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Saw this in the theaters with my family when I was 15. I HATE crying in front of people during movies and I remember we were all in tears. My dad was wiping tears off this face, my stepmom was outright bawling, and even my brothers were pretending that they weren't crying. LOL. The scene with the thistle and the music there made a HUGE impression on me as a teenager. I found it beautiful and absolutely haunting. Haven't watched this movie in years and it was so fun to see your reaction.

I was a scrawny 14 year-old when I saw the Thursday midnight showing of this the night before opening day. This film made me feel a passion I had never felt before. The rush was incredible. I remember immediately going home and lifting weights until the sun came up. I actually got to tell the story to Mel while working on one of his other films, and he told me that his producer looked at him after the first screening and said, "boys are going in to see this movie and are coming out men."

Dang, you edited around the most important word spoken in the film. Where he yells FREEEEEEDOM in defiance, even though it means his death. One of the greatest moments. Such an amazing film.

Yes, Gibson's character is supposed to be younger than he appears. Gibson was offered the role, and he said he was too old and he asked to direct it instead. Somehow, he ended up doing both.

Special shout to the LATE GREAT JAMES HORNER who without his STUNNING SCORE this movie wouldn’t have had nearly the same impact… R.I.P. James! Saw this weeks after its release alone and was sooooo blown away by it dragged my GF to it the next night!

The Braveheart soundtrack is something else. So amazing.

When the film was released it was being shown in a cinema in Glasgow, Scotland. An English football team was playing in Glasgow and it's supporters went to see the film either before or after the match against a Scottish team. When the Battle of Stirling Bridge took place in the film the English fans erupted with fury, the Scottish in the cinema went mental and a huge fight took place!

One thing that hits me so hard in this movie that nobody talks about is the father-son relationships. 4 instances of father-son relationships, with different dynamics, and the father dies (one a metaphorical death). William’s relationship was never realized. Robert detested his father. The King was a tyrannical father. And of course, Hamish. The relationship we men all wish to have with our fathers and sons. In my mind, other than the liberty stuff, this seems like the next most important theme. But no one ever seems to notice.

I love your perspective and film knowledge. My sister's husband was killed, execution style, in the line of duty in 2002. Mel Gibson's people reached out to my sister and our family met him secretly. He gave my niece $10K for her education and spent time with us. He is as charming as you can imagine. His eyes were the bluest I've ever seen. By the way, Dave, the one that was murdered, he was a big fan of this film.

A lot of amputees actually worked on this film. They would fix them with prosthetics so when they cut an arm off, there’s no arm. Or leg.

"Why didn't they do anything?" Do recall the beginning of the film. "History is written by those who hanged heros". They were there to bear whitness. To tell his story and be his voice.

I was 15, but I missed it in the theater when it was released, but my luck, they re-showed it in a school holiday 7 or 8 months later, so I went to the first showing of the day, it was only me and 1 other young guy in the theater. It was epic, sitting alone in the dark and crying my eyes out, nobody had seen a movie like this in years back in 95!!! It didn't have anything like this it could copy or borrow from. This is a masterpiece and wish I could see it for the first time again

7:56 - Yeah, this is one of those movies with good cinematography. Not just gorgeous shots, but *_well placed/used_* shots. Nowadays they tend to overdo things. But this? This, boys and girls is how you do it!

I saw this movie five times in theater... which is saying something in the 90s. I kept finding people that hadn't seen it yet and dragging them to the theater. "Let's go right now."

if you have never been the remote Scottish highlands are some of the most amazing and beautiful places on the earth, the peace and quite you get there is just amazing. what the do to willam wallace at the end is called being Hung Drawn and quatered.

During his acceptance speech at the Oscar's when he won Best Director, after his list of "Thank yous", Gibson quipped "Now that I'm a bona fide Director with a Golden Boy, I guess I can try to do what every other Director seems to want to do, and that is act!"

The war scenes were the fist time in film history that we saw this kind of scale and brutality on screen. It still holds up really well today.

I first saw Braveheart in 2005 in high school, literally - Mr Forsyth chose it for the visual media part of our English class. As such, I've seen it, particularly the Battle of Stirling Bridge scene ("the sword against the blue sky reflects the blue of the Scottish flag and that's why the director chooses to focus on it", etc), more times than I can recall. So it's testament to the strength of the movie that *despite* this introduction and exposure, I love it all the same. Historically, it's a mess, and not just for the points you raised. The Battle of Stirling Bridge took place on, well, a bridge. The Scots won through basically bottlenecking the English advances onto the bridge and killing them in waves, not through long spears or burning field tricks. The French princess not only wasn't in Britain at the time of Wallace's campaign, but was also just three years old. See also: face paint, tartan, and two-handed swords as other things very unlikely to have been in force at the time. Most amusing of all: the Scottish hero William Wallace is played by Australian Mel Gibson; The King of England is Patrick McGoohan, an Irishman; and the mad King Stephen of Ireland is portrayed by David O'Hara, who despite the name is Scottish. Congratulations - between this and Trainspotting you've probably covered two of the most fundamental cornerstones of Scottish-based cinema! Might I suggest Shallow Grave and/or The Angels' Share for two more? Thank you for these reactions - oatcakes and cheese to eat for myself!

