Braveheart

Set during the brutal reign of the English King Edward Longshanks, a young Scottish boy’s life is wrought with tragedy. Years after he leaves his homeland, he returns to settle down. However, the English king chooses to pass down harsher laws of oppression upon the Scottish people. Tired of the brutality of Longshanks, the young man rises up against the King’s Tyranny. He becomes the rallying cry for a rebellion against the English Crown.

The tale of William Wallace’s rebellion against the English crown is presented in a grand sale. The savage warfare, the tranquil Scottish villages, and English abodes are presented in immense detail. The presentation of the Scottish villages and lives of its people depicts the ancient culture and society. Gibson’s choices for the battle sequences are as stunning as they are grand with Calvary charges and walls of infantry clashing into each other. Though the battle sequences sometimes show to much, with regards to extras not exactly fighting or reacting, the film overall is well organized and well presented.

The camera work in the film captures the lives of both the Scottish and English people in stunning detail. The audience is drawn into the ritualistic lives of the Scottish villagers and revolutionaries alike through the great character development, set design, and wardrobe. The battle sequences are another strength of the film. The battles on screen depict the brutal reality of medieval warfare through great use of the camera.  The variety of full shots, covering the chaos of the battles, and the medium shots that convey the soldier’s view of the gore and death create a true sense of the battle. Also the performance of the various characters can not be understated. The different characters from William Wallace and his band of rebels to the cold-hearted Longshanks and his English generals create a cast of characters that is memorable.  In the end, Braveheart is a great film that captures the fire of rebellion and instills the audience with a lasting image of William Wallace himself.