Project-Blu Braveheart, by M. Enois Duarte

Braveheart

By: M. Enois Duarte, 9.3.2009

The Movie Itself:
Back in 1995, Mel Gibson could do no wrong as one of Hollywood's biggest and best action stars around. Remembered best for his roles in the Lethal Weapon and Mad Max franchise, the 80s celebrity knows how to play a madman (long before turning into one) with a quick, witty tongue and lots of bullets to shoot bad guys with foreign accents. And somehow, he made it all look very cool while attracting the ladies. And even if his personal life now headlines national news and tabloids, at least, we can look back at this time when he was on top of the world and given the greenlight to direct a major production with very little experience under him. Considered his best work by many fans, Braveheart is the epic true tale of William Wallace and his fight for the independence of Scotland.

Many years since his father and brother's death, William Wallace (Gibson) returns to this homeland after being raised and educated by his uncle abroad. Finding the political landscape of Scotland uneasy and insecure due to the tyrannical reign and oppressive policies of Edward the Longshanks (Patrick McGoohan), William desires only a simple life of farming and raising a family, avoiding any involvement with war. However, when his childhood sweetheart (Catherine McCormack) is brutally killed by not abiding to an English law, an enraged Wallace takes this event as impetus to revolt against England. With an unshakable patriotism and a strong desire for retribution, he and his best friend (Brendan Gleeson) gather an amateur militia of willing soldiers and battle the outnumbering English troops, determined to free their land once and for all.

Gibson's second directing effort is an ambitious, massive and sprawling epic which lives up to the notion of popcorn entertainment with substance. With its sweeping narrative full of drama and romance, accompanied by elements of camaraderie, brotherhood and patriotism, Braveheart is reminiscent, both in quality and tone, of the great heroic classics Hollywood was once known for. From the enormous battles sequences and costume design to the inspiring direction and gorgeous photography of Scotland's highlands, it feels evocative of such esteemed works as Spartacus, Lawrence of Arabia and Ben-Hur, but proudly rides with a torch all of its own. And in the tradition of those same films, the story involves ample political intrigue within the relationship of the king, his homosexual son and his wife (Sophie Marceau).

Scripted by first-time writer Randall Wallace (no relation), the historical pic contrasts much of its drama with graphic and brutally realistic depictions of hand-to-hand combat, well detailed and masterfully done to shock but never feeling out of place with the rest of film. Since not much is known about the real-life Wallace, Randall based a great deal of his screenplay on the poem created by the 15th-century minstrel, Blind Harry, which is where the death of Wallace's beloved originates from. But no matter, Gibson isn't interested in filming a true-to-history piece, nor is Randall writing on what truly happened. Braveheart is about adding to the myth and legend of a great Scottish hero. We're to sit back and enjoy the bloody and violent, but also dramatic, spectacle of a man who fought for love and his country, sacrificing himself for both.

The fight for independence is very much a universal ideal and creates Braveheart's strongest appeal. Performances by the cast are terrific and compelling, with Gibson and Marceau standing out. Gibson's direction starts a little rough at first, but quickly settles to a rhythm which keeps the entire film stimulating and engrossing, making its three-hour runtime an easy sit-through. It's an inspiring epic on the persistent heroism and leadership of William Wallace, and Gibson provides an unflinching and fictional portrayal of this known legend and his fight for his country's freedom.
Rating: 9/10

The Presentation:
With rumors and discussions filling internet forums everywhere over the picture quality of this Blu-ray edition of Braveheart, I watch with a bit of trepidation. As it turns out, Paramount Home Entertainment has done a marvelous job on this highly-anticipated release. The AVC MPEG-4 encode, framed in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio, beautifully captures the original intent of John Toll's photography, possessing a gorgeous cinematic quality.

