It's no secret that Braveheart has been one of the most eagerly anticipated DVDs ever since the format was introduced. A quick search of the alt.video.dvd archives will reveal hundreds of posts begging, pleading, demanding and asking for this title. Well, it's finally here and the burning question is: Does it live up to expectations?

Braveheart is an historical epic, that odd Hollywood beast that attempts to spin real events into an entertaining format. It tells the tale of William Wallace and his efforts to free Scotland from the rule of England. However, simply because this movie is based upon real events doesn't mean the movie remains true to those events. If you want historical accuracy (or at least what passes for it), go watch a documentary or read a history book. While there are true-to-life elements in the film, Braveheart is first and foremost a product meant to entertain. In his commentary track, Gibson makes no apologies for any inaccuracies and many of them were conscious choices.

I am by no means finding fault with the choices between accuracy and storytelling. Almost without exception, the decisions made enhanced the tale. Even more important, the inaccuracies that are present maintain the flavor of the Wallace legend - the events might have happened this way.

The film opens with Wallace as a boy. Right from the beginning we are shown that these Scots are a tough people. When Wallace and another boy are playing war, they are just as happy to slug it out with each other as they are with throwing stones at the imaginary enemy. Parents likely dealt with as many broken noses as they did skinned knees.

Wallace's family is brutally murdered by the English and Wallace is sent away to live with an Uncle. This Uncle, a terrifying image of a battle scarred old warrior, proves to be a great influence to Wallace. He is educated in more than just the use of a sword and passes on his knowledge to Wallace.

Wallace returns to his village as an adult and resumes a romance with a childhood sweetheart. The budding romance is kept secret partly because the girl's parents don't fully approve (they see Wallace as a troublemaker, unwilling to settle down) and partly because Longshanks, the King of England, has imposed a First Night policy upon the Scots. In an effort to pollute the Scottish bloodline, an English soldier is permitted the first night, and all that implies, with any new Scottish bride.

Unwilling to participate in this practice, Wallace marries his sweetheart in secret. The English soldiers suspect the truth, however, and demand their right from Wallace's bride. She resists them and is put to death. This ignites a fire within Wallace that won't be extinguished by anything less than England's withdrawal from Scotland. He uses his passion and anger to stir up his countrymen and incite a revolution.

Watching the film, one can easily appreciate how difficult a time Mel Gibson must have had playing the part of William Wallace. Not only is it a physically demanding role, but it's also an emotional roller coaster. It's also easy to appreciate how difficult a movie of this scale must have been to direct. That Gibson also tackled that side of it makes this film a monumental achievement due to the fact that he hits all the right notes on both sides of the camera.

Aside from the superb performances by everyone involved, this film also looks fantastic. We find out in Gibson's commentary that much of the film's look was nearly accidental (it rained so much that they had no choice but to shoot in it), but it doesn't matter. Whether planned or not, every shot lends to the epic scope of the film.

Braveheart's battle scenes get talked about a lot and they deserve every bit of praise heaped upon them. Every time I see the film, I'm amazed that such vividly realistic battles could be depicted without really killing off half of the extras. I know that there is a lot less violence actually onscreen than what we think we see. It's a testament to the filming, editing and choreography that those scenes come across as utterly convincing as they do.

As I said, the DVD release of the film was highly anticipated. It's my understanding that Paramount delayed its initial plans for the disc until Gibson's schedule allowed for him to record a commentary track. It's efforts such as that one that make a DVD release special. This isn't a crammed special edition, but it's good stuff nonetheless.