In times of anguish, we can find solace in art. A great movie can always offer you some kind of power to face your own problem. And this one did a good job. It brings us a tough hero, William Wallace，leader of the Scottish resistance forces against England’s rule. Although he is dead at last, his spirit had led his people to fight and get freedom. This meaningful work has touched so many hearts by its significance theme and content.
The theme of this work can mainly be seen over the growing image of William Wallace. First we see his childhood. His father was killed by the English intruder, which may definitely leave a scar on his heart. With this great hatred, when he saw his wife killed by the enemies, everything stuck deep down his heart was released all of a sudden with magnificent power. So in the fighting scene, we see a warrior dared his life waving the sword. It is a common wonder where his courage is from. Let’s say, if it is an ordinary person, who lost his parents since he’s very young, he may not have the conviction to grow up as a hero. However, heroes are as heroes are.
Wallace's revolution was significant, seen from many aspects, with great obstacles from his countrymen, as well as enemies. Many Scottish nobles lent him only grudging support as most of them were more concerned with wealth and titles than the freedom of the country. In fact, the Scottish leaders are in favor of revolt-or not-depending on English bribes. Wallace, by comparison, is a man of honor, incorruptible and righteous. He was knighted and proclaimed ‘guardian and high protector of Scotland’， but as much as he railed against the Scottish nobles, submitted to Edward I, King of England, he was astonished and in shock to discover the treachery of the leading Scot contender for the throne—Robert, the Earl of Bruce—to whom he confided, ‘The people would follow you, if you would only lead them.’ Sophie Marceau is exquisite as the distressed princess Isabella of France who ends up falling in love with Wallace, warning him out of several traps. Catherine McCormack is a stunning beauty who ignites Wallace’s revolution. Patrick McGoohan is chilling, brutal, and vicious as the ruthless Edward I, known by the nickname ‘Long shanks.’ This king remains simply the embodiment of evil. While Angus McFadyen moves as a nobleman torn between his conscience and political aspiration, and Brendan Gleeson brings strength and humor to his role as the robust Hamish, David O’Hara is very effective as the crazy Irishman who provides much of the film’s comic relief from even the most tensed moments. Mel Gibson has reason to be proud of this work. It is a motion picture that dares to be excessive… Gibson presents passionately the most spaciously impressive battles （yet staged for films） even excessively, and it is his passion and excess that make the motion picture great. The horror and futility of massed hand-to-hand combats are exciting rather repulsive. It is epic film-making at its glorious best. This movie focuses on the human side of Wallace, a character that is so immense, so intelligent, and so passionate, exploring the definitions of honor and nobility, pushing us to follow the hero into his struggle against injustice and oppression. And this is the power of a hero.
Also, this movie is a red-blooded battle epic. Not much is known about Wallace, known as Braveheart, except that according to an old epic poem, he unified the clans of Scotland and won famous battles against the English before being captured, tortured and executed as a traitor.
Wallace cried, as his body was stretched on the rack. That isn’t exactly based on fact （the concept of personal freedom was a concept not much celebrated in 1300）， but it doesn’t stop Gibson from making it his dying cry. It fits in with the whole glorious sweep of Braveheart, which is an action epic with the spirit of the Hollywood swordplay classics and the grungy ferocity of “The Road Warrior”。 What people are going to remember from the film are the battle scenes, which are frequent, bloody and violent. Just from a technical point of view, Braveheart does a brilliant job of massing men and horses for large-scale warfare on film. Gibson deploys what look like thousands of men on horseback, as well as foot soldiers, archers and dirty tricks specialists, and yet his battle sequences don’t turn into confusing crowd scenes: We understand the strategy, and we enjoy the tactics even while we doubt some of them.
Gibson is not filming history here, but myth. William Wallace may have been a real person, but Braveheart owes more to Prince Valiant, Rob Roy and Mad Max. Once we understand that this is not a solemn historical reconstruction （and that happens pretty fast）， we accept dialogue that might otherwise have an uncannily modern tone, as when Braveheart issues his victory ultimatum to the English. In the film, Wallace's chief antagonist is King Edward I, played by Patrick McGoohan with sly cunning; he is constantly giving his real political interpretation of events, and that's all the more amusing since he’s usually guessing in a wrong way.
Edward’s son, the Prince of Wales, is a very weak role who marries a French woman only for political reasons and he’s a gay himself. Even his father doesn’t like him. “I may have to conceive the child myself!” the king says, and indeed, under the medieval concept, or “first night,” nobles were allowed a first chance to sleep with the wives of Scottish men. The Princess, played by the French actress Sophie Marceau, does not much admire her husband, who spends most of his time hanging about moon-eyed with his best friend （until the king, in a fit of impatience, hurls the friend out the castle window）。
Edward, smarting from defeats, dispatches the Princess to offer his terms to Braveheart, but soon she’s spilling all the state secrets, “because of the way you look at me.” The Princess is the second love in Wallace’s life; the first, his childhood sweetheart Murron （Catherine McCormack）， marries him in secret. The two spend their wedding night outdoors, and the backlit shot as they embrace gains something, I think, from the frost on their breaths.
