HCR Rates The Movies #65: BRAVEHEART

[DTM]

So, our next film, Classic or Crud, Hit or Miss, what say you ALL?

Our next film open for discussion, and ultimately an Overall RATING by you all:

BRAVEHEART
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Let the discussions flow. Likes, dislikes, classic film or overhyped trash, and DONT FORGET to place an Overall Rating when youre done.

Its easy, just give a Rating from 1 (Jaws 4:The Revenge) to 10 (Jaws), and thats it. Course I'd love to have you all give reasons as to why you feel it deserves this Overall Rating, and more than encourage discussions with us all about them.

So, what say you all?

Next Film: ??????

[Wyldstaar]

I've always liked Braveheart despite the numerous problems it has. It's in my guilty pleasure file I suppose. I can't keep track of how many times I wince throughout the film when something is very, very wrong. The fact that the film begins by trying to convince the viewer that what they're seeing is the true history that England doesn't want you to believe only makes the inaccuracies worse. It is nevertheless an entertaining movie with the superhot Sophie Marceau.

8 out of 10

[EmperorNorton]

Perfect 10.

While historical inaccuracies generally bother me, they don't in this case.
Also I normally don't think Mel Gibson is a great actor; he's only capable of two facial expressions, but he uses them to the fullest in this movie.
Something about men in skirts running around the countryside slaughtering their oppressors touches me deep inside.
Braveheart actually was the first movie I ever bought on dvd for a whopping price of 70 DM, but I really wasn't kidding when I told my friends that from that time on my day would only have 21 hours, since the rest of the time would be spent watching this movie.

Freeeeedooooom!

[DTM]

Yeah, I have to agree, I loved this film. Didnt see it the first time it came out, as Id seen Rob Roy before then and wasnt overly impressed (not a bad film, just not great) so I thought Braveheart was just a longer Rob Roy and why bother.

But when it was nominated for for many Oscars, it was re-released, and I saw it again, and boy am I glad I did.

This film has so much emotion, so much heart, so much passion. This isnt an action picture, its a drama that has more than its share of excitement, and its share of emotion.

Well acted by everyone involved, and James Horner did a great job conveying the emotions of this film in his music.

This picture won the Oscar for Best Picture, and personally, I have no problem with that. Well done Mel Gibson, you deserved your award with this one.

Braveheart - 9.50 / 10

[tidge]

This film, while good, is fatally flawed (my PoV) from being a little too 'Disney-fied'...and I refer to classic traumatizing Disney like Bambi and Soung of the South. The basic 'story' seemed to almost be totally disjoint from the historical/geographical locations...so while we got a visual treat, this was a lot of empty intellectual calories.

I give it no more than a 7.5/10...still praiseworthy, but flawed in many ways.

[Wyldstaar]

This film, while good, is fatally flawed (my PoV) from being a little too 'Disney-fied'...and I refer to classic traumatizing Disney like Bambi and Soung of the South.

Wow, Song of the South. I havn't seen that since I was a kid. I suppose that's one more cartoon that's been left on the ash heap never to be seen again. Too many dated referances that aren't politically correct in our modern society of high moral fiber.

[DTM]

Come now, surely more than 4 of us have seen Braveheart. :) All are welcome, so lets hear from you ALL.

[batfink]

Historical inaccuracies keep me from giving this move a higher score. Edward died years later, and Sophie Marceau was like 4.

"Arrows are expensive, send in the Irish." 8.5

[DTM]

"......the dead cost nothing" :)

[batfink]

The line kinda sums up the entire English/Irish relationship.

[Mjolnir]

Too many dated referances that aren't politically correct in our modern society of high moral fiber.

yeah, you say it! (Says someone who recently watched a copy of Song of the South on DVD)

Anyway, Braveheart, in spite of it's historical inaccuracies is still a very compelling movie. I could watch it once a month easily for the rest of my life.

"Your heart is free, have the courage to follow it."

9 but because it has Angus in it;

10!

[Sigdr]

Historical inaccuracies? I don't believe anyone was calling the movie a docmentary, so I don't care about historical inaccuracies in this case. Damn good movie, but failed to completely catch my attention. I guess it's just not really my thing, but still...

8.5/10

[batfink]

I've met people who thought "BraveHeart" & "The Patriot" were gospel.
They think that during the American Revolutionary War the English burned a church with people in it just because of "The Patriot."

In other words:
"You people. If there isn't a movie about it, it's not worth knowing, is it?
Tell a person that you're the Metatron and they stare at you blankly. Mention something out of a Charlton Heston movie and suddenly everybody is a theology scholar."

[Wyldstaar]

I've met people who thought "BraveHeart" & "The Patriot" were gospel.
They think that during the American Revolutionary War the English burned a church with people in it just because of "The Patriot."

In other words:
"You people. If there isn't a movie about it, it's not worth knowing, is it?
Tell a person that you're the Metatron and they stare at you blankly. Mention something out of a Charlton Heston movie and suddenly everybody is a theology scholar."

I can't speak for other countries, but here in the USA you can thank the public education system. Every history class I ever took was about the American Revolution, the American Civil War and World War II. Everything else was lightly reviewed at most. These were the only three events of any importance, and only the politically correct views of them were taught as well.

[Mjolnir]

a quote I read somewhere that sums this up aptly;

Those who don't know their history are doomed to learn it from Hollywood.

[Trader2699]

Not really as concerned with historical accuracy (it's supposed to be entertainment, right?), but what's worth bringing up is that this movie completely redefined the way combat scenes were shot in Hollywood. Before this, combat scenes were shot in this crappy cutscene way. Braveheart managed to show combat to be "in the moment" while keeping it visually stimulating.

Some great quotable lines, too. But it did drag on a bit long for my taste.

