • In Braveheart, what did Mel Gibson's character (William Wallace) cry out just before he was executed?   Answer »
  • what did Mel Gibson's character William Wallace Yell as he was being killed at the end of the movie Braveheart?  Answer »
  • "William Wallace" is the main character in what movie?  Answer »
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