The DVD Dissection: Braveheart (Special Collector's Edition)

Posted by Chad Webb on 12.28.2007

Mel Gibson's greatest directorial effort finally gets overdue extras on DVD.

Mel Gisbon: William Wallace
Sophie Marceau: Princess Isabelle
Patrick McGoohan: King Edward I
James Robinson: Young William Wallace
Sean Lawler: Malcom Wallace
Brian Cox: Argyle Wallace
Brendan Gleeson: Hamish Campbell
Angus Macfadyen: Robert the Bruce
Catherine McCormack: Murron McClannough
Tommy Flanagan: Morrison
Directed By: Mel Gibson
Written By: Randall Wallace
Theatrical Release Date: May 24, 1995
DVD Release Date: December 18, 2007
Running Time: 177 minutes







Rated R for brutal medieval warfare.

The Film

Historical epics involving one warrior, soldier, or ordinary man taking on a kingdom, empire, or army have been critical and box office triumphs for decades. In addition, they usually obtain plenty of nominations and/or award victories. It is safe to say with the recent success of 300 that this brand will continue to be prosper. Spartacus and Gladiator are among the most popular, but where does Braveheart fit into the mix? It was certainly not the first of its type and it was not innovative in any way, but it did do something extraordinary. Braveheart resurrected one of the best genres in cinema. Because of Mel Gibson, other offerings of the same vein would follow. Braveheart is a tragic, yet heroic, story with a vast scope. It is an undeniable masterpiece.

Based on the history of Scottish hero William Wallace (Mel Gibson), Braveheart follows Wallace from childhood to adulthood during the late 13th century. After his father and brother were killed in battle, William is sent to live with his Uncle Argyle (Brian Cox) where he is educated and learns to wield a sword. Years later, he returns to the land of his birth to raise a family. He locates Murron (Catherine McCormack), a girl whom he has shared a connection with since he was a boy. They fall in love, but it is not easy for them to embrace their happiness. The ruthless King Edward I, otherwise known as Longshanks (Patrick McGoohan), has invoked "prime nocte", which enables English nobles to have sexual relations with new brides on the first night of the wedding. Wallace and Murron see each other in secret, and one fateful day, an event occurs that propels Wallace to challenge of the forces of Longshanks and fight for the freedom of Scotland with a group of rebels.

I have only seen Braveheart a couple of times. As far as similar historical epics are concerned, Gladiator was always top on my favorites list, but that has changed in recent years as my movie taste has evolved. I have found that the fans of these films normally place one above the others, and defend it as "the best" when compared to similar efforts. The point is, just about everybody becomes mesmerized by stories of this category. Regardless of how much killing is involved, I noticed an ageless elegance in the way Gibson executed Braveheart after multiple sittings. It was deserving of its five Oscar wins because of how accessible, yet ambitious it was. Released as a summer blockbuster in 1995, Braveheart was special in that it made an impact with all audiences.

Mel Gibson the actor initially passed on this script, but for some reason is remained in his thoughts. He was prepared for Terry Gilliam's unmade A Tale of Two Cities at the time, but dropped out, and then asked Gilliam to helm Braveheart, which he declined. Gibson then chose to direct it himself, but he was not entirely convinced that he should star as well. As time went on it became clear that he was the only person who could do the role of William Wallace justice. He proves it in every scene. Gibson acts as a magnet on screen. It is virtually impossible to take your eyes off him. He does not just bring charisma and poignancy to the title role. He conveys every facet of emotion with such heavenly ease and splendor. Upon glancing at Gibson's resume, the amount of brilliant portrayals is large, but this definitely stands out as his most universally renowned. He was Martin Riggs, Max Rockatansky, Porter, and Graham Hess, but it is William Wallace that demonstrates all of Gibson's talent.

Wallace has two love interests, and the casting of them was crucial. The character of Murron in history was actually named Marian, but it was altered here in order to avoid comparisons to Robin Hood. Gibson elected for an unknown as Murron, and with only a couple credited roles under her belt, Catherine McCormack won his affections. She does not have a lot of lines, but that is not nearly as important as her presence and appearance, which radiates a natural beauty. Before Wallace grows into the leader that defeated armies, he was simply an intelligent man who wanted a family, and McCormack was the perfect partner for that stage. She is not only attractive, but moving. McCormack would never equal the height of this depiction again.

