Braveheart (1995)

Braveheart was my standard for ambitious cinema as a child. The three-hour war story following the ultimate romantic, William Wallace, and the bloody fight for Scotland's freedom was a story dear to my little heart. This cinematic experience is both emotionally effective and brutally poignant. The war scenes are graphic, unapologetic, and technically impressive. Mel Gibson's work is thoughtful and driven capturing a story of true heroism representing the good in both humanity and freedom. For a long time I considered this one of my favorite films and even now it's a right of passage for film junkies. 

---