The latest incarnation of Robin Hood offered up by Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe is not just a re-hash of Gladiator, but an entertaining new take on an old and often abused story.
The film is set in 1199, the Third Crusade has ended and King Richard is returning to England with his army. After one the king’s top men, Robert Loxley, is killed, it is left to an archer, Robin Longstride (Crowe ), to return the dead man’s sword to his home of Nottingham. In a case of mistaken identity, Robin must pose as Loxley. The simple-thinking Longstride finds himself entangled in the turbulent politics rocking his homeland and has to upset a threat of invasion orchestrated by the seditious Sir Godfrey (Mark Strong ).
If this doesn’t sound like any Robin Hood story you’ve ever heard, that’s probably because it is nothing like any version that’s come before. Forget what you know about the traditional hero of Sherwood Forest, he doesn’t wear green tights nor does he steal from the rich and give to the poor. Robin Hood is edgier and grittier than that. However it isn’t a dark story, simply a mature spin on the old legend that offers plenty of entertainment.
Crowe’s Robin is a naive but noble soldier with a strong moral compass, not just a replay of the brooding hero of Gladiator who you might be expecting to see. Cate Blanchett’s Maid Marian is also unrecognisable as a strong independent woman with no trace of ‘damsel in distress’ about her. The film’s main antagonist, Sir Godfrey, is more or less your typical villain with little depth but lots of menace. Godfrey is played by the able Mark Strong, who is fast becoming Hollywood’s rent-a-villain, having recently played the bad guy in string of films including Stardust, Sherlock Holmes, and Kick Ass. The show-stealer, however, is Prince John (Oscar Isaac ) who is the reptilian, sneering background figure who is sadly underused.
This film marks the fifth outing where Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe have worked together. Scott had proved his historical epic mettle with Gladiator, and he tried to repeat that magic with his slightly disappointing Kingdom of Heaven. With a compelling story and astounding visuals, Robin Hood is a return to form for Scott. The grandeur of set-pieces including attacks on castles and sea invasions are mouth-watering, and Scott’s trademark attention to detail is witnessed in the medieval clothing and weaponry.
Robin Hood is very much an original story for the great legend and shamelessly leaves the door wide open for a sequel, but many will undoubtedly be eager to see it. A very entertaining movie, fans of historical epics in particular will love this.
Rating: 4/5
