Billy Kirk.com

Just a quick thought. I’ve watched both of these films again in the last couple days (most of it in the case of Braveheart, some in the case of The Patriot), and each time I’m reminded of what a furious maniac Mel Gibson is in each film, and how similar the gratuitous violence is - of course, this should come as no surprise seeing as Gibson not only starred in both, but also directed Braveheart. It would also come as no surprise if The Patriot director Roland Emmerich took some inspiration and visual cues from the death of William Wallace’s wife and reflected this in Benjamin Martin’s loss of eldest son, Gabriel, played by the late and ultimately deeply talented Heath Ledger.

It doesn't look like he's enjoying this.

While The Patriot was good in its own right, Braveheart is clearly the far superior movie. Seeing it again the other day, I still get some goosebumps on hearing Wallace’s strained and anguished cry for “FREEEEDOM!” just prior to execution, as he turns his back on mercy and feebly yet heroically grips onto the ideals that have pushed him to that very point.

Did I mention Mel Gibson is one of my favorite actors?