Braveheart (Special Collector's Edition)

When buying movies, I usually first look for widescreen format. I love that aspect of DVDs and most of my VHS tapes are that way too. This DVD is widescreen, but that is only real good thing about it. Then I look for special features of the DVD, especially great movies like this one. I often listen to the secondary audio track of movies to get a feel for what its like to make a movie. Moreover, you get great insight about a particular movie that you may overlook otherwise.

Mel Gibson narrates the special audio track with such insight and excitement I think I am watching a slug. I think no forethought was used when Gibson decided to narrate this DVD and I think he forgets most of the interesting facets of this movie. I have two DVDs which the special audio narration is incredible, Ghostbusters and A Bug's Life. But these narrations are the exception to the rule. The average is something like Opie's Apollo 13 narration. Kind of dry but still has enough interesting facts and stories to make it worth while. Then there is Mel Gibson's Braveheart. What garbage. Watch the movie, ignore the special features.

This DVD should have been more like the Shawshank Redemption. They let the movie stand on its own.


Great movie; not so great transfer   September 17, 2000
 4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Yes, Braveheart is a great movie. As far as DVDs go, this was one of the most anticipated yet. So with all of that time they spent getting Braveheart to DVD, I was a bit dissapointed with the quality of the transfer. There are more than a few quite noticeable specks and dust popping up throughout the entire movie. I especially noticed them during the first hour or so and they are particulary bothersome because of all the time that it took to get this movie to DVD. I'm sure Paramount could have found a better source print to do their transfer, or at least cleaned up the print that they had a little.

So where does that leave you? Personally, I loved the movie so much that I would have bought it even if I knew about the video quality. If you're only marginally interested in owning Braveheart on DVD, I would say spend your money elsewhere, or at least hold out hope that they'll release a special edition of it someday with a new transfer.


Rob Roy?   September 17, 2000
 0 out of 4 found this review helpful

I really like this movie, but.... In an all seriousness Rob Roy is a much more compelling movie. It stuck with me much longer.


One of the top five movies from the 1990s   September 15, 2000
Finally the DVD is released. I suppose it was well planned waiting for a few years so that its release would once again get popular. The movie is a classic, I consider it essential viewing if you enjoy movies about anything, whether it be love, action, drama, etc... Some of the best choreographed large scale battle scenes since Sparticus, Braveheart utilizes its film location well along with amazing acting. Although when you've seen this movie as many times as I have you get to see some rather comical mistakes in the editing (like Mel Gibson carrying 3 weapons in one hand into one of the battles as he charges the English) this movie is so moving and well done it will leave you speechless yet very proud as the end credits roll.


One of the greatest movie masterpieces of all time   September 10, 2000
 32 out of 46 found this review helpful

This is truly a masterpiece. From beginning to end, this is an entertaining film about one of the greatest heroes in history. While some people complain that this isn't an historically accurate movie, that is not the focus of this movie, it is not a documentary. This movie tells the story of a man who in the face of adversity and tyranny chose to challenge the oppressors and fight for the freedom of his country. This movie truly depicts the power of the human spirit.

As for the quality of the movie itself, the acting was great and well played, the cinematography was superb, the directing was perfect and the battle scenes are breathtaking, comparable to Saving Private Ryan.

Please disregard brain-dead reviews like that one that says "Overrated!" (press CTRL+F to find it, its from September 3). People like him are the type that might consider Will Smith in "Independence Day" as a true freedom fighter. People that critisize Braveheart as one that depicts the English as savages are in need of a history lesson. While I don't mean to disrespect the brits, history itself has shown that when countries fought for freedom, they did it so they could free themselves from oppressors. Such a way to fight for freedom is called a cry of justice and not terrorism as some of them think.

A movie about Simon Bolivar fighting Spain for freedom would depict Spain as oppressors and Bolivar as a man that broke the chains of injustice to bring freedom to many Latin American countries. Men like him and like Wallace are true freedom fighters.