The shame of it all is that when Mel Gibson and “Director” are mentioned in the same sentence by someone, the immediate resulting thought is The Passion Of The Christ, Gibson’s bloody and brutalizing interpretation of Jesus Christ’s final moments.  For me, his name will always strike the memory of a better bloody epic that instead of pulling in hundreds of millions of dollars, and angering every critic that saw it, went on to win five Academy Awards including Best Picture in 1995.  It also stands as the most inspiring, and motivating film I have ever seen.

Braveheart is the story of Scotland’s greatest hero/martyr William Wallace, a commoner who leads a significant rebellion against his English rulers after his wife is executed by a local magistrate.  The isolated incident spirals into a full-blown war between England and Scotland, with Scottish freedom hanging in the balance.  Driven by vengeance, but compelled by purpose, Wallace leads the charge against a tyrannical king, with political schemers posing as his allies.  As forces close in around him, Wallace finds he is ready to die for the integrity of his heritage, and the lives of his people, if it will lead to freedom for his country.

Cinematically a masterpiece, Braveheart set the bar for sword fighting war films.  Without Gibson’s innovative widescreen vision, the battle sequences from Gladiator, Troy, Alexander, The Last Samurai, and even The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King might have fallen into obscurity without his influence.  Not to say that the strength of the film lies with those sequences alone.  Braveheart is also a stellar character piece, with a gifted supporting cast that reinforces Gibson’s tour de force lead as Wallace.  Written by Randall Wallace (a true descendant from William), the story is brought to life from a mind that carries the lineage, and it shows in spades throughout the film.

This new two-disc DVD edition from Paramount is a definite positive step forward, as it provides new highlights that make it a successor to the original 2000 single-disc release.  The first positive change is the anamorphic image of the film.  With a new remastered transfer, there are some visual improvements in clarity and color within the film.  Although some scratches and age is still present in several shots, there is no question things are no longer as dark and shady as before.  The second plus is the additional features.  The Making Of documentary is extended to include some present-day reflections by Gibson, and is now broken up into three sections that provide more footage.  The Tales Of William Wallace is a new, and informative historical featurette about the truth and fiction surrounding the infamous figure, complete with great Scottish scenery.  There are also some archival interviews with the supporting cast that provide the actor’s POV on their respective characters, and a Photo Montage not seen before.

Some things however, do make a return appearance.  A Writer’s Journey, which focuses on Randall Wallace’s personal history with the project (which includes a self-discovering trip to Scotland) can be viewed again.  Mel Gibson’s exact same laid-back and humorous commentary is attached to the film, and the sound mix on the movie doesn’t sound like much has changed on the 5.1 audio.  As a complete package, this special edition is ultimately worth the acquisition.  Even though it is an upgrade, there are too many additional qualities that can’t go ignored.  The only reason to not pull the trigger on the edition would be if you’re waiting for an HD DVD release (and if there was ever a movie in need of one, it is Braveheart).

Just the movie alone, without any additional extras is reason enough for me to buy it.  Made with such heart and passion, I dare you not to react by the time Braveheart ends (if by some miracle you have never seen it before).  Even though we’ll suffer heartache and tears by its conclusion, Braveheart is a significant and important film that we can’t help but to watch again and again.  It is the quintessential film about the heart of a warrior.

Review By Ryan Young