CinemaDome: Braveheart vs Gladiator

Another apples to apples one and a pair of big hits, so maybe voter turnout will spike.

This brace of somewhat historical pictures both grabbed Best Picture Academy awards. One made Gibson a director to look out for, the other made Crowe a star. Perhaps the one-two combo of these led to epic historical features having a bit of a renaissance in the 00s? Either way, they're both great movies, facts be damned.



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Gladiator is great and stuff but Braveheart is a true epic.

I hate when Gladiator gets replayed on TV, they often edit out all the violence and blood. What's the point?! Also that hair lip guy really gets old upon rewatches.

Braveheart was incredible the first time I saw it in theatres. Longshanks was such a great villian and its fun to see British imperialism in all its horrific glory.

Vote: Braveheart

Also, it's MY island

ugh. I'm not a fan of either.

I'll go Gladiator because I like the period better.

Despite (or maybe because of) the historical inaccuracies, Braveheart it is. I love the many big army battles, truly epic stuff as Barney pointed out.

Gladiator really paved the way for the resurgence of Swords and Sandals movies in the 2000s, such as Troy, Alexander, etc.

Gladiator

Braveheart versus Spartacus might have been tough but not this matchup. Gladiator is overrated garbage with a little good period action. Braveheart has better battles and more...wait for it...heart.

Vote: Braveheart

I'm not a big fan of either film even though I do like many of the people involved normally. I like Mel Gibson's last couple of films, I think he's improved as a director and I'd be curious to see how he'd do a film like Braveheart today. Braveheart is pretty ham fisted at times. It's over the top, ridiculous dramatic and hard to take seriously at times. I tried to sit through it a year or so ago and found myself bored on several occasions. It's not a bad film, it just feels cliche.

Personally Gladiator doesn't seem much better but it does hint at being deeper. Little moments here and there make you think the film is about more than just emotional manipulation, theatrics and drama... there are times it almost feels intellectual or cerebral. It's not... but it gets close and hints at it here and there. I don't know... I'm not totally committed to it but I feel like Gladiator is just a more competently made and less cliche film. So that's where my vote is going...

Vote: Gladiator

Gladiator. It isn't really history, but IIRC Braveheart isn't either.

Mad Dog wrote:

Braveheart versus Spartacus might have been tough but not this matchup.

Spartacus puts both of these to shame.

This is a tough one. Yeah the history is shite in both. But both are great historical epics. The opening scene in Gladiator, along with his first bout in the Colosseum, beat anything in Braveheart from an action perspective. But MacGoohan blows away the whiny Joaquin Phoenix as far as villains go . And I like the down to earth gritty look of Braveheart. 30 years earlier, the same film would look like the old Robin Hood flicks, but here even the "rich" are not living large , like the wooden stockade forts we see.

Both are overly long, and the romantic angle in Braveheart is ....fucking stupid. But I have to give the nod to the collective cast of Braveheart. Gladiator has Crowe , a stint from Oliver Reed, and not much else.

"The problem with Scotland is that its full of Scots !"

Close, but BRAVEHEART.


If you like English period dramas/action, check out Rob Roy.

I do wonder if a more direct comparison would be GLADIATOR vs KINGDOM of HEAVEN. Crowe blows away Orlando Pretty Boy Bloom, but again the overall cast and arc are more interesting in KoH . Look for a bit part from Jamie Lannister early on.

Vote: Luc Besson's Jeanne D'Arc.

Msample wrote:

If you like English period dramas/action, check out Rob Roy.

I do wonder if a more direct comparison would be GLADIATOR vs KINGDOM of HEAVEN. Crowe blows away Orlando Pretty Boy Bloom, but again the overall cast and arc are more interesting in KoH . Look for a bit part from Jamie Lannister early on.

Rob Roy is good. Fight at the end owns.

I liked Kingdom of Heaven. You're right about the casting - Orlando Bloom is bad in the role, but everyone else is good.

Not even a good fight.


MAXIMUS MAXIMUS MAXIMUS

I need to watch Gladiator again. The one time I saw it, it was dreary and mumbly and didn't really grab me, whereas Braveheart has some powerful and memorable parts.

Braveheart

I do enjoy both films, but Braveheart captures that romanticized 'fighting for a greater cause' feeling much better. The quibbles I had about the armor in Gladiator knocks it down a peg as well.

MSample, Tim Roth is such a wonderful and despicable villain in Rob Roy. Great film.

Verdict: Braveheart