Reviews   DVD    Inside Scoop Box Office  Interviews  Features  Contests  Messageboard Search


DVD Main Archive DVD Contests Kids Corner


Braveheart
Braveheart (1995)
Movie rating: 10/10
DVD rating: 7/10
Release Date: August 29, 2000
Running Time: 2 hours 57 minutes
Rating: R
Distributor: Paramount
List Price: $29.99
American Red Cross volunteers have been deployed to the hardest hit areas of Katrina’s destruction, supplying hundreds of thousands victims left homeless with critical necessities. By making a financial gift to Hurricane 2005 Relief, the Red Cross can provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need.

DONATE HERE

Disc Details
Special Features:  Audio commentary by director Mel Gibson
Making-of documentary: "A Filmmaker's Passion"
Video Format: Widescreen anamorphic (2.35:1)
Languages: English (Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround)
French (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Commentary (Stereo)

Captions: English
Casing: 1 (Keep Case)

Review
William Wallace is a well-learned, bum-flashing Scottish rebel who leads an uprising against the cruel English ruler Edward the Longshanks, who wishes to inherit the crown of Scotland for himself. As a wee lad, Wallace's father and brother, along with many others, are murdered by the English in their quest to free Scotland. After tragedy strikes, Wallace turns his fury into an epic quest to make Scotland free once and for all.

Mel Gibson swept the Oscars with his masterpiece, winning Best Film, Director, Cinematography, Sound, and Makeup, in a film that has rightfully become an instant classic.

The Disc

Picture Quality: 6/10
The picture was crystal clear and the only complaint I had was that the brightness on the transfer was higher than there should have been. This helps wash out some of the color and also prevents some of the scenes in the movie to be set right as it was intended. There were scenes where the darkness provides a strong roll which is subdued and not allowed to accomplish its goal because of the extra brightness on the DVD.

Sound Quality: 8/10
The audio sounded very good and I was pleased with the transfer although I only have doubly surround sound. *Someone send me their AC3 receiver!*

Menu: 7/10
The menu was easy to use and there was not a lot of clutter or a lot of moving around trying to find what you want. It looked simple which has its good and bad points.

Extra Features: 8/10
There are two features that are included in the DVD besides alternate language support and subtitles.

Other features that are included in the Braveheart DVD is a 27 minute documentary and onscreen commentary by the director and star Mel Gibson.

The behind the scenes documentary discuses many aspects of the movie. Interviewing producer Bruce Davey, Randall Wallacethe screenwriter, actors and actresses such as Sophie Marcheu (Princess Isabelle) and Angus MacFadyen (Robert the Bruce), it gives the feeling to the viewer of what it took to make Braveheart. Interviewing all of both their roles in the film. The viewer gets a sense of the magnitude a project like Braveheart takes to finish. The coverage includes the actors’ interpretations of their characters, what it takes to have 2000 extras in a battle scene, and Mel Gibson being a goofball. This was very entertaining and it gave very good insight in what they were trying to accomplish with the movie and their responses to the final product.

The commentary is solely Mel Gibson proved both funny and informing. Although the DVD did not contain other actors/producers thoughts, it was entertaining and less cluttered than other commentaries can be with everyone vying for the microphone. Mel gives facts on the locations, experiences, and information on what was going on and with whom. There were gaps where there is no commentary which I also preferred for this movie as almost 3 hours of Mel Gibson trying to dish out every single fact can get tedious both for him and the viewer.

There were no deleted scenes, which I tend to enjoy on some of the DVDS that contain more features, but I was pleased with the overall selection of features that it had.

The Final Word:
Although there are some minor problems, this is a must add to your dvd collection. I highly recommend everyone to go out and purchase this title.

Joseph Wanandi


return to top