Outlaw King

    Basically picking up from the end of "Braveheart" (the story of William Wallace), this film is based on the life of Robert the Bruce, who in the 1300's successfully freed Scotland from the British.  Chris Pine stars as Robert and while his accent tends to waver a bit, he makes a fine Scottish King (and much has been made of his VERY brief, full frontal nudity scene).

                As co-written and directed by David MacKenzie, the film is a series of battles that lead up to the ultimate battle that turns the tide against the British. There is little time for the sub-plot love story between Robert and Elizabeth, Edward's goddaughter. Blood and mud are the constants throughout. The battle scenes are very realistic and it's hard to believe horses were not harmed in the making of the film.

               Co-starring are Stephen Dillane  as Edward, King of England, Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Lord Douglas, and Florence Pugh as Elizabeth. And of course, a "cast of thousands" of foot soldiers most of whom are sacrificed on the battlefield.

                The film doesn't quite have the gravitas or the scope of "Braveheart" but it still makes for a solid historical adventure.