A more unique take on the famous legend, the new Robin Hood movie may, from the previews, look to much like a mix of Gladiator and the older Prince of Thieves, which starred an unrealistic Kevin Costner.
Robin Hood is a more distinctive redo on the character, in that it tells on how Robin got started and all, so we aren’t left watching the same story that everybody knows.
Russell Crowe reteams up with his traditional director, Ridley Scott. Crowe does a much more realistic portrayal of the hero turned outlaw, but he’s also a little too old (he’s in his mid 40s). Costner may have had the looks, but Crowe has got the style.
The film is set just after the Crusades, where King Richard has been defeated and is fighting his way back to England through France. His younger and ignorant brother doesn’t really care about what to do, and he just sits around as a spoiled brat in his chambers. Robin is a common archer in Richard’s army, but during the last battle that will allow Richard’s army to get to the coast to escape to England, Richard is killed in battle, and Robin and a few of his friends escape from the fighting to get to England on their own. However, English conspirators have secretly aligned themselves with the French, and stir up unrest in England while the French gather an army for an invasion, and Robin becomes caught right in the middle of it, including pretending to be married to the widow of an English soldier killed in battle.
Robin Hood is a good though not great film. It’s a little predictable about what will happen—we know that Robin will save the day and become the outlaw that we know him to be.
The movie also fared better than I thought it would. Though it’s not a powerful redo of a classic story, it’s a sensible medieval action film that was good enough.
There are now rumors of a sequel coming out later that will be the story that we are more familiar with, though it’s unofficial.
Grade: B
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