Hooray for Hollywood — Gabriel Molina

The two movies I am writing about are nowhere near recent, but they are two of my favorite movies and they are by the same director. I chose to compare The Passion of The Christ and Braveheart, both directed by Mel Gibson.

I've never thought about comparing these two; my first times seeing each of them were at least eight years apart. But now that I think about it, I see how they are similar, as well as different. Before I compare I will give you a (very) brief synopsis of each. The Passion of The Christ portrays the story of the life of the Jesus. It is regarded as one of the most heart-wrenching and accurate film portrayals of it. Braveheart is about a man who is provoked to become a warrior and to fight for Scotland's freedom from the oppression of the English.

So despite the completely distinct stories of these films, there are similarities. First of all, Mel Gibson as a director is frequently known for his style of showing no restraint when it comes to violence. In Braveheart there are plenty of violent war scenes between the Scottish and the English. In The Passion of The Christ, the violence is part of what so accurately portrays the suffering of Jesus in the days leading up the his crucifixion. In both of these movies the violence serves a purpose, and adds to the effect on the audience. Another common characteristic of both movies is the strong religious themes. Mel Gibson grew up in a Catholic home and he incorporates strong motifs of faith in both movies. Of course that is clear in Passion, but in Braveheart there are also strong references and themes of faith, they are just less direct. You have to look further for them. Another similarity is that they are both very long.

As for contrast, I honestly can't think of too much other than details and plot. One distinction could be the "based on a true story" aspect of each. The Passion of The Christ is meant to follow the life as Jesus as accurately as possible, and it does it very well. Braveheart, however, is more fictional. The main character, William Wallace, was a real man who did fight for the freedom and Scotland. But the details of the plot are not considered to be historically accurate.