Braveheart

One of the most epic films of all time. Braveheart is a story of love and revenge, honor and disloyalty. And love.

Mel Gibson stars in and directs this academy award winning film about William Wallace and his great battles against the Brits. There is a great scene near the beginning where shirtless, kilt-wearing Gibson competes his childhood friend at a wedding reception. They are throwing boulders to test their strength. Wallace loses the strength contest, but points out a lesson he was taught earlier in the film; the key is to be strong in the head, not in the arm. He then challenges the man to throw a boulder at him. It misses by inches. The festive audience laughs and cheers. Gibson picks up a small stone, and takes out his giant friend with it in the forehead.
The scene is a brilliant summary of the rest of the film.

Wallace shows, in battle after battle, that if he uses his head, he can beat the giant. His character is so likable by everybody, showing incredible screenplay writing; he is all man, complete lover, warrior, patriot, funny, smart, and on top of it all, he's Sco'ish!

The battles are very graphic, showing, well, everything you could imagine to happen on the battlefield. It's all very fast, but it leaves you saying, "Ooh, ow, that was...gnn!" after every battle. A recurring theme is women's honor. It is ravaged brutally by the british, and in stark contrast, Wallace treats the ladies with respect; even when it is an emissary from England. She offers him money to come to their side. He refuses, but makes such an impression on her, that she lets him keep the money anyways.

Braveheart is one of the best of the Academy Award Winners. It is a film that everyone should see before they die. There is the Crispen's Day speech, where Wallace tells his troops that it is all worth it. He tells them not to be afraid, because if they die, at least it will be a noble death, and if they run, they will always regret it. He tells them:

"True. Fight and you may die. Run and you will live... at least awhile. And dying in your bed many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here as young men and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they will never take our freedom!"

5 out of 5 stars.