Review of Braveheart (1995) by Stephen Z — 09 Aug 2015

Detailing the story of Sir William Wallace's involvement in the First War of Scottish Independence, "Braveheart" is a refreshing break from the multitude of historical war dramas about wars like the American Revolution, World War II, etc. And while there are some major discrepancies between this film and the historical truth, I don't have a problem with it because "Braveheart" wasn't billed as being based on a true story.

What I do have a problem with is the film's pacing issues. It lingers too long on Wallace as a youth, then really rushes the romance. Despite this, the pacing works well enough to keep your attention throughout the entire three hours. This is largely due to the incredible action scenes. "Braveheart" has some truly epic action sequences, and Mel Gibson delivers as the star. Mel Gibson gives the best performance of his career, demanding your attention, and I also liked Brendan Gleeson's supporting role.

"Braveheart" is a really enjoyable historical war drama. It is brutal and exciting during the action, and is tender during its romantic moments. While it's far from perfect, "Braveheart" is an exciting film with a lot of heart (no pun intended).