Rent Robin Hood (2010)

A fairly average film with some good stunts but no real purpose - Robin Hood review by Timmy B

After Gladiator, Ridley Scott was the go-to guy for historical epics. So it was only a matter of time before the legend of Robin Hood landed on his desk.

But despite casting his muse Russell Crowe and bringing back the vast majority of the crew he worked with on Gladiator, this film doesn't really work. As you'd expect, there's extremely well shot action & it looks gorgeous, but it's unbelievably long and there isn't much fun to be had.

But I did enjoy parts of it, hence the 3 stars. But after so many of these films, all focused on the same legend, can we please stop making them now and actually find a new source material to adapt?

Worth Rediscovering - Epic Historical Drama - Robin Hood review by GI

I have to admit to leaving the cinema somewhat underwhelmed after seeing this on its initial release. Then I was persuaded sometime later to watch the released 'Director's Cut' on BluRay and I found myself thoroughly enjoying it. With 15 minutes of extra footage the film managed to gain a grittier feel and the decision to mix more history and forsake the perhaps tired old myths of the Robin Hood story actually works very well. Ridley Scott is a master at the grand epic historical drama and he lets rip here with the huge battle scenes, the spectacular rendition of medieval England and whilst there's restraint in the violence (the extended cut is bloodier) it is still a film made for adults. As the oldest actor to have played the title character Russell Crowe sort of channels his Maximus persona rather well and derision over his accent is all very well but who cares, this is a Ridley Scott film and you just have to immerse yourself in it. Robin is an archer in Richard The Lionheart's army battling in France. When the King is killed the army disperses and Robin and his friends make their way to the coast coming across an ambush of Sir Robert Loxley carrying the King's crown. Robin assumes Robert's identity to get a ship home and the ruse becomes the main plot device as he meets Robert's wife Marian (Cate Blanchett) and his father (Max Von Sydow). The story is actually rather well thought out and the blossoming romance between Robin and Marian is quite touching. A good support cast including Mark Strong as the principal baddie, Oscar Isaac as King John, Matthew Mcfadyen as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Danny Huston as King Richard and William Hurt and Léa Seydoux add support. Visually spectacular this is a film worth rediscovering. A pity that the expected sequel has been abandoned but if like me you were unimpressed the first time then try again it'll be worth it.