So I had no idea what this was going to be about, but the movie works even without any previous knowledge. Actually even if you haven't seen Braveheart, you will get thrown into circumstances that you will get very quickly. Maybe not have seen Braveheart works better for some, because they won't compare the two movies, no matter when they play time wise in History.

Having said all that, Chris Pine is really relishing in a role that is quite difficult to pull off. He has to be tough yet show a "softer" side too. Especially when it comes to his wife. Now how much of this is accurate, I can't tell, because I'm not read up on the details of what actually happened. I'm guessing that the bigger events/fights are more or less accurate. There is blood, there is a bit of nudity and there is a lot of fighting with swords ... if that sounds like "fun" to you, the movie will be entertaining. And you will also learn a little bit of actual history

OUTLAW KING is a semi-sequel to the Mel Gibson classic BRAVEHEART, made over 20 years later and by Netflix of all people. You needn't worry about this being a low budget production, however, as it's actually the most expensive film ever made in Scotland, and an entirely visual experience in which the medieval era has never looked so realistic. From stunning scenery and authentic sets and props to lavish battle sequences in which CGI effects are integrated seamlessly with the real actors, this is a wonderful film to look at and behold. The story itself is straightforward, following Robert the Bruce's rise to become king of Scotland and his battles waged against Edwards I and II. There isn't a great deal of depth here, and the first half is quite slow, but that's not really a problem. Chris Pine does well with the material, perhaps not as charismatic as Gibson was but arguably more realistic. The supporting cast work very hard too, aside from Florence Pugh, but then it's not really her fault given her underwritten and extraneous role (she's only there to have a female character in the story). Elsewhere, the film doesn't shy away from the gore of the era, which is all for the better, and it builds to a climax that satisfies. Will a sequel follow? I hope so.

In 1304, Robert the Bruce (Chris Pine),under his father's command, joins the other nobles to submit to the King of England after their defeat. Only William Wallace remains free as a marauding outlaw. After the execution of Wallace, Robert slowly decides to unite the Scots in an uprising against the English.

This is inevitably compared to Braveheart. Certainly, it's a lower budget affair. The battles are smaller, more brutal, more chaotic, and more visceral. Somehow I find them fitting for the times. It's Chris Pine where the difference is more noticeable. He's a modern American actor. He's more emo and less commanding. That's a problem for this commander of men. This is a brutal time. While he does harden over the course of the movie, he does not leave behind his modern sensibilities. He's not hitting the right notes for this iconic man. His wife is also a bit bland although I do like their relationship. It seems that all the elements are there but it doesn't quite have the gravitas. This is a history lesson but as a human story, it lacks a certain human touch. The emotional journey rings a little hollow.