Did anyone notice a similarity between Braveheart and Gladiator?

I noticed a certain similarity between certain plot elements. Keep in mind I'm going to mention mainly the details that support my theory of plagiarism and lack of originality.

Look at Braveheart. William Wallace's wife is executed, possibly with his unborn children, and then he leads a rebellion against the English. He meets a highly-placed woman on the other side, who falls in love with him. After his defeat in battle, and betrayal by the Bruce, some question whether he is still alive, and he hides out in the Highlands. He is betrayed again by Scottish nobles and captured, and executed in a slow and painful way at the order of King Edward I. When he is dying, he sees a vision of his wife. The King is on his deathbed when Wallace is executed, and dies shortly afterwards.

Look at Gladiator, which came out several years later. Maximus' wife and children are murdered, at the same time that soldiers attempt to kill him, instigated by the Emperor. He escapes, but becomes a slave, and is believed dead. He later becomes a gladiator. Then his identity is discovered by the Emperor. His master sells his freedom, and helps him try to escape, along with the Emperor's [sister?] who is also in love with Maximus. However, Maximus is betrayed and captured, and the Emperor decides to kill him in personal combat, first giving him a wound to cripple him. Maximus kills the Emperor, then dies, and as he is dying, he sees his wife and son.

 

You are right, there's a LOT of similarities.

Also, there is a tremendous amount of theft from the sand and sandal Bible/Roman epics of the 50s, such as SPARTACUS.

Still, both GLADIATOR and BRAVEHEART won Best Picture Oscars. So I guess the similarities didn't hurt it.

 

Yeah well no offense but I had an english professor that said that there are only 8 main story lines in the history of story telling. Everything we see or hear now is just an extension of something else.

You give me any two movies and I bet I can come up with some logical similarites.

Yes both deal with loss of a loved one. So does AOTC, so does Minority Report, heck so does Scooby Doo.

I'm not tring to poke fun or anything but it just seems like this is the way that alot of people seem to think about movies these days. I say enjoy a movie for what it brings to you in its own unique way. Don't go looking for Braveheart in Gladiator, Godfather in Road to Perdition, or Empire Strikes Back in Attack of the Clones.
[/rant]

 

I think Gladiator has a lot more in common with Conan the Barbarian.

And of the Scottish epics, I think that Rob Roy kicks Braveheart's ass.

 

I wasn't looking for anything, but the similarities in the visions of women, and the second woman who is technically on the other side, jumped out at me. From there I reasoned out others.
You wouldn't happen to remember those eight?

 

I think that Rob Roy kicks Braveheart's ass.

Rob Roy ain't anywhere as near as good as Braveheart IMO.
I found Rob Roy to be dull and boring, the Peroid is boring compared with Braveheart's IMO (More happening and No guns makes it more intresting)

Good observations though!

 

You want similarity? Try comparing Gladiator to A Knight's Tale... if you can make it through the second one.

Scene for scene, the last have of A Knight's Tale is almost identical to the last half of Gladiator--the hero's chained up in a cellar before the big fight at the end, there's the same general "Oh no, he's wounded! Oh wait, he's coming back! Yay, he won!" thing found at the end of every epic adventure story, and did I mention the two-dimensional villains with awful lines? Yeah, well, there you go.

 

Mastadge! NOTHING kicks Braveheart's ass.
That film RULES. Best Picture, made a lot of money. Respect, prestige, profitability.
I rest my case.

 

Maximus' servant is in Braveheart

aah yes he most certainly is the same guy with the scars on his face