The speech Wallace gives before the first battle (Stirling Bridge), like the speech Aragon gives before the battle at the Black Gates, are both based on the St. Crispin’s Day speech from Shakespeare’s Henry V.

Gladiator is the poor man's Braveheart.

The movie was epic and what was most underrated was the music for this movie. It is one of the greatest scores.

when he saw his wifes spirit walk through the crowd........my heart melted in a way it hadnt for any other film

In Age Of Ultron, Tony Stark makes a joke about reinstating prima noctus in the lounge scene.

"Him and his jawbone didn't deserve that." 100% LOL

MAKES ME PROUD TO BE A SCOTSMAN!! Saw it with my Dad in the theater. I know it isnt historically accurate, but it demonstrates the pride, heart, and soul of the Scottish people. It was one of my Dad's favorite movies rest his soul.

Average medieval battle was usually under 2 hours. Exceptions being Hastings which lasted most of a day and Bannockburn which was fought over 2 days. this was due to Robert the Bruce's clever planning of the battle which slowly dragged the English into an area of land from which they could not escape..

Love the way you said "If you're lookin for someone quiet, you're gonna not like this" lmao 😂😁🤩🤣🤣😊😊😎😎

I remember when this came out and the controversy about the horses. They released behind the scenes footage to show the horses were fake and no horses got harmed.

17:27 - Admit? The cheers in scottish movie theaters proudly boasted such satisfaction when this movie came out! And from then on!

You are without a doubt the most knowledgeable and thorough provoking movie reviewer, I know I'll enjoy this masterpiece watching again through your iiiiii s

My favorite reactor, finally watching my favorite movie and i just happened to sit down with nothing to do for about an hour... Perfect. Lets do this!

Most people don't know. Bagpipes are the ONLY Musical instrument that is considered a Weapon of War

I know this is a couple of months old, but as a Scot, come visit here. You will love it. The place is amazing and Scots are actually realy friendly.

Winner of 5 Oscars including Best Picture. "They may take our lives, but they'll never take OUR FREEDOM!"

I didn’t see the movie in its initial theatrical run, but it got more showings when it was buzzing pre-Oscars. My parents and I saw it and of course loved it, and we were so happy and proud when it won Best Director and Picture. Top five all-time for me.

Loved your reaction to the movie.. When the movie came out in 95 in Scotland. I remember everyone standing and clapping at the end of the film! Also a couple of interesting facts.. Where I stay in Scotland is a place called Ayr. William Wallace spent a lot of his life in this area. The hanging of the Scottish nobles in a Barn near the start of the movie, was based on events in a poem by the poet Blind Harry. The Scottish Nobles were lured to the Barns of Ayr, captured by English troops and hung. Wallace evaded the trap. He then set fire to the English Soldier's Ayr barracks in retaliation. The Wallace monument stands in a field, in the small Scottish Parish of Craigie. The town of Ayr can be seen in the distance. The 60 foot monument is called the Barnweil Monument. It is dedicated to the memory of William Wallace and the burning of the English barracks. Burn Weil said Wallace.. which meant Burn Well!

I first saw this film in 1995. The screening was at theater which had an ornate balcony and proscenium arch, normally used for larger scale stage productions. They did a series of movie screenings in the 90s, which included As Good As It Gets.

This is my favorite movie of all time. Between the story, music, set design and location, it's just a masterpiece from start to finish.

As odd as it might seem, I think “You dropped your rock” is one of my favorite lines in this movie.

I was a wee little eight year old when my parents rented this and Lion King. That was a rough night.

29:04 - "I did not see that coming!" Neither did Philip. 😂

44:06 "We do have to keep in mind it's 95 dollars" 😂

I was 14 and saw it twice in the theaters when it came out. The first move to ever make me cry. Just an unbelievable great movie

34:23 Nope. A mullet is tight on the front half, sometimes like a military buzz or a like short 1950s style in the front, but the back of the hair is long like a hippie or metalhead. Thus the saying, "Business in the front, party in the back."

There was some behind the scenes footage somewhere, maybe on certain editions of the DVD, where they go into depth and show production footage of how they costumed so many extras and such for the huge set piece battles, how they used fake horses in spots, etc. This was a huge movie to film, and you gotta give it up to the producers and all the production assistants that had to coordinate this.