The picture is a terrific improvement from previous editions, exposing great detail and texture in foliage, various stone and wood structures, and in the armory of British soldiers as well as in the roughly-hewn wardrobe of Wallace's followers. There is wonderful variance in the color palette and accurately saturated, with lush greens and vibrant, bloody reds. Facial complexions appear natural and realistic, revealing wrinkles and pores in the close-ups of faces. Black levels are richly inky and ebony deep, giving the film a terrific sense of depth and spatiality. The image displays excellent clarity and visibility in daylight scenes, but low-lit interiors and nighttime sequences exhibit splendid shadow delineation. In high definition, Braveheart ranks up there as one of the best catalog releases we've seen this year.
Rating: 8.6/10

Paramount also sets free this Mel Gibson classic with a superb and thrilling Dolby TrueHD soundtrack that is every bit the equal and faithful representation of the original recording.

James Horner's rousing musical score, full of the lovely sound of bagpipes, receives the most appreciable upgrade, opening the soundstage with cinematic emotion and drama, while also lightly extending into the background. The character-driven film delivers pitch-perfect dialogue and maintains intelligibility even amongst the many battle sequences. The other front channels show a clean and room-penetrating dynamic range, creating an expansive presence and spaciousness. There's plenty of detailed clarity, fluid directionality, and life-like acoustics, which only add to the track's quality, and all the while, well-supported by an accurately responsive and palpable low-bass. The rears are quite active for a mix of this vintage with the ambient sounds of nature, surrounding the listening area with a great environ. Braveheart's sound mix makes for an exhilarating and exciting aural experience on Blu-ray.
Rating: 8.8/10

Overall Presentation: 9/10

** 9 - 10 = Reference / 8 = Excellent / 7 = Good /
6 = Satisfactory / 5 = Average / 4 & under = Below Average **

The Extras:
As one of the most eagerly awaited titles of the hi-def format, Paramount Home Entertainment continues to satisfy its high demand by releasing Braveheart as part of the studio's new line of Blu-ray products, which they've coined the "Sapphire Series". This two-disc package offers an incredibly exhaustive and extensively detailed package of supplements, covering anything and everything from historical facts to the film's production value.

Disc One

Audio Commentary
Director/actor Mel Gibson rides solo on this informative track.
Timelines
Interactive feature with three distinct timelines, comprising of information on the film's concept to final print ("Production"), facts on the real-life events ("Historical"), and a chronology of the events as seen in the film ("Fiction").

Disc Two

Battlefields of the Scottish Rebellion
Another interactive feature presented as a 3D model, allowing viewers to learn and explore more on the military strategies of two major battles, Falkirk and Bannockburn.
Braveheart: A Look Back (HD, 60 min)
This three-part retrospect interviews cast and crew about the production, with behind-the-scenes footage spliced in ("A Company of Equals"), looks at Gibson's direction and sense of humor ("The Sound of Laughter"), and the post-production along with the film's impact ("The Measure of a Film").
Smithfield: Medieval Killing Fields (HD, 25 min)
The feature discusses the remarkable and infamous town square where many heretics, rebels, and criminals were executed, including none other than William Wallace.
Tales of William Wallace (SD, 30 min)
The documentary-style feature shines a light on the real man behind the legend.
A Writer's Journey (SD, 22 min)
Taken from previous releases, this piece gives viewers a proper introduction of Randall Wallace.
Trailers (HD)
A couple of original previews finish this great package of special features.

Rating: 9/10

Final Thoughts:
One of Mel Gibson's most memorable films continues to be the sweeping and compelling epic tale it was when it originally premiered. Reminiscent of some of Hollywood's great heroic classics, Braveheart is exactly the kind of sprawling popcorn entertainment we would expect when walking into a theater and it surely doesn't disappoint. This Blu-ray edition of the Mel Gibson classic comes with an excellent picture quality for a catalog release and an exhilarating aural presentation that will greatly please fans. As part of the new "Sapphire Series" label, the Blu-ray is also housed in a two-disc package with a wealth of supplements, making this latest version worthy of the purchase price. Fans shouldn't hesitate and newcomers must join the party.
Rating: 9/10