Robert the Bruce

Movie review by Danny Brogan, Common Sense Media
Robert the Bruce Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 15+

Ponderous Braveheart "sequel" has sporadic graphic violence.

NR 2020 124 minutes
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Parents say

age 10+

Based on 3 reviews

Kids say

age 11+

Based on 1 review

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Robert the Bruce is a historical drama about the future King of Scotland with occasional, but brutal violence. There are a number of fight scenes, with characters killed by being stabbed and slashed with swords, and shot with bows and arrows. In one scene, a young boy is killed after being struck repeatedly with an axe. Two characters have their throats slit and one man is hanged. A woman is forcibly kissed by her brother-in-law and is then slapped to the floor. Despite the historical context, the movie is set around a period of Robert the Bruce's life that not much is known -- and is therefore open to interpretation. There is little profanity with "bloody," "bastard," and "s--t" only heard once each, while "arse" is used on a couple of occasions. Despite the sporadic violence, the movie is for the most part slow, with Robert the Bruce (Angus Macfadyen) spending much of the time recovering from his injuries. Due to the setting of the movie and the fact that Macfadyen reprises the role he played in Mel Gibson's Braveheart, some have called Robert the Bruce an "unofficial sequel" to the 1995 Oscar-winning movie.

Community Reviews

fritho
fritho Adult
July 31, 2020
age 12+

Dont listen to the nay sayers, this movie is excellent

Many have commented about this movie vs the outlaw king. I can only say that the other movie outlaw king appears(I am not going to watch it) to be explicit, unhistorical, and one of those modern take on the story where they apply modern viewpoints and attitutes(I could say worldly) and superimpose them on historical story. On the other hand Robert the bruce on the other hand, is a healthy movie, in that the view of war,sex, relationships, and what is right is healthily portrayed. God is not reduced, mocked or considered irrelevant to the battle against actual right and wrong; yet is portrayed in a honoring way. At the very least this is more historically precise, given the strong beliefs that were likely present at the time. Additionally, when wrong is done it is felt keenly, and when the bruce is betrayed the pain and lead up to it is incredibly tense. Some have bagged this movie as lacking in action, and that it wastes time explaining the bruce's healing and recovery. This is nonsense. its increadible dont listen to them, the earlier part of the movie is increadibly necessary to empathize with the characters, and to build context for any kind of story. the acting is excellent, and the historical context, while mostly in villages and forest seems to portray the life of the time well. People actually stand up for what is right and want to try do what is good, even in the midst of corruption and betrayal.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Carolhirschi
Carolhirschi Adult
May 1, 2020
age 6+

Smart, sensitive and enriching

This film hits the mark on many levels. It is historically accurate and therefore educational, It’s compelling and intriguing, entertaining and carries an positive message in a way that draws the viewer in and is not preachy. Whether a date night or family night this Is worth your time and will provoke wonderful conversations.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

After suffering a number of defeats at the hands of the English, ROBERT THE BRUCE (Angus Macfadyen) informs his men that the rebellion is over. But with a bounty on his head, Robert is soon attacked. Injured and with nowhere to go, a family of peasants find him and take him home to nurse him back to health. Once recovered, Robert must decide whether he has the strength to once again take to the battlefield and deliver Scotland its independence.

Is It Any Good?

For a movie that centers around one of Scotland's most iconic historical figures, this plods along. Robert the Bruce was touted by some as an unofficial sequel to 1995's Braveheart -- not least because Macfadyen reprises the role of Robert the Bruce as he did in Mel Gibson's epic. But whereas Braveheart was a chest-thumping ride of a movie, here we're left with navel-gazing interspersed with occasional but brutal violence. Most of the movie centers around Robert's recovery -- both physical and mental -- as he must determine whether he has the strength and resolve to lead a rebellion of troops that are dwindling in numbers and belief.

The movie was co-written and co-produced by Macfadyen, but despite also taking the title role, he spends much of the movie hiding in a cave or recovering in bed. And it's to the movie's detriment. Instead we're left with a family setup that could have been condensed into a few scenes rather than stretched out for much of the movie. Jared Harris' appearance as John Comyn is fleeting and Anna Hutchison's narration is annoying -- only highlighting her patchy Scottish accent. With the Outlaw King -- starring Chris Pine -- covering the same material but far more entertainingly, it's difficult to see why you'd opt for this inferior telling of Robert the Bruce's story.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the violence in Robert the Bruce. Did it feel realistic? Did that affect how you felt about it? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • What was Robert the Bruce fighting for? Discuss patriotism. Is it a good thing? Can it be a bad thing?

  • How did this movie compare to other movies that tell a similar story, such as Braveheart and Outlaw King?

Movie Details

Our Editors Recommend

  • Braveheart Poster Image

    Braveheart

    Mel Gibson's Oscared, bloody Scottish spectacle.

    age 17+
  • Outlaw King Poster Image

    Outlaw King

    Brutal historical epic has graphic violence and nudity.

    age 17+
  • Gladiator Poster Image

    Gladiator

    Masterful but really violent Oscar winner.

    age 16+

Themes & Topics

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