"You dropped your rock."🙃

17:54 - I know. Love that asymmetric filmmaking! And it's Murron.

I saw it on the first date with the woman who is now my wife. We arrived early ti the theatre and thought we were late and walked in during the torture scene at the end of the movie. Because his wife shows up in the crowd, I was never so shocked at a movie death in my life.

was literally like damn where's my weekly Shanelle vid? Then refreshed the page and smiled :)

5:46 - Medieval British isles be like: "Laws, shmaws!" 😂

Regardless of the dramatic liberties taken with this film, William Wallace is a national hero in Scotland. He will not be forgotten.

General Douglas Macarthur gave a speech in Japan upon seeing the look of hope escaping his troops, Gen Mac told of his aunt who was attacked by a mountain lion the beast's jaws clenched her neck... she fought back and carried the scars of that attack on her neck till the grave. General Douglas Macarthur's aunt was The Great Grand Daughter of a Scottish Earl

16:18 - Yeah, that's pretty much the correct state of mind to be in at this point.

You are right about the love story not happening. Isabella was still a child in France when Wallace was fighting the English. Akso, Wallace was NOT Braveheart, that is the name given to Robert the Bruce.

34:55 - And here comes harvest time! 🤣

Yeah, the receding hairline bit is kinda true of Celtic peoples. I had a Slavic friend say to me, “You’re of Irish blood, so don’t get to fond of your hair” BUT! I can grow a magnificent blonde, red, black and grey beard!

Saw this at the cinema with school. Back in 2011 drove up to Scotland (live England) and didn't realise we stayed right where the battle occured.

This is and always will be one of my top 5 films of all time 👍 it's a shame these kind of cinematic epics aren't being made anymore 😢

19:30 - Well, I mean...you're not wrong! 😄

For my money, Brendan Gleeson is one of the best actors working today, and every time I see him in something I think about Hamish. The two guys who were the "common soldiers" in many scenes (the ones who wanted to leave the battle in the first scene) were in a movie together a few years later called "My Name is Joe". It's a Scottish film and while I scoffed initially that there were subtitles since they were speaking English, I don't think I would have understood a word without them.

One of my favourite movies. My only gripe is that a lot of people seem to think this is a documentary, accurately portraying what happened at this point in history.

2:10 I thought she was going to say something other than a nap... lol

29:29 - 'Cause the prince sent her to the meetings with his father instead of going himself, so Edward pays him back by sending her to negotiate. To humiliate him basically.

Saw it on opening night, and the following night, with the wife. Awe-inspiring, cinematic gold.

none of the horses died, they were just great actors, it is a movie

The Battle where he says They make take our lives but they will never take our Freedom! was The Battle of Sterling Bridge. You may notice there is no Bridge. Robert the Bruce is where Batman gets his first name from.

27:24 - Yep, Mel's performance is just perfect here!

Here's a suggestion Shanelle, a good film where also main actor and director are the same one: Dances with Wolves (1990) It is a Western starring, directed, and produced by Kevin Costner. It's an adaptation of the 1988 novel of the same name by Michael Blake. I'd recommend the extended version (although it's a long one).

That scene where she gives him a thistle, and then he kept it all his life....

This was the first soundtrack i ever bought! This was the background for many of our Dungeon N Dragons games lol. Also, Sophie Marceau(french queen)....my first love!

Now you've seen this one, you should see "Rob Roy"(1995) another famous one from history and from the same year!

This was filmed in Ireland, and they used the Army Reserves for the extras in the big battle scenes. Had a lot of friends who took part it. The stories alot of them had to tell were hilarious. Giving a bunch of 18 year old weekend warriors with fake swords and telling them to go at each other lol...... Lots of injuries haha.

I was on the live chat last night and it was hard to get her to see my comments with all her subs/fans. Alot of ppl throwing up good suggestions on her page. I've forgotten how many gd movies came out in the 90s. Was hoping she'd see my "Fried Green Tomatoes" and "Little Man Tate" suggestions. I imagine "Good Morning, Vietnam" would be blocked for the music 😕 I enjoy her channel for the intuitive and valuable feedback you don't really get from other reactors. Kinda cool that her white blanket & rainbow stripes match her sweater on the outro picture 🙂 Have a gd wknd everyone!

I was 14 when I saw this in the theater...I want to say this was one of the first films to be so gory with the violence and battle scenes. The movie was so good that people sat in the theater for a couple of minutes in total silence...it was that heavy. The only other movie I saw in theater where everyone was silent after the movie was Saving Private Ryan .

Yup. That movie will always bring a tear to the eye.

Good reaction Shan. Amazing movie, and yes, they played very loose with the facts, but the storytelling is phenomenal. The complaints about the lack of accuracy miss the fact that this entertainment, not documentary.

