Robin Hood

Bows and Errors
[Russell Crowe, Mark Strong, William Hurt, Cate Blanchett, Oscar Isaac]

I apologize movie review fans. I have had a hell of a week with traveling, illness, more traveling, more illness, and haven’t been able to see all of the movies I wanted to see, nor write the reviews you deserve and rightfully demand! But even with all of the issues I did have, I was able to sneak away to see Ridley Scott’s and Russel Crowe’s latest collaboration.

SYNOPSIS: After returning from the Crusades with King Richard the Lionheart, the man known as Robin Longstride witnesses the ambush of the return of the crown to England, and intervenes. As he takes the identify of a knight to return to England with the crown, he is forced to take up the mantle of Robin Hood to unite the baronies to the north and England to fight out an secret invasion by France’s King Phillip and betrayers to England.

I was truly excited to see that Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe had teamed up again for another period piece. I am a big fan of “The Gladiator”, and hoped that “Robin Hood” would be the next epic for the pair. I guess I can only hope.

Ridley Scott crafted and shot a beautiful film, picturesque and sweeping. Russell Crowe continