Braveheart (Definitive Edition) (DVD)

...It Different To The Other Braveheart DVD?**
First the other Braveheart is the original and is not a good quality than is expected now a days (although it was considered excellent at the time) but that was 1995 and alot has happened in the film world. Second there are 2 discs, not one containing the movie and special feature which i will discuss later in the review. Oh and third the covers. The old one has just oictures of the different chacters ...
...Polish, Portuguese, Swedish) "Mel Gibsons Braveheart A Filmmakers Passion" documentary, Audio commentary by Mel Gibson, Interactive menus and the original trailer.

**Appearence Of DVD?**
The cover i had was dark red but there was also a balck one but the same picture and back. With a box around it with gold font, with bold letters speeling out "Braveheart" you can't really miss it! The actual discs have ... more

**What Is It**
It is the two disc special edition of the movie "Braveheart" which has been restored and digitally remastered to a high quality.

**Why Is It Different To The Other Braveheart DVD?**
First the other Braveheart is the original and is not a good quality than is expected now a days (although it was considered excellent at the time) but that was 1995 and alot has happened in the film world. Second there are 2 discs, not one containing the movie and special feature which i will discuss later in the review. Oh and third the covers. The old one has just oictures of the different chacters while this one has a heroic William Wallace standing tall with his sword.

**Whos In It?**
Well Mel Gibson stars and directs this movie. You might think, oh no not another Mel Gibson movie but htis one is actully really good! Anyway it also stars Sophie Marceau (James Bond, A Midsummers Night Dream) , Catherine McCormick (28 Weeks Later, Renaissance) and Patrick McGoohan (A Time to Kill, Treasure Planet) and theres lots of other actors/actresses that pop in and out!

**The Movie Plot**
Set in 13th Century Scotland, the time of brutal battles, rape and murder where common. The English has invaded Scotland and the Clans are plotting against each other. Born into this havoc is a boy named William Wallace. Living in Eldeslie, Renfrewshire in Scotland with his father and older brother John. They are called to a meeting but are late because of William (hes about 10/11 years old) So they get here and have a terrible shock. All the Scottish nobility have been murdered. So Williams father and brother set on there track to go and battle the english, who they suspected of doing this. Tragically, they are killed in battle. Now an orphan, William is met by his Uncle Argyll who adopts him. At the funeral of his father and brother, there is a heart felt moment between William and a little girl called Murron who viewers will not have seen before.
The next time you see William is when he is in his early 20's in the shape of Mel Gibson. He is handomly riding on his horse back to Elderslie where he came from. He is attending a wedding and meets again Murron (Catherine McCormick) the wedding however is rudely interupted by english guards and a lord with a demand that the bride will have to sleep in his bed as the new law imposed by the king. The next scene is the king and his plan to 'breed the scots' out. Back to William he falls in love with Murron and goes on romantic horsebacks (something all women would love to do lads!!!) and eventully you see them get married in secret. But as all movies there is a tragic twist. Murron is killed by the english lord (the same one at the wedding, played by Rupert Vansittart) so William very violently revenges her death by killing every English solider he sees. With emotional anger he gets followers to help and one by one a fort in englsih hands, goes into scottish. The passionate fight for there independence has begun.
Soon a big battle between the highly trained english troops, and the plainly angry but canny Scots take place. Known famously as the battle of Stirling Bridge takes place (NOTE: In the movie there is no bridge!!! They just made it a plain battle but everything else is the same!) So renamed the battle of Stirling by myself. Using there cunning, the scots have a plan to knck out a whole english cavalry (charging men on horse back) and they do! Then the archers are out then the englsih retreat. You can see the english thinking oh bugger. With a very bloody battle scene (not for the faint hearted! Believe me!) the Scots declare victory.
Eventully Willam Wallace reaches York. With a heart felt, passionate speech in between (YOU CAN TAKE OUR LIVES BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE OUR FREEDOM!) Then there is a very big twist William falls for the french princess (forced to be married to the son of the king, who she hates) So they are ready for the final battle. William has a huge army behind him, united in one cause. So all is well another victory was expected by the Scots. Then betrayal by Robert Bruce. All is lost. Want to know the ending? Three options
1. Watch Braveheart
2. Read a Scottish history Book about the "Scottish Wars Of Independence"
3. Ask me very nicely

**Sound Track?**
The sound track is simpily fantastic. It is a great film because of the soundtrack. Alot of the it is simply haunting and beautiful. With only usually no more than two instruments playing delicately in the backround to set the scene, it is simply superb. The classic "Braveheart theme" is played through out. The best music is when William is doing his big speech and the music goes witht he speech. When he shouts, the music shouts, when he whispers, it whispers. i think it was the soundtrack that brought me to tears and not the movie!

**Quality Of The Movie?**
I haven't seen the original (i was only 3 when it came out!!!) so i can't really compare the quality between the original and the remastered. What i can say about the remastered is the picture is really good, and the sound is great. It isn't the highest quality i've seen but it is still very good.

**DVD Extras?**
Well first it has lots of subtitles (Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish) "Mel Gibsons Braveheart A Filmmakers Passion" documentary, Audio commentary by Mel Gibson, Interactive menus and the original trailer.

**Appearence Of DVD?**
The cover i had was dark red but there was also a balck one but the same picture and back. With a box around it with gold font, with bold letters speeling out "Braveheart" you can't really miss it! The actual discs have a scene from the movie. Disc one has William and Murron standing hand in hand and disc two has William standing proudly in the sunset.

**Any Awards?**
Winning an amazing 5 oscars and nominated for another 5 it did incredibly well. Winning an oscar for Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Effects and Sound Effects Editing, Best Makeup and Best Picture. Also 3 BAFTA's, 2 Golden Globes and 2 MTV Movie awards. Not bad ay?

**Price?**
The RRP is £22.99 but i've never been sold for more than £11.99, I bought mine from HMV for £9.99 and i thought i was getting my moneys worth. Remember this is Special Edition 2 disc set.

**Whats Right With It?**
It is a very passionate, emotional movie about one goal. With lots of blood and guts this is a good movie to watch at night. it has excellent battle scenes which will make your mouth drop witht he amount of detail they go into to make it look as real as possible. There one bit eh guy is holding all his gut which i hid behind my cusion! And i had second thoughts about being a doctor at that point! It has alot of different genres history, romance, violence and a little bit of dark humour. Just a great movie!

**Whats Wrong With it?**
It makes out english folk to be nasty, racist and just mean. It may not appeal to some english people because of this but please don't be offended because of this as you are seeing, most of the time, the Scottish side of things.

**Classification?**
It has a 15 classification because of the blood and guts and there is some mild sex scenes. It would not be suitable for younger children or young teenagers as it does have some shocking, realistic blood images and severe violence using swords etc.

**Conclusion?**
A passionate film about a struggle for one goal. A great DVD to have in a DVD collection especially if your scottish or just love history. The best film i've seen in a while and it will make you laugh and cry. Makes you proud to watch,truely excelent film. Worth a buy or a rent!

Janie x 

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