Movie Review #38

Movie Review #38

Robin Hood (2010) Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett Directed by Ridley Scott

The Summer movie season looks to be a bad one this year and there aren’t many big films for me to look forward to (not a Twilight or Harry Potter guy) so even though I wasn’t thrilled at the idea of cheating on 1991’s Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (Costner as the Hood and Alan Rickman as the sheriff…priceless) I rolled up my sleeves and jumped into the “Gladiator” version of Robin Hood. Even though it really wasn’t that necessary to make a reboot or prequel to Robin Hood, I’m sure the Hollywood fat cats salivated at the mouth when given the option to green light this Crowe/Scott reunion (the same two men who brought us Gladiator).

Robin Hood is the story of an ordinary archer (Robin Longstride played very Maximus-like by Russell Crowe) along for King “The Lion Heart” Richard’s 3rd Crusade (one of the less popular ones). Through some amazing coincidences (they are lazy plot points that hold this thing together) he finds himself in a position of fake Knighthood, returning to England, where he is left to fulfill the promise of a dying man (Robert Loxley) to return a sword to that man’s father. While returning the sword to Loxley Manner he meets Robert Loxley’s now widow Marion (Yep that’s Maid Marion…stay with me now), and Robert Loxley’s father Walter (played well by Max Von Sydow) who invites him to essentially take Roberts place in the family in order for them to keep their land. Marion (played well by the always good Cate Blanchett) is obviously not thrilled about this idea and they go back and forth until Maximus…um I mean Robin Hood wins her over. Did I mention the Loxley Manner is located in a town called Nottingham? Ok so since King Richard (who by the way is played brilliantly by Danny Huston in his brief screen time) is spending all of England’s money on his Crusade and all the men are gone fighting it, England is in dire straits. The King’s younger brother John’s solution to this is to tax the poor of course. While that is playing out there is a mysterious (and completely fictional) character Godfrey (played evil and pretty well by Mark Strong) who is conspiring with the King of France to take over England while it is weak…still following? So with the people mad at the King for over-taxing it is unlikely that they will join together to fight France’s army that is headed their way…unless there is a man that can bring them together that is…any guesses? Maximus…wait no…Robin Hood (or Longstride whatever) convinces them to fight as one…shadows and dust and such ensue. This film is just milking more out of the Robin Hood tale which historically speaking is very confusing and convoluted anyway…so it’s fine to just go off and make another story tangent for the purpose of making Gladiator 2…though it doesn’t feel genuine, it is still a decent watch.

(The Shawshank Scale 1-10) A silly plot, some good fight scenes, and an average epic that is neither as entertaining or as likable as Gladiator…but all that said it is still pretty fun at times and worth a watch…6.0 on the Shawshank Scale…though I fear that the Summer films may not get much better.

Food For Thought: Crowe has The Next 3 Days coming out later this year, which has his wife accused of murder in it…and also coming soon from Mr. Crowe: A remake of A Star is Born (2012)…weird right? Ridley Scott (The busiest guy in Hollywood) has among his many upcoming films, an Alien prequel and a reboot of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.