Braveheart (1995)

"In order to find his equal, and Irishman is forced to talk to God.  Yes, Father."  (Stephen)

I think the wonderful thing about Braveheart, in the abstract, is that it has become a one word cultural touchstone and treatise on defiance.  All you have to do is yell at the top of you lungs "FREEDOM" and suddenly you are William Wallace.  When your sports team is losing, and you all know it, good captains tell their teams "They may take our lives, but they will never take our freedom."  -I've lost countless Ultimate matches that way.  At least for those that were around during 1995 blue face paint, flames and kilts are synonymous with defiant rejection of authority.  I would label this movie iconic.

As I was watching Braveheart, this time, I could help but snigger when I thought about the movie without the soundtrack.  It suddenly became one endless Monty Python and the Holy Grail epic running towards camera joke.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFufoOgCMW8  Seriously, Braveheart has so many shots of Scots and army men running it is borderline absurd.  However, the reason that this had never crossed my mind until like my 4th viewing is that the soundtrack and music are just that good.  It takes the absurd and pedantic and makes it legendary.  While it may not be the best score of all time, the Braveheart soundtrack is the movies clear MVP.  All the rest is for not without it.

Ratings

David O'hara:  Your Stephen was wonderful performance.

Real Scotsman from the 1300s:  Skip it  (This movie is so inaccurate.)

Teenagers:  See it -learn what real defiance is.

Mel Gibson:  See it  (You were so awesome.)

Hair enthusiasts:  See it (Some of the best hair; head, facial, and otherwise in a movie ever)  

On a scale of " at the age of 80 warm in your own bed with a belly full of wine" to "On the field of battle in defiance of tyranny", I give Braveheart 4 out of 5 stars.