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Alanfrize
Reviews
Fact or Fiction: Braveheart (2001)
This could have been so much better
This could have been a lot better than it was: Unfortunately, it let itself, and the viewer, down.
Things aren't helped by Tony Robinson - while he may be a good Presenter for 'Time Team', here he is obviously out of this depth, commenting on something he doesn't appear to know much about. It doesn't help that he takes a very patronising and sneering approach - why couldn't they have got someone else from 'Time Team' to present it. someone with an actual passion for history?
The documentary lets itself down quickly - shots of 'Scottish' troops ha them clad more akin to a soldier of the 1745 rebellion. While Robinson comes out with the facts (which to be fair, he does actually produce) there are scenes of Scots wearing great kilts (which wouldn't be worn until at least 1595) in 'Clan Tartans' (a modern invention) and armed with weaponry that didn't appear until at least 600 yeas later!
All in all a waste of time.
Braveheart (1995)
A travesty
Complete and utter dross. The film decides to bypass the actual story, and go along with some made-up rubbish that Randall Wallace came out with. It's interesting to note that the film originally hired Professor Tom Devine of Glasgow University as the historical consultant, but then sacked him because his version of what happened (based upon the facts) was completely different to what Randall Wallace was spouting.
As to the film itself, Mel Gibson's accent is execrable, and that's just the start. Other problems occur - the Scots wear Woad and tartan - the earliest recorded wearing of tartan is in 1595. Woad had disappeared not long after the Roman invasion, over 1,000 years earlier. They also wouldn't have had the plaids or Great Kilts - these don't appear until the latter years of the 16th century.
The film takes more liberties with historical fact than is good. The battle of Stirling Brdge is moved onto land without the Bridge in sight. At the end Robert the Bruce throws William Wallaces' sword onto the field, and Scots charge in. Yet Wallace had introduced the use of 'Schiltrons', which were huge blocks of spear men, and which were instrumental in Scottish victory at Bannockburn.
All in all, terrible. If you want a good film about Scottish history, watch Rob Roy with Liam Neeson. While it has many mistakes, it doesn't try to portray itself as fact.