Sophie Marceau is the second central female. As Princess Isabelle, she was forced to marry Edward, Prince of Wales, a young man who prefers the company of males. Marceau exudes the passion of a woman who longs to be held and stared at by another. Marceau has a delicate, but firm allure. She has a penetrating gaze worth a thousand words, and her chemistry with the brawny Mel Gibson is electric. Patrick McGoohan's Longshanks is evil on its own level. His very stride is intimidating, but as he speaks with a cold indifference, it is very easy to hate every fiber in his being. He is a worthy adversary, one that is relentless and never cheesy or cartoonish. McGoohan has been acting since 1955, but he is most commonly recognized in Escape from Alcatraz, Scanners, or the series Secret Agent Man. The supporting lineup is filled with juicy roles featuring Brendan Gleeson as Wallace's friend Hamish, Brian Cox as Argyle, and an excellent Angus Macfadyen as Robert the Bruce.

Braveheart is saturated with a massive grandeur, and it has its share of iconic moments. Most notably is the Battle of Stirling Bridge, or better yet, Wallace's speech prior to engaging in combat. "Aye, fight and you may die, run, and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!" This is one of those scenes that is always played during montages. It marks a point in Wallace's life where his influence was used to prominent effect in urging his Scottish brothers on. The battles are ferocious and gory collisions with pierced skulls, broken limbs, and of course mooning. The time and patience that was employed for these sequences is strikingly evident. Of all the skirmshes in movies, this one has to be close to the top. Gibson and cinematographer John Toll capture something CGI and blue screens never can, and that is the intensity and realism of the situation.

John Toll's exquisite cinematography attains the richness and breadth of the tale. He proves that not just anyone could have assumed these responsibilities. Whether it be a gritty bloodbath on the battlefield, an intimate kiss in the forest, or a gloomy exchange in a castle, Toll manipulates light and shadow like a master painter. One could cite several examples as inspiration for Gibson and Toll's camera work, but Akira Kurosawa springs to mind instantly. Unquestionably the clashes themselves, and the formations beforehand suggest Seven Samurai and Ran. Praise is also due for Steven Rosenblum's fabulous editing, which sorts through all of the footage to find an outstanding three-hour running time. Composer James Horner, no stranger to immense blockbuster extravaganzas, rises above his customary luxuriant score to provide on that is addictively hummable.

Screenwriter Randall Wallace and I would get along well, especially when it comes to constructing a script based on a portion of history. He wrote Braveheart before inserting a lot of the historical facts later on. He states on the special features that accuracy was not the chief priority. He needed to encapsulate the spirit of Wallace, and what his legend is known for, not the precise day-to-day data. Specifically however, an accurate account of Wallace's life is not available. The primary source is a poem by Blind Harry. Gibson discusses other aspects that were maneuvered around the time period on the commentary, but a lot of what Wallace accomplished is speculation. Nevertheless, he is an admirable hero, and Randall Wallace knew exactly how to express his saga in a manner that would fascinate the world.

Once we accept that Braveheart is not a documentary, it is easier to soak in the mythical themes of betrayal, politics, romance, and war that Gibson and Randall Wallace were striving for. The dialogue is packed with marvelous quotes and compelling characters who recite them. For instance, there is the obvious "Every man dies. Not every man really lives" towards the conclusion, but one of the greatest is from Campbell. James Cosmo plays him with hilarious resiliency as one of the toughest old men to ever grace the screen. After his wound is cauterized, he stands up staggering and says, "That'll wake you up in the morning, boy!" Increasingly superb are the scenes that seem basic on the surface, but are highly adept with further examination, such as the reunion of William and Hamish as they throw rocks at each other.

In the future, moviegoers might have to shuffle through more epics like Braveheart, some good, some bad, but William Wallace's quest for vengeance and freedom will not be overshadowed, no matter how many years pass. Mel Gibson made more than an entertaining action picture. Braveheart is a grand and glorious achievement that combines all the qualities we love in a story. Although the ending is not uplifting, Gibson's guidance exposes the positive notes in a smooth and appropriate fashion. This is a great film, and by far Gibson's best as a director.

The Video

The film has been digitally re-mastered and it is obvious. At times, the shots were muddy and cloudy to reflect the endless rain and overall look of Scotland. Due to this, the picture quality can suffer, but it has been swept and cleansed of all dirt, grain, blurs, and fuzz. I observed no strong faults, and the battle sequences are mind blowing depending on your television sets. This is not the most gorgeous film in terms of color effects, but John Toll’s stunning cinematography is most respectably represented through this new and updated cut. This is presented in anamorphic widescreen with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, and enhanced for 16:9 TV’s.

The Audio

The audio can best be experienced by just listening to the rage and anger put forth during the battles. The sounds that emerge are heads being crushed, limbs being cut, and numerous screams of pain. Honestly, the audio side is probably superior to the video updates. Despite the heavy accents of the actors, everyone is as understandable here as they possibly could hope to be. I did not have to adjust my volume knob at all. The music emanate from the speakers with grace and magnificence. His has a Dolby Digital 5.1 track in English, a Dolby Digital 5.1 track in French, and a Spanish 2.0 track, as well as subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.

