|
|
|
|
|
Braveheart (Special Collector's Edition)
List price: $17.49
Sale price: $8.99
You save: $8.5 (49%)
Actor(s): Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick McGoohan
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Paramount
Director(s):
EAN: 0097361313948
Format(s): NTSC
Item Dimensions: Weight 1 lbs.
Label: Paramount
Language(s): English Dolby Digital 5.1 Original LanguageEnglish SubtitledSpanish SubtitledFrench Subtitled
List Price: $17.49
Manufacturer: Paramount
MPN: PARD131394D
Package Dimensions:
Height: 0.7"
Width: 5.4"
Length: 0.7"
Weight: 0.25 lbs.
Product Group: DVD
Publisher: Paramount
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2007-12-18
Running Time: 177minutes
Studio: Paramount
Theatrical Release Date: 1995-05-24
UPC: 097361313948
Editorial Reviews
Description:
Mel Gibson directs and stars in this Academy Award-winning epic based on the life of legendary thirteenth century Scottish hero William Wallace. Returning to his homeland following the death of an heirless king, Wallace (Mel Gibson) finds the political landscape precarious. Edward the Longshanks, King of England (Patrick McGoohan), has captured Scotland's throne and threatens the freedom of all Scottish people, as tyrannical policies instituted by the English plague the Scots. Initially, Wallace is content to stand by the wayside, yearning for the simple life of building a home and raising a family. However, when the woman he loves (Catherine McCormack) suffers a cruel fate at the hands of English soldiers, Wallace takes a stand against the new rule. With his fierce patriotism and determination, he gathers an amateur but passionately rebellious army. Although this makeshift force may be outnumbered by the English troops, their desperation and love for their land surpass any military maneuvers, as evidenced in the film's breathtaking battle sequences.
Amazon.com essential video:
Mel Gibson's Oscar-winning 1995 Braveheart is an impassioned epic about William Wallace, the 13th-century Scottish leader of a popular revolt against England's tyrannical Edward I (Patrick McGoohan). Gibson cannily plays Wallace as a man trying to stay out of history's way until events force his hand, an attribute that instantly resonates with several of the actor's best-known roles, especially Mad Max. The subsequent camaraderie and courage Wallace shares in the field with fellow warriors is pure enough and inspiring enough to bring envy to a viewer, and even as things go wrong for Wallace in the second half, the film does not easily cave in to a somber tone. One of the most impressive elements is the originality with which Gibson films battle scenes, featuring hundreds of extras wielding medieval weapons. After Eisenstein's Alexander Nevsky, Orson Welles's Chimes at Midnight, and even Kenneth Branagh's Henry V, you might think there is little new that could be done in creating scenes of ancient combat; yet Gibson does it. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews Average rating - 4.5
Rating - 5 Date: 2008-11-29
Content: Below you will find a desription of the movie. This is my favorite movie of all time.
William Wallace is a Scottish rebel who leads an uprising against the cruel English ruler Edward the Longshanks, who wishes to inherit the crown of Scotland for himself. When he was a young boy, William Wallace's father and brother, along with many others, lost their lives trying to free Scotland. Once he loses another of his loved ones, William Wallace begins his long quest to make Scotland free once and for all, along with the assistance of Robert the Bruce. Braveheart is the partly historical, partly mythological, story of William Wallace, a Scottish common man who fights for his country's freedom from English rule around the end of the 13th century. The movie begins in the small town of Elderslie, Scotland. William lives with his father, Malcolm and elder brother John. William's father and brother are called to a meeting a few miles from their home where they find the entire nobility of Scotland hanging. Malcolm and John then go to a battle between the English and their clan, both die tragically. At the funeral William meets his uncle Argyle who fought in the battle with Malcolm and his father. He takes him away to live with him. The scene then cuts to an adult William on his horse. William later runs into a girl he knew before he went to live with Argyle, her name, Murron, we discover that Lords have the right to sleep with brides on their wedding night, so William marries Murron in secret. Murron is the assaulted by a English guard, the guard is killed by William, a fight ensues, and eventually Murron is killed by the lord. This enrages Wallace who then build himself a fine army entering city's and killing all Englishman within. Wallace prepares to move on to Stirling where he prepared for his greatest battle yet, in the forest he realizes that he must find a way to beat the heavy cavalry from the ground, he decided to create spears twice as long as men. These were used in the battle to kill the entire heavy cavalry raised at the last minute to kill the on coming horses. Eventually Wallace reaches York, the most important military city he gains control. Williams final battle at Falkirk ends in his betrayal by two nobles, whom he later kills. William is betrayed by the leper father of Robert the Bruce, is captured and refuses to bow down as a loyal subject of the king Edward I, Longshanks. Therefore, instead of mere beheading William Wallace is subject to being Hung, hung within an inch of death. Drawn, being stretched by his ankles and wrists and then having his insides shown to him before he died. Then Quartered, he was beheaded and his head was put on the London Bridge his body was torn into for pieces one sent to each corner of Britain as a warning to the citizens. After Wallace's death we see Robert the Bruce led the battle of Bannockburn the last battle for Scotland's freedom. In 14th Century Scotland, William Wallace leads his people in a rebellion against the tyranny of the English King, who has given English nobility the 'Prima Nocta'.. a right to take all new brides for the first night. The Scots are none too pleased with the brutal English invaders, but they lack leadership to fight back. Wallace creates a legend of himself, with his courageous defence of his people and attacks on the English.
