Robin Hood Review
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It has been almost two decades since there has been a remake of the tale of Robin Hood; the most recent being Robin Hood: Men in Tights. This year, we are given another telling of the hero who robs from the rich and gives to the poor, but not the way most of us are accustomed to. Russell Crowe stars as Robin Hood with Cate Blanchett as the Maid Marion in the telling of how Robin Hood came to be the hero of the common folk.
The story begins with Robin Longstride as an archer fighting for Richard the Lionheart’s crusade against France at the end of the twelfth century. Fighting along side him are Little John (Kevin Durand), Will Scarlet, and Allan A’Dayle. After a discussion with the king, they fall out of the king’s favor and flee the battle, and set a course for Nottingham where they meet up with Friar Tuck (Mark Addy) and Maid Marion. It is here where the legend of Robin Hood begins to unfold and the movie ends with what we are familiar with from other movies.
I thought this movie was better than what I have heard coming from the bigger critics. It wasn’t at the same level as the Gladiator, but that is a very lofty goal to reach for, and no other Russell Crowe movie should be expected to be of that caliber.
What really made the movie for me was the main villain, Godfrey (Mark Strong). Every time this character was on the screen, it made me dislike him even more than the last scene he was in. He had a great interaction with William Marshall (William Hurt) where he were in a hallway together and Marshall told Godfrey to choose carefully where to place the dagger in his back. Godfrey showed Marshall a ring that Marshall originally was wearing and walked ahead with the same gesture Marshall gave to him with arms open exposing his back to Marshall to send the same message back.
As with most movies I tend to like, there was a great score to go along with it. Again, the best parts of the score came when Godfrey was on the screen. Strong makes a good villain.
Overall, I would have to say this is going to challenge Iron Man 2 as my favorite film of the summer. I would also like to say sorry to Kevin Costner and Cary Elwes. Your Robin Hood’s were good and funny, but Russell Crowe is the better man in tights.
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Teri said:
Haha. I don’t think you can put Robin Hood: Men in Tights in the same category with the dramatic Robin Hoods. Men in Tights is awesome in its own right.
That being said, I really liked this new version of Robin Hood, too. Russell Crowe was very likable in this movie, and I liked Cate Blanchett in her role. She was a strong female force, but not the unrealistically adept knight that Marian has previously been portrayed as. I think that in a society as screwed up as ours, where headlines reveal selfish after selfish decision at the hands of those with power, it is refreshing and fulfilling to see another movie of a true hero standing up for what is just and good. I think we need a reminder that pure justice and love really CAN conquer all.
June 4th, 2010 at 11:13 am