As someone from Scotland, I found myself bothered by the historical inaccuracies far more than I probably should have been. We’re raised with this history, so when a large-scale portrayal like this arrives, I anticipated something greater. It hardly matters that Mel Gibson isn't Scottish – that’s akin to a distraction in terms of acting. What's important is that the story is largely made up. Visually striking, beautiful, and convincingly authentic—absolutely—but it remains fiction. Considering it as such, though, it still manages to be an engaging medieval drama about the Scots fighting against King Edward I of England’s (Patrick McGoohan) rule. Featuring a collection of recognizable actors, it gradually illustrates the harshness of English control over these people and introduces us to "William Wallace" (Gibson), one of the few determined to resist. The death of his wife at the hands of the local magistrate (Malcolm Tierney) proves to be the final trigger, and he soon joins forces with his relative Argyle (Brian Cox) to devise a strategy. What follows is a well-crafted, visually appealing drama filled with intrigue and plotting, alongside some extremely violent battle sequences, all leading to the inevitable conclusion. It moves slowly at first, but once it gains momentum, the pacing is good; there's very little romance, plenty of sword fighting, and a generous amount of patriotic fervor for freedom fighters. Why not? It’s about a man who fought for his people’s liberty against an outsider, and it succeeds in portraying that effectively. The historical sequence of events are somewhat jumbled, as are many of the character portrayals, but again, that's something we acknowledge at the beginning. "Braveheart" is thrilling, fast-paced, and bloody—exactly what it’s supposed to be, and for that Gibson deserves praise. It’s just disappointing that it couldn't have been a bit more grounded in reality.

Source on TMDB