These characters come from hardened stock. When Wallace has a reunion with his childhood pal Hamish, they hurl rocks at each other for entertainment; later, when a Scotsman has his wound cauterized all he says is, “That’ll wake you up in the morning, boy!” It is sometimes seen as an egotistical gesture when actors direct themselves, especially in heroic epics costing $53 million. The truth is, given this material, I do not know that anyone could have directed it better. Gibson marshals his armies of extras, his stunt men and his special effects, and creates a fictional world that is entertaining, and thrilling.
And as to Braveheart, Gibson plays his role with flamboyance, and cuts it with sly humor. He is an amazing battlefield strategist, inventing new strategies and weapons, outsmarting the English at every turn, leading his men into battle with his face painted blue, like a football fan. There is a scene where he is so pumped up with the scent of battle that his nostrils flare; not many actors could get away with that, but Gibson can.
In the meanwhile, this movie is a very touching love story. William lost beloved woman, it means losing the only love of life, suddenly of heart desperate for power, revenge for the loss of love, so he killed the Scottish soldiers and chieftains. I understand it as a fight for the love of battle.
This is actually a blasting fuse, the real highlight of the Scottish people with the pursuit of freedom in William's leadership, the struggle against the King of England. So we can say that the light of freedom is the most eye-catching thing. However, human nature once again deceived William, when he was betrayed noble chieftains sent after the trial units in England, when William learned that his dream of freedom can be completed, and only mind eagerly looking forward to it! At the time, as long as he can head down to England, he confessed to treason and asked for mercy, he can get the most enjoyment of relief, replacing many of the lingering death of torture. But William the final calls out from the throat or the “free” word. This is his deep, strong cry, he would rather lose his body could not betray his heart! England at this time the public was moved by whom, and they seem to see a real hero! William has a brave heart!
William’s life was strangled and decapitated! When the ax head down towards him the moment he saw his wife the former Founder directed at his smile, seemed to admire his courage, love and freedom, while William seems to have been! Brave heart, after all, is the brave! He uses his own blood stirred up the Scottish people longing for freedom!
Sudden death, left to the people is a constant moving! Able to adhere to the death of their convictions, this is a heroic bosom. Free about life, William has become a finished, for this faith, have nothing to fear death?
Today, we are in a period of relative peace; the meaning of freedom seems to transform our way of interpreting it. So, what belief is it that touches the bottom of our souls? What does William’s spirit mean? Have a belief, this belief should work hard to our spiritual life is a driving force upward, right? Otherwise, our souls will be slack, will be illusory, in that sense, we have one of their own faiths, although not great and noble William, but enough to sustain our lives! It is the innocent and romantic memory of first love full of fragrance of purple thistle that invokes William Wallace in returning homeland. The purple thistle that Murron gives William Wallace at his father’s burial symbolizes the immortal love. Under the horrible shade of cruel oppression of England they struggle for their perfect love courageously. Unfortunately, Murron is seized and killed ruthlessly by an English official so that William Wallace’s heart is stricken by great grief and pain. The moment he kills the wicked official to take his revenge he realizes the essential responsibility placed on his shoulders. He changes his individual anguish into enormous power of national spirit so as to devote himself to the innumerable and arduous combats for the great freedom of Scotland.?During war, maybe the most fatal threat is not the formidable weapons but the confused and evil hearts. The Scottish aristocrats yield to England and betray William Wallace twice. It is in the second time William Wallace is arrested and killed inhumanly.
The most touching and affecting scene is that at the last moment of his life, enduring inconceivable torture, William Wallace exhausts himself to shout out: “Freedom!” to the boundless sky and the people. At the gate of paradise, his beloved wife---Murron is waiting for his coming. His brave heart wins everything, including the heart of Murron, the most elegant heart of Princess of England （played by Sophie Marceau） and the countless people’s hearts. Through the dignified ablution of blood, all the burden and hardship are released from his respectable and noble soul. Supported and encouraged by William Wallace’s eternal spirit, at the great expense of countless precious lives, Scotland wins her freedom.
People who have seen this film will never forget when William Wallace’s strong voice “Freedom!” echoes in minds of the entire human race; the sky of Scotland emerges in our eyes. A wonderful movie can hit people’s hearts, however this time, not with beautiful scenes or gorgeous actors and actress, but with the pursuit of love and freedom in people’s hearts.