When they cut off his... yk what (egg plant) during the torture in front of all the people, just before he screams freedom- always makes me feel immense physical and emotional pain.. Love this movie so much. First time watching your reaction, I will be watching many more!

The big horse plushy was thoroughly soaked from the fall but otherwise fine and went on to become the grand prize in the ring toss game in the following year's summer festival, won by local 12 y/o boy Bobby McLovin.

26:26 - They could last anywhere from a few minutes to a good number of hours or even days, depending of factors such as weather, terrain, strategy...

@Shanelle I really appreciate that you do your research, after the movie. it shows authentic interest; and we get to witness, while you learn many of the things people will be screaming, in the comments. we all know most comments are never even read, by most reactors

We had an annual party in the woods based off of this movie that lasted ten years.

The first large battle that is shown in the movie is supposed to be the Battle of Stirling Bridge, it took most of the day since you asked about the amount of time. The strategy for the scottish forces was different as well. The english force of several thousand men had to cross a small bridge, when about 2000 men ( around 30 percent of the total ) had crossed the bridge, scottish forces attacked from the high ground with longspears, the bridge was taken by heavy infantry to cut off the smaller english force. A cavalry contigent of the scots used a crossing several miles away to attack the archers.

As far as saying “why didn’t his friends do anything?”, the 2 men (who were wanted criminals as well) were surrounded by armed guards at a public torture, with dozens if not a hundred or more people who (initially) were thirsting for his torture & death, in a place that was guarded and protected. What could they have done? Possibly today we are so inundated by fantasy or comic book superhero scenarios that viewers expect/hope for unrealistic, fairytale endings. Although there are plenty of historical inaccuracies in the film, it is true that Wallace was tortured and executed. Changing his death into an impossible “happy ending” would have made the film less powerful as well as removed one of the more important historical aspects of the film.

Yes, the romance between Wallace and the French princess was completely fictional. In reality, she was just a young child when Wallace was killed. They never actually met.

Murron's death is all the more heartbreaking when you notice the fact that just before he did it, her eyes were scanning the hills in the distance, hoping William would come and save it, but he never does. 💔😭

I only was 4 when this came out but I remember taking me to take me to see it the day it came out. If he wanted to see a movie I always went with him.

Many of the extras were Irish Volunteer Reserve army (FCA) many of my friends were extras in the movie. They recruited amputees to do battle scenes.

I'm pleasantly surprised you hadn't already reacted to this. I thought you already had and almost didn't click on it. Looking forward to your reaction to Braveheart.

Loved your reaction to Braveheart shanelle and only one word comes to mind and that's "FFRRREEEEEDDDOOOMMM". Also I've said it before and I'll say it again us Scots will make you an adoptive Scots lassie one of these days because your Scottish accent is doing just nicely, so your doing well with it lass.......your doing well with it.

31:32 - Yeah, that's scene's one of my my favorites in the whole movie! 😊

I saw Braveheart when I was living in Vail CO in 1995. i loved it!!

Being of Scottish ancestry I waited for this film to hit the theaters and saw it 5 times. This is a Great film, Theatrically. Historically it is full of inaccuracies. Kilts were not a the a garment during Wallace's time. Battle at Sterling was in fact at Sterling Bridge. As the English was bottle necked crossing the bridge, the Scots annihilated them. Wallace never met the Princess of Wales. She was all of 13 when Wallace was executed. King Edward Longshanks lived almost 2 years after Wallace. Yes, Hamish is Brendan Gleeson, Mad-Eye Moody. A better Scottish film is Rob Roy staring Liam Neeson, Jessica Lang. It was released 1 month before Braveheart. Also saw it 5 times.

Braveheart Epic movie. Shanelle, another epic very well acted movie based on real people in history. "Tombstone" with Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer. Playing Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday.

Apacolypto is a masterpiece! Mel Gibson has directed some great movies. Also requesting Collateral with Tom Cruise again

“Can you just do that?” Pretty much all of English history pre WWII.

This was an Oscar winner for Best Picture, Best Director and others.

I love this girls reaction and attitude. So genuine

Saw this with my high school sweetheart. Didn't realize it was rated R til after we'd been dropped off, and neither of us had IDs. Oops! Luckily the lady selling tickets either believed the evidence of our class rings, or just didn't get paid enough to care. (I actually was 17, my boyfriend might have been just a little shy of it ...) I was inspired to dress as a warrior from Braveheart the following Halloween, which basically meant I bought a few bucks' worth of plaid cloth to wrap around me, and slathered on some blue face paint.

Just found u. Instant like you. Its one of my favourite movies ever. I have seen it about 32 Times. Whem i was younger i watched it so much that i knew all lines by heart