The Packaging

Braveheart is distributed in a standard black keep case with a slipsleeve cardboard cover on top of that. The artwork has changed from the previous version of the film poster to a picture of Mel Gibson’s head with scenes from the movie below that. This includes no booklets. Only the two discs are jammed into the case. The menus are images and music, which are easy to navigate through.

The Extras

On August 29, 2000, the first version of Braveheart was released on DVD, but lacking the necessary amount of special features for an Best Picture winner. A commentary track with Mel Gibson was included, as was "Braveheart: A Filmmaker's Passion", a 28 minute documentary on the making of the film. Besides that a couple theatrical trailers were also slapped on.

Feature Commentary - Thankfully, the original commentary was recycled for this release because many of them are not for double dips. I have listened to many commentaries over the years, and usually when it is just one person, the experience can slag a bit because depending on the director, you never know how much they'll want to talk. Gibson's is very good though. He inserts his casual observations, thought provoking insight, and historical facts. He does let the film speak for itself on occasion, and he does speak in a quiet tone, but this was intriguing and never boring.

A Writer's Journey (21:29) - Randall Wallace sits down and converses about meeting Mel Gibson, and how he decided to write the story of William Wallace. He reveals his family history, the attitudes of the characters, weapons, and the research he did. This is definitely a brand new extra, and one that is worth the price. All the information you heard, but weren't positive was true, comes straight from his mouth.

Alba Gu Brath!: The Making of Braveheart ( 49:59) - The standard "making-of" featurette from the first edition has been expanded here. It is a documentary divided into three sections. "Reviving a Genre" covers the script writing, how Gibson was atttracted to the project, and so on. It has interviews with Alan Ladd Jr., Bruce Davey, and many others. They chat about Mel directing, the process of having him star in it, and Mel even does an impersonation of Clint Eastwood. "The Heat of the Battle" is self-explanatory. One cool fact was that they recruited disciplined soldiers for the battle sequences. This portion has interviews with unit Manager Kevin De La Noy, Steven Rosenblum, and touches on choereography, horses, etc. The last one is "Worth the Fight" is all about surviving the shoot and how they had no spare time. I don't want to spoil too much. This is the type of documentary this film should have received.

Tales of William Wallace (29:58) - For anyone that wants to know how this story really unfolded, or at least how many historians believe, this is a riveting little bonus that reveals many details of Wallace's life. It identifies all the areas that are cloudy as well. This is separated into 6 sections. "The Peasant's Hero", "The Politics of War", "Freedom Fighters", "The Battle on the Bridge", "From Guerilla to Guardian", and "A Martyr Becomes a Legend". This has interviews with more cast and crew members than it does historians unfortunately. Nonetheless, I love history, so this was a pleasure to watch.

Archival Interviews with the Cast of Braveheart (14:34) - Nine of the actors involved with the film supply brief interviews that are basically summations of the characters. Here are the folks who participate: James Robinson, Catherine McCormack, Brendan Gleeson, James Cosmo, David O'Hara, Angus Macfadyen, Patrick McGoohan, Peter Hanly, and Sophie Marceau.

Photo Montage (6:25) - If this wasn't a montage, I would have counted the number of pictures, but it is, so I didn't. Anyway, this was nice as it has behind the scene shots and regular still photos with music in the background.

Theatrical Trailer 1 (1:35) - This was an average trailer, btu I didn't like the length and how it was patched together (8.0/10.0).

Theatrical Trailer 2 (2:50) - This is everything a preview should be for a vast historical epic. This was fairly long, yet didn;t give too much away (10.0/10.0).

The Film: 10.0/10.0
The Video: 9.0/10.0
The Audio: 9.0/10.0
The Packaging: 7.5/10.0
The Extras: 9.0/10.0

The 411: Braveheart was the right film to breathe life into the genre which had not shown its face in quite some time. It also marked Mel Gibson as proficient filmmaker, who really should be making as many movies as Eastwood. I love this film even more this time than I did the first time I watched it. It is long, but not slow. I found it to be endlessly entertaining, filled with lush visuals, and three-dimensional characters. The performances are great, the story is absorbing, and each member of the crew did a terrific job. The DVD is certainly an improvement from the first version. This is a movie that needed some meaty extras. While the packaging was not nearly as attractive as it could have been, the technical specifications were top notch, and the price is good. If you have waited to buy Braveheart, now is your chance to do so. This will probably be the last edition, and you know what, it's fantastic, and worth the update.

Final Score:  9.0   [  Amazing ]