I'm talking just in the 90's. The 90's were a great time for the movies, we had so many memorable one's and there is no doubt that "Braveheart" is one of them. "Braveheart" is one of my favorite movies that never gets old. Despite it's long running time, I will watch this movie any day.

Mel Gibson has come so far in the movie business and he not only stars but directed Braveheart. He did a terrific job and deserves a lot of credit for this remarkable film. Despite it not being totally accurate with history, anyone can enjoy "Braveheart". Based on the life story of William Wallace, a town peasant who just wants to live in peace and harmony with a wife and children. But when the British king of England, Longshanks, is sick of Scotland "being full of Scots", he comes up with a way of bringing them more into a British land by "breeding them out". Promising any British soldier to a Scotish bride on her wedding night before her husband can have her. Wallace won't hear of it and marries his love in secret. When a British soldier notices his wife and attempts to rape her, Wallace comes in and saves her causing a riot in their village and he thinks he's got her safe when he sends her away from the soldiers, but they catch her and kill her right in front of her family.

Wallace has had it and wants war for not only the murder of his wife and love, he wants freedom for Scotland and will shed blood to do it. "What will you do without freedom?!", this is one of the most memorable speeches of all cinematic history during their first major battle with the British. Through countless battles, friends, traitors, and bloodshed, all Wallace just wishes for is freedom. As Robert the Bruce says to his father "They look at him and fight by his side." He describes Wallace's bravery and what everyone feels in wanting to be him. I love Robert's last line "You have bled with Wallace! Now bleed with me!" and the army stands and continues their struggling battles for freedom! This is such an inspirational movie with a powerful message "Every man dies, but not every man really lives" to a tearful ending that will make anyone shed a tear to a terrific heartfelt sound track, it's no wonder this won best picture with other Oscars. This is a movie, a terrific one that everyone should enjoy and watch.

10/10

Everyone knows the film has historical inaccuracies, but that's not the point. This is a grand romantic vision of the fight for freedom and casting off the yoke of oppression. James Horner's wonderfully moving, romantic score adds tremendously to the film. The most moving scenes for me are the interactions with the women whom Wallace loved, starting with a wonderful scene of the young Murron (the expression on the face of the little girl playing her is movie perfection) presenting him with a flower at his father's funeral, and moving on to their adult courtship and far too brief marriage, and ending with his interaction with the exquisitely beautiful Sophie Marceau as Isabelle. It's the stuff that movie dreams are make of. Unfortunately, it appears that Hollywood is no longer interested in depicting men and women interacting with each other this way. What a pity.

"Braveheart" is a three-hour movie from twenty years ago that won Mel Gibson Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director. I will not deny that this film has some solid moments, but as a whole it was not even close to being enough for such a long film. Visually, it was fine for the most part, but this film is great evidence of how seeing something good is not equal to feeling something good. The story was not particularly interesting, but maybe the reason is also that this era in history was never among my favorite ones. It is as usual all about great writing and despite the Screenplay Oscar nomination, this film does not have it. You could certainly say that it is fairly difficult to make a script that keeps one interested into a film of almost 180 minutes, but they took the challenge here and they came short.

On a more positive note, Mel Gibson proves in here once again that he is as good of an actor as he is a filmmaker. His performance was probably my favorite aspect from the very few good-quality aspects in here. The Scottish sceneries were worth a watch too and so were the costumes. However, this makes it pretty much style over substance. Not among Mel Gibson's best works overall and it's a bit ironic that this was the biggest success of his career. What maybe disappoints me the most is that I quite like Pat McGoohan and him playing the main evil guy is something that sounds awesome in theory. Still, I could not warm up to this one. Certainly a contender for my least favorite Best Picture Academy Award winner. Not recommended.