8.5

[hail_eris]

Not really as concerned with historical accuracy (it's supposed to be entertainment, right?), but what's worth bringing up is that this movie completely redefined the way combat scenes were shot in Hollywood.
Well, yeah, right up until the pixel pushers created the Massive software that was used on the LotR series. Now they can do cavalry charges that accurately represent the chaos that happens when mounted knights hit a row of pikemen (without horribly killing a bunch of horses and stuntmen). For amazing classically filmed battle scenes, check out Kurasawa's Ran.

As for Messrs. Wallace and company, I thought the movie was fun. Knowing that one of William's descendants wrote the screenplay allows you to forgive the incredible bias that exists in the story's telling. Gibson's "Mad Max of the Moors" accent is passable and Sophie Marceau looks very pretty. Which is about all you can say about her character. For my money, though, the best performance was Patrick McGoohan as Edward I. If it features the guy from "The Prisoner," I can't give it less than a 7.5. Adding in Angus Macfadyen and Brian Cox elevates it to my final rating - 8.5.

[DTM]

CURRENT HCR MEMBER RATING:

BRAVEHEART - 8.78 / 10

(9 members rating)

[monkeyshines]

This movie has suffered over the years. I think a 6.5 is accurate though.

[EmperorNorton]

This movie has suffered over the years.

How so?
I really don't see that at all.

[monkeyshines]

It's special effects were unique at the time but not as much now. the story was mostly blather then and now. Still good but really not better than a 6 or 7 thus my rating. if you think this movie is a perfect 10 you need to get out and see more of them.

[EmperorNorton]

Since you seem so confident about your taste being better than mine, would you please tell me what movies in particular I need to see?

[monkeyshines]

I have rated several movies on these forums if you really want to know what I think is better. I don't mean to proclaim that my taste is better than yours. Rather, I just don't see this movie as a perfect 10 movie. Even in its heyday. I wouldn't even say I have ever seen a perfect 10 movie period.

Sticking more to this genre of film, while there wouldn't have been a Saving Private Ryan without Braveheart. I think there is more of a message about fighting for something in it, than Braveheart. Which along with this genre has also suffered for me due to its unintentional parody send up by 300. Still it's good but perfect? Wow

[mick77]

There are many technical errors in the fights scen, but it still deserve a good 9.75 for being entertaining for 3hours long

[monkeyshines]

A few historical errors and anachronisms as well, however I don't mind most of them in this, except for one glaring one. Edward the Third as the secret bastard love-child of William Wallace and Isabella, bah! He was even one of Scotland's and France's great foes, and very much like Edward the First.

Sophie Marceau's parts should have been edited right out of this over-long movie along with the corny visions of the "I see dead people" type. Her character was pure hollywood formula for adding an unecessary "female interest" character. Trimming this down would have made this movie even more entertaining at only 2 hours.

[DTM]

Eh, I loved the film, what can I say. :)

[Drunky]

Nice battle scenes :rolleyes:.

The story is nice; I don't know much about Scotland's history, so the historical innacuracies didn't bother me much. I wish they would have done without the stupid love affair with the Queen, but apparently these kind of things are mandatory in such movies. Whatever... I didn't get the "I see dead people" scenes either.

The acting is overall correct: Mel Gibson isn't that good, but it's allright (I'll quote EmperorNorton here: "he's only capable of two facial expressions, but he uses them to the fullest in this movie" :p). Sophie Marceau is as usual terrible (but pretty), fortunately we don't see her much. Patrick McGoohan (as King Edward I) and Angus Macfadyen (as Robert the Bruce) are great, and the rest of the cast can act decently.

The music was mostly standard. There are a few good themes (especially during the battle scenes), but else it was pretty dull. I expected more bagpipes.

Special effects (or rather, stunts) are great: the battles are very violent and bloody and I like it, not only because I ususally like violent action scenes, but also because it is accurate: medevial warfare was extremely brutal.

Cinematography was correct at best: there were nice pictures of Scotland's landscape, but that's it. And the frequent and endless close-ups on Mel's face were unbearable.

So, the movie is an OK entertainment, though sometimes boring between the battle scenes, and a little bit too long.

6.5/10

[charlesx]

When this film first came out, I was awestruck by it. Since then, learning about the inaccuracies in the story, the over-dramatization of the events, the blatant homophobia, and the plain "Disney"-ized vision of it all have pretty much changed my mind. Was it entertaining? Yes. Can I watch it again without wincing too much? Nope. My quota of Braveheart is 100% complete. (Though unfortunately the damage has been done, as you can see in some of Gibson's newer works, such as "Apocalypto." We have all bought into his legend.)

6.5 out of 10 is as generous as I can be at this point.

[Manchine]

7.5 out of 10

It was pretty good.

[Truffle Shuffle]

I enjoyed it for what it was .... entertainment. 8.5/10

It had some decent drama, some funny lines, a good looking guy to watch, a love story that wasn't overdone.

If you want to learn some history, read a book.

[Kwame]

easily a ten, no problem there. I have watched this one almost as many times as i have watched star wars. SOOO good.

10

[krazydragon23]

I liked it, but Mel? eeeeeehh...

8.5

[Chief Pokishi]

I really enjoyed this film. Loved the action scenes and had some great lines. "Well, we didn't get dressed up for nothin'". Now the historical inaccuracies didn't bother me as that's not why I watched it for. But yes, Mel is really decent at best, Sophie I could do without(though good eye-candy), Angus is great and loved Brenden Gleeson(he hasn't played a part which I didn't like him).

9/10

[the itsy bit]

good movie, but doesn't stand up to repeated viewing...

6,5/10

[labria4]

7/10 Just because I watched it once when it came out. If I thought it was better I would have seen it again by now.