Summary: SIMPLY THE BEST MOVIE EVER MADE
Rating - 5 Date: 2008-11-29
Content: This film is undoutedly a classic. While it is certainly longer than your typical 90-120 minute feature, it is truly an inspiring yet heart wrenching story that will have you asking for more.
Uri Gofman
Summary: a great epic film
Rating - 5 Date: 2008-11-24
Content: "Every man dies - Not every man really lives."
"Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!"
This movie changed my life. It made me realize that it would be better to live one moment as a champion than an eternity as a slave. Whenever I feel scared or down, I watch that battle scene, feel that speech, and act that soul.
Summary: This Movie Will Change Your Life and The World
Rating - 4 Date: 2008-11-12
Content: Notwithstanding historical inaccuracies (and there are many), this was great entertainment. I usually watch a DVD at home over the course of 2-3 nights, but I could not turn this one off, and watched the whole thing (nearly 3 hours) in one sitting. Such a great story and wonderful acting, scenery, etc.
Summary: great entertainment
Rating - 5 Date: 2008-11-11
Content: Critique of Braveheart
Mel Gibson's Braveheart is an epic film that brings to life the struggle of the thirteenth century Scotts. The people of Scotland rallied behind a brave man, William Wallace (Mel Gibson), to try and gain their freedom from the English. The film is filled with combat, strong will, love, and even a little humor. Not only is the story line unforgettable but also the cinematography and details of the movie are impeccable. The acting and scripting are masterful. The special effects utilized in the battle scenes are extremely graphic although very well done. Braveheart won countless awards in 1996, the most prestigious being Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars. Mel Gibson was not only the leading role in this film, but also the director and the producer. Braveheart is not for those faint of heart yet many would enjoy the energy and excitement of the battlefield because the movie was made skillfully.
Throughout the entire film the cinematography plays an important role. Even at the very beginning when the camera soars over the green hills, the audience begins to appreciate the wondrous land of Scotland. The land is green and untouched by modernity, which is perfect for the setting of the story. Scottish bagpipes play in the background as the camera dips and dives over the vast mountain ranges. All this beauty is one of the reasons why the Scotts fight so vehemently to protect their heritage and homes and freedom.
The camera also plays an important role portraying the characters' emotions. It slows down and zooms into the actors' faces so that the audience is able to see the pain, love, or sadness. Mel Gibson did a wonderful job selecting actors for his movie. The actors he chose are so good that one can truly see the emotions running through their minds in their eyes. The suburb acting is what makes this movie extraordinary. Mel Gibson, in addition to his good looks, does an amazing job as Scottish rebel leader William Wallace. Not only does he inspire the loyalty of his troops with his speeches, but the audience is motivated as well. Wallace's two chief lieutenants, played by Brendan Gleeson and David O'Hara provide a much needed humorous break to the constant fighting.
Strong actresses play both of the women that capture Wallace's love. Catherine McCormack performs the role of Wallace's wife and true love, Murron. The beautiful Sophie Marceau portrays Princess Isabelle. Both of these characters are women of strong will, especially for the time period. Murron's affection for Wallace is tangible in the genuine way she looks at him and her devotion to marry him in secret. She takes a huge risk by defying the English's barbaric orders to bed a bride on the first night of her union. McCormack does an amazing job showing the sincerity and purity of that love. Their relationship, unfortunately, ends in tragedy, which in turns fuels Wallace's (Gibson) fire for revenge on the English. This event signifies the start of a revolt led by Wallace.
The thirteenth century style of fighting was hand-to-hand combat; as a result, the battle scenes are extremely graphic. One can see limbs and heads chopped off, throats slit, and of course all the blood is included. This movie is not for those who go faint at the sight of blood. However, the special effects are done exceptionally well. Many horses were also used in the battle scenes. Using animals is difficult but it gives the movie a feeling of authenticity. In addition, thousands of extras were used in the battle scenes as well as peasants in the villages. The droves of soldiers are well organized just as a true army would be. As one the English archers send a rain of arrows on the Scottish, which demonstrates the superb directing abilities of Gibson.
I have only a few negative critiques of this film. The first is the length of the movie. The film runs two hours and fifty-nine minutes. The film does a good job keeping the attention of the audience, yet at the end one starts to loose interest. It is one battle too many. One becomes dull to all the gory fighting and it does not stir up the same feelings of suspense that the earlier ones did. However, the film finishes strongly with the scene of Wallace's execution. Wallace courageously screams "freedom" despite torture and imminent death. Secondly, it is difficult to follow the historical events and players the first time watching Braveheart. There are many different noblemen both Scottish and English to keep track of. This becomes easier with the subsequent viewings.
Braveheart, a memorable film, connects the audience to the struggle of the thirteenth century Scotts for freedom. The leader of the revolt, William Wallace (Gibson), inspires the viewers as well as the discontented Scottish clans to his cause, freedom. This film has strong themes of love, self-determination, and fortitude. The skill of the cinematographers and actors is remarkable and takes this movie to the award-winning level.
Works Cited
James, Caryn. "FILM REVIEW: BRAVEHEART; The Splashy Epic Finds New Life in the 13th Century". The New York Times. February 2, 2008 [...]
Reed Business Information. "Braveheart Movie Review". Variety 100. February 2, 2008 [...]
Summary: Movie Review for English Class
|
|
|
|