Gladiator vs. Braveheart

[Fake Doctor]

Braveheart and it's not close.

 

[mmamxfan]

Gladiator. Can't take men wearing skirts serious, it's just really weird to me.

 

[FadeLess]

"And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!"

This alone, takes the cake for me.
But Gladiator is damn fine movie as well.

 

[Merlotte's]

Movie fact:

Critics did not believe Mel Gibson could authentically play a Scotsman.

But look at him now! An alcoholic racist.

Dammit this guy was funny

 

[Ezekiel 25:17]

Loved Gladiator but Braveheart was just more raw and memorable.

Gladiator looked more polished by a mile. The visuals were absolutely stunning. The sheer depth of it all was something to really sit back and soak in on a big screen. The story was good enough even though it dragged at times. Acting was on point, especially by the two main leads.

Braveheart on the other hand was more impactful. The character developement and emotion was more fleshed out and had a longer lasting effect. The score only amplified it all. Phoenix did great, but Mcgoohan who played Longshanks was a true to form monster on a whole other level. Crowe did magnificent, but Gibson made you feel every iota of pain, every ounce of anger and agony. By the end, i was literally in tears.

Im all about being sucked in by the characters, the raw rollercoaster of emotions and the flow of the story. Braveheart just did all that better imo.

Also, excellent direction by Gibson.

 

[HARRISON_3]

Braveheart.

Sure I already said that.

Too lazy to look.

 

[Thai Domi]

Gladiator is an awesome movie, but Braveheart is on another level imo

 

[Fake Doctor]

"And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!"

This alone, takes the cake for me.
But Gladiator is damn fine movie as well.

I do love that speech, and Braveheart is a top 10 movie in my eyes, but I was quite shocked when I went back and read Shakespeare's Henry V years after seeing Braveheart. It's a bit tricky to weed through the Shakespearean language if you're not used to it, but I'm fairly certain this speech heavily inspired that Braveheart speech... The play has a scene where Henry is giving a speech (famously the St. Crispin's Day Speech) to rouse his troops to a battle they don't think they can win. First off he gives everyone permission to leave with their pay and no punishment. Then he goes on about what Crispin's day will be like in the future if you stay - that you'll show your scars like badges of honour, that while old men forget you'll remember it clearly, etc etc... This is where the "we few, we happy few, we band of brothers" line comes from too. It's a very famous speech, quite commonly taught, and thematically it hits a lot of the same notes (gives permission to leave, then plays on the memory of that day in the future).

"He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say ‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian:’
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say ‘These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.’
Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember’d.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember’d;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day."

The St. Crispin’s Day speech from Henry V – The Poetry Society




What's ironic is that Mel seems to fucking hate the English, but it's likely he leaned heavily on this famous speech from the English canon when crafting one of the highpoints of Braveheart.

 

[mike1226]

There would be no Gladiator without Braveheart. It took these Historic Epic films to another level.

 

[650lb Sumo]

Braveheart is cringe af, Gladiator is by far superior.

 

[Streeter]

2 amazing epics. Can't go wrong watching either.

Funny Mel also first one they asked to play Maxi.us but he already committed to Patriot n couldn't do it. Worked out for likely best as Russell Crowe was greatness in that role I'm not certain Mel could of done better.

 

[Streeter]

Mel Gibson turned down Gladiator

I've never fully watched Brave Heart and I have Gladiator as Ridley Scott's 2nd best film.

Yeah I think he already committed to Patriot n couldn't. Which is fine as Crowe killed it.

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

The votes are very close.

 

[SSgt Dickweed]

I'd say Gladiator but I think my own interest with history/historical battles ruined both movies for me.

Braveheart's wildly inaccurate (the Scots were rich and William Wallace was a noble). Gladiator, while being in a realistic setting, was wildly unrealistic storywise. Imagine Gen. Petraeus, being a bullet catcher in Iraq, then being ousted by George W. Bush when Petraeus was being groomed to be the next Republican nominee, then having his family executed, and finally seeking revenge against Dubya in a mortal cage match.

Ridley Scott's recently commented on Gladiator being a better superhero movie, in a tirade against the Marvel movies.

I am rewatching Gladiator in different viewings. I realized that this movie was the reason Rome was made by HBO, which in turn, led to Game of Thrones. The LOTR movies also were a big influence I think.

 

[Adamant]

Braveheart. It hits the feels way harder. Gladiator is good though.