Braveheart (1995)

The mid-1990s witnessed a flourish of interest in Scottish history.  The film "Rob Roy" starring Liam Neeson was released in April, 1995, followed by "Braveheart" starring Mel Gibson, in May.  I saw both films in theatre.

Movie poster for "Braveheart" (1995)

I loved the battles, drama, and romance in "Braveheart".  It won the Oscar for Best Picture, although criticism has mounted over the years, with respect to its historical inaccuracies.  Still, it encouraged me to learn the actual history, by making me care.

I'd already made plans to spend the summer in Paisley (near Glasgow) that summer, and was interested to learn that most Scots enjoyed the film, although snickered at it (mostly the accents, and the casting of Gibson as William Wallace).

My time in Scotland kicked off an abiding interest in everything Scottish.  I got the chance to see a fair bit of the country, and met lots of interesting people.  (I even learned to appreciate Irn-Bru, but wouldn't touch black pudding or haggis).

The following year saw the release of "Trainspotting", starring Ewan McGregor, set in Edinburgh.  By that time, I was living in Montreal, and saw the film at Cinema du Parc, a wonderful repertory cinema (still in operation).

Netflix's "Outlaw King", released in 2018, tells the story of Robert the Bruce, and a similar film (intended as a sequel to "Braveheart") premiered at the Edinburgh Film Festival in 2019, but a wider release, planned for 2020, was canceled.

The Crow (1994)

The accidental death of Brandon Lee while filming "The Crow" generated a degree of advance publicity, although forever tinged the film with sadness.  I agree with those who feel this would have been Lee's breakout role.

Movie poster for "The Crow" (1994)

I saw the movie with my friends, Vince and Joe, and remember discussing it (over dinner, at "The Keg" in Square One).  Back in those days, the post-film analysis was an essential part of the moviegoing experience.

The screenplay for "The Crow" was based on the comic book written and illustrated by James O'Barr, originally published in 1989 by Caliber Comics (shortly after I stopped regularly collecting comics).

O'Barr grew up in Detroit, the setting for the story in both the comic and the film, and coincidentally where I spent six weeks of my summer in 1994 (well, more like Grosse Pointe, actually, but close enough).

The "alternative" soundtrack heavily influenced my taste in music, shifting my preferences from Q107 in Toronto to 102.1 "The Edge", and likewise determining which clubs I would frequent in my late 20s.

I haven't seen "The Crow" since I watched it in theatre, although I'd like to see it again, perhaps with my son (who I think would enjoy it).  It's a true classic, with a wide-ranging impact on film and popular culture.

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993)

When I was a kid, my older cousin had a small poster of Bruce Lee pinned up in his basement (above and to the left of their television).  Whenever I asked about it, he would make enigmatic statements about Lee's death.

Movie poster for "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story" (1993)

"Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story" is based on the book "Bruce Lee: The Man Only I Knew" written by Linda Lee Cadwell, his wife at the time of his death (although the movie has been criticized for taking liberties with actual events).

Nevertheless, the decision to include supernatural elements and over-the-top martial art sequences results in a look and feel very similar to the films that Lee was known for.  (In other words, I think he would have approved.)

I credit this movie for contributing to my fascination with California.  On a trip to stay with friends in San Francisco, back in 1998, I picked up a copy of the San Francisco Bay Guardian featuring Bruce Lee on the cover (which I brought back for my cousin).

I rented "Dragon" to watch with my wife, before we got married.  We were living in Montreal at the time, and made it a "theme" date, also getting dinner in Montreal's Chinatown, beforehand.

Sadly, the film is dedicated to the memory of Lee's son, Brandon, who died several weeks before its release.  Like his father, he was doing what he loved, making movies, and also like his father, he died too young.

The Last of the Mohicans (1992)

I knew that I would enjoy "The Last of the Mohicans" before I even saw it.  Based on the classic novel, written by James Fenimore Cooper, the story takes place in 1757, during the French and Indian War (about a hundred years before "Dances with Wolves").

Movie poster for "The Last of the Mohicans" (1992)

I went to see the film with my girlfriend at the time.  It was (and kind of wasn't) a date movie.  There's romance, but also a fair amount of blood and gore (somebody literally gets their heart cut out).  We broke up, shortly afterwards.

The soundtrack was amazing (the main theme is based on "The Gael" by Dougie MacLean).  During a trip to California the following summer, my friend and I played it repeatedly as we drove up the Pacific Coast Highway in a convertible, with the top down.

I saw the movie again with several friends at Ontario Place's Cinesphere.  It was an incredible experience on the 60 foot high screen.  (We were particularly impressed with Chingachgook's war club, and couldn't stop talking about it.)

Much of the action in the story takes place at Fort William Henry, on the south shore of Lake George in upstate New York.  I first realized this on a visit to Lake George with friends, while living in Montreal, but have never yet stopped there.

When my kids were young, I purchased the movie on DVD to watch with them, once they were old enough.  I still haven't gotten around to it (that one really gruesome scene keeps putting me off) but they're teenagers now, and have probably seen much worse.