Braveheart

[Brasilikilt]

I saw a guy in the background at the end of a battle scene swinging his sword at an enemy in such a way as to make sure he didn't hurt the guy.

Heh heh I saw that too, and if you pay attention to the big dramatic charge at the end of the movie, look at the big bearded guy (Hamish I think his name was), his axe is WOBBLING as he runs!!!!

After watching that movie, for the longest time I totally thought that the belted plaide (sp?) aka Great kilt was a historically accurate garment to be worn in that time period, it wasn't until recently that I was told that a great kilt wasn't around until sometime in the early to mid 1500's!!
And what's up with showing the battle of Stirling bridge with NO BRIDGE!!!!!!

WODE?? pffffff wasn't the face painting thing done by BRONZE AGE Celts hundreds of years before William Wallace would have been born?

Other than that, I enjoyed the movie...the fight scenes were awesome!
I'm no historian, but the way they depicted the English military, especially the archers was very accurate.

[An t-Ileach]

I agree with h_D about the effect that Braveheart (and Rob Roy) had on Scottish self-confidence. I think far too many liberties were taken with the stories of both characters (why change the name of Rob Roy's wife?). Maybe the historical allusions would perhaps have been better illustrated by having Jean Reno playing Wallace? He was after all, a Strathclyde Welshman and part of the Norman-Flemish aristocracy (Sir William Wallace of Elderslie) who probably spoke Norman French better than he spoke Scots. And, and...

But it really gave a boost to the Scots.

[Rob Wright]

Not to mention the help he recieved from the Douglases and Murray's.

Rob

[macwilkin]

Not to mention the help he recieved from the Douglases and Murray's.

Rob

And his support of the Balliol/Comyn claim to the throne, whilst the Bruce sought aid from Edward I -- that is one thing I really credit "Braveheart" for, showing the fact that Bruce was not always the ardent Scottish patriot that some of his apologists claim.

Cheers,

Todd

[Archangel]

Just to stir things up, not too much, I hope, Braveheart is not a lot different than the mythology of the western's cowboy. It inspires some positive things but when deconstructed, cannot be supported historically. It was good nationally to have some of the "frontier philosophy" brought home to Scotland. My feeling is most Scots know that it was factually "off" but bought into the spirit of it.

The sneaky side thread whisper of Gregory's Girl reminds me that it was a great movie. So was another by the same director, Comfort and Joy, aka The ice cream wars. Those two, and Local Hero, I think, give a good overview of Scottish popular philosophy. Restless Natives is still the best.

[An t-Ileach]

Not to mention the help he recieved from the Douglases and Murray's.

Rob

My grandfather could recite Marmion from cover to cover. Alas, I can only remember snatches - but, at least, they're ones that relate to Douglas:

"...The hand of Douglas is his own,
And never shall in friendly grasp,
The hand of such as Marmion clasp...

And dar'st thou then
To beard the lion in his den,
The Douglas in his hall?
And hop'st thou thence unscathed to go?...

O what a tangled web we weave,
When first we practise to deceive!..."

That about exhausts my snatches. I know it was about Flodden Field and not about Stirling Bridge or Bannockburn, but the anniversary of that battle has only just past.

And cajunscot, is it possible that the younger Bruce was shocked into getting on the right side after the brutal murder of Wallace?

[Graham]

(why change the name of Rob Roy's wife?)

I checked the photo I took at the Grave, rob Roy's wife is listed as being Mary, but with Helen in brackets. Not sure why. In the film she was Mary.

[Archangel]

I checked the photo I took at the Grave, rob Roy's wife is listed as being Mary, but with Helen in brackets. Not sure why. In the film she was Mary.

In the texts her name is Mary (Marie), too. Scott had it wrong, calling her Helen. The first reference book I picked up was Tranter's history, (not the historical fiction trilogy.)

[Kiltedfirepiper]

[QUOTE=Wallaces sword was 66 inches in length ( over five foot) so had he hung it from his belt it would have dragged along behind him rather uncomfortably.

.[/QUOTE]

the "belt" I was refering to was over his shoulder ...not around his waist, and for the life of me i STILL cant remember what its called!!

most of the info I have learned about was from a book called William Wallace: Braveheart. it tells about the actual facts known about him , and deals with some of the myths/ legends, including the poems of Blind Harry which are pretty interesting.

we could go on and on about inaccuracies,why this or that was what happened ect. ect. for ever! but all I was trying to say was that everything in Hollywood is going to have over the top theatrics .....unless its a documentry, even then ......its all in how you edit huh?

Scott

[An t-Ileach]

In the texts her name is Mary (Marie), too. Scott had it wrong, calling her Helen. The first reference book I picked up was Tranter's history, (not the historical fiction trilogy.)

I must have got in wrong, then; that'll teach one to rely too much on Scott - he was, after all, dashing these stories off to pay a debt and presumably his editors weren't that fussed about historical accuracy as long as he met their dead-line.