Robin Hood (2010)
Wed, May 12, 2010 
If you’re not entirely familiar with Robin Hood’s origin, He is a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor," assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men."
This new “re-imagining” of the character by Director Ridley Scott, is not the Robin Hood you might be expecting. He doesn’t wear green tights and a dorky hat, and he’s not friends with Morgan Freeman either. He’s actually grounded somewhat in England’s history, like most King Arthur tales.
The story is more of a prequel to the Robin Hood folklore you’d expect. Set in early 13th century England, it’s really a big jumble of History mixed in with Robin Hood folklore, and Scott’s interpretation of the character.
Russell Crowe plays Robin Longstride a working class commoner, and archer riding home with King Richard the Lionheart from the third crusade, but Robin is accused of disloyalty and escapes only after Richards Death. Richard is killed at The Château de Chalus-Chabrol a castle in France (famous in history for Richards death from a crossbow wound while besieging the castle). Robin along with three other men head back to England on their own, but not before interfering with the attempted theft of the Crown by Two faced villain Sir Norman Godfrey (Mark Strong), who is working with the French and the English.
Robin poses as Sir Robert Loxley the man entrusted with Richard’s crown, and while he is dying promises him he’ll return his sword to his father in Nottingham. This is where he meets the real Rob Loxley’s widow, Lady Marion of Loxley (Cate Blanchett).
Robert Loxley (Robin) is chosen to inform the Royal family of the Kings death and witnesses the crowning of King John, Richards brother. Robin is witness to the injustice of the church and King John’s taxes being enforced on the people, in order to build his army.
Sir Godfrey uses this Royal position to stir things up and in turn cause a Civil War in England. This is when the Northern barons demand King John sign a charter of rights (Magna Carta), which he agrees to after realizing Godfrey is playing both sides of the fence.
The formation of the Magna Carta also serves as an interesting plot point. The Magna Carta if you’re not familiar is the charter put in place to keep the king in check within the law, it guaranteed civil liberty for freemen by limiting the power of the king.
It’s not until after the climax that Robin is revealed not to be Sir Loxley, and declared an outlaw by king John who also now refuses to sign the charter. Robin then moves to Sherwood Forest and forms the “Merry Men”, at which time he is referred to as Robin of the Hood, or Robin Hood.
Ridley Scott is great at putting together stunning action sequences, and finding a way to include them in the story, but with Robin Hood you get amazing action with real history mixed in. It works to some degree, but it also takes you out of the story, and makes it feel somewhat convoluted. Also there isn’t nearly as much action as your lead to believe from the trailers.
If you’re not familiar with England’s history, or you prefer a different interpretation of Robin Hood set in more jolly old merry fun, this may not be for you.
This new take on Robin Hood is more along the lines of Gladiator meets Kingdom of Heaven, or Maximus goes medieval mostly due to Crowe’s intense over acting.
I’m giving Robin Hood an overall 8/10
Reader Comments (9)
good review.
I love these kind of movies, are you giving it 6.5/10 because you don't enjoy history based or period peice films? Or was thar because it was't actually that good?
I've been looking forward to this, more so then Iron Man 2, I wonder why they released it so close...
Asshole...you got something against arthur? lol jk
this review felt like a history lesson, tone it down a notch lol
Batmanfan I gave it 6.5 because Scott takes all the fun out of Robin Hood.
I enjoy History based films, but with this, it's not really history it's peices of history thrown together and changed to make Robin Hood work as real character. That and Russell Crowe screams like a lunatic every other minute, making it feel like Gladiator 2.
This sounds stupid, I can't believe Ridley Scott ruined Robin Hood, what a douche
It's not stupid Dave. It's just very different from what we've received before.
I actually liked it a lot more then Mitch, I gave it 4 out of 5 stars.
I actually really liked it. I don't know why everyone keeps calling it Gladiator 2, it's nothing like Gladiator at all, and the critisicm that they don't refer to him as Robin Hood until the end, is stupid, they out right say this is a prequel much like Batman Begins was.
Me and my husband went to this lastnight, it was either that or se Iron Man 2 again. I thought it was pretty good, I wasn't expecting it to be very good though.
It was an adventure, not like the old one, but still pretty damn good.
Still not sure if I want to see this in the theatre or not. I love Scott and Crowe is badass but it looks like it might be a rental.
Josh you should see this in the theatre I saw it twice and I lived it even more the second time.