Scramblin' thru... Braveheart
Best movie EVER made. End of debate. [Click play below to listen to one of the best movie soundtracks ever made...]
"Freeeeeeeeedoooooommmm!"
The Scottish struggle for independence from England lasted from 1296-1328 and made a hero out of a commoner named William Wallace.
After the King of Scotland died without an heir, the country's clans and nobles fought over the crown. This gave the King of England, Edward I "the Longshanks", a chance to invade and take control of Scotland. According to legend, Wallace was outlawed by the English because of a quarrel that resulted in the death of an Englishman. He subsequently burned an English garrison and led an attack upon the English justiciar, an officer for the king, at Scone, Scotland. Wallace captured many English fortresses north of the Forth River, and on September 11, 1297, in the Battle of Stirling Bridge, he destroyed English forces attempting to cross the Forth. He was then elected to the office of guardian of the kingdom. In 1298, Scotland was invaded by a large English force led by Longshanks, who defeated Wallace's army at the Battle of Falkirk. Wallace fled and lived in France but returned and was captured by a Scottish knight. He was brought to London, tried for treason, and executed in 1305. The movement continued under Robert the Bruce, whose victory at the Battle of Bannockburn against King Edward II in 1314 helped secure independence, which was officially granted in 1328. Spoiler Alert!The sound bite below is from the final scene of the movie Braveheart... don't play it if you don't want to know how it ends... unless, of course, you've read everything on this page up until this point. In that case... be my guest.
Battle of Stirling Bridge. [Click picture for a larger version.]
Battle of Falkirk.
Battle of Bannockburn.
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Few sources about William Wallace's early life exist, and historians rely on an account written around 1477 (almost two centuries after Wallace's death) by the Scottish poet Henry the Minstrel... better known as "Blind Harry".
I'm sure relying on something written by a guy nicknamed "Blind Harry" 172 years after the fact should be 100% reliable... 
Movie Wallace
Real Wallace
Braveheart is an Academy Award winning film by
(and starring) Mel Gibson... but it did take some liberties with the story. (SPOILER ALERT!) For instance... Liberty #1 Wallace joined the movement after killing 2 English soldiers that stole his bucket of fish. In the movie, Wallace's wife is murdered. (It's a tad more romantic this way...) Liberty #2 The Battle of Stirling Bridge was missing a bridge in the movie. Liberty #3 Wallace didn't knock up the French wife of Edward II in real life. In fact, Wallace never knew the French princess since she wasn't married to Edward II until 1308... 3 years AFTER Wallace's execution. (She would have been 10 at the time of his death.) Liberty #4 Wallace never painted his face blue before battle in real life. Liberty #5 Robert the Bruce didn't betray Wallace at Falkirk. Liberty #6 Wallace had a red beard in real life. Dr. Hartnell has a red beard in real life. Waaaait a minute... Liberty #7 Longshanks wasn't on his deathbed when Wallace was executed, as shown in the movie. In fact, Longshanks didn't die until 1307... 2 years AFTER Wallace's death. 
Something seems "off" here...
Dear Hollywood: Please make this movie.
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Fight! Fight! Fight!
Maximus Decimus Meridius from "Gladiator". [Click picture for a movie clip.]
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William Wallace from "Braveheart". [Click picture for a movie clip.]
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King Leonidas of Sparta from "300". [Click picture for a movie clip.]
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Final score from Stirling Bridge: Scotland 1, England 0
