I do have Irish relatives so it means I have Irish ancestors and now Im wondering if my passion for Scotland (which started when I was quite young actually) couldnt be because some of them lived in Scotland. I watched Braveheart tonight and I am so moved each time by the battles those brave men had to fight to gain their freedom, what they had to lose and sacrifice along the way and how somebody like Wallace could move Robert the Bruce so much he decided to be the king the Scots needed. Yes, I know a part of the movie is fictionalized. Im not that naive to actually think that Wallace and the Princess had an affair though one actual queen was so badly married she did do her husband in. I remember reading it as Im passionate about ancient history. This is why actually I was speechless when I was accused by an illiterate troll of reading only fan fiction (I never read fan fiction as it would bore me to death). I dont even read Harlequin romance novels as I dont believe in perfect love stories with happy endings. Im kind of a skeptic about those. I prefer historical romance novel because those are real love stories, some did have a happy ending but others were so complicated that those people had a hard time being together. One such love story is that of John of Gaunt and Katherine Swinford whom he could only marry late in life because he was a Duke and she was a commoner. Im actually reading about Sir William Wallace these days and it seems he started his vendetta against the English at a younger age than in the movie. It also seems he lost more than one wife at the hands of the English and if a man lost so much that would explain his hatred for the English. What a beautiful movie though, beautiful music, beautiful landscapes and the actors were well chosen. Love David OHara as Stephen, Brendan Gleeson as Hamish and James Cosmo as Hamishs dad. Angus MacFadyen was well chosen as Robert the Bruce and always nice to see Alun Armstrong in anything. The late Patrick McGoohan was incredible as Edward Longshanks, quite a feat for a Scotsman to play an English king. Sophie Marceau was well chosen as the princess as was Catherine McCormack as Murron. This movie will always be a classic even for those who do not like to see how bloody war can be as people may watch it just to see how beautiful Scotland is, or for the music or the love story. May the Scots win their independence for once and for good this time! They should never have lost it! Alba gu bràth
Posted on: Sun, 06 Apr 2014 05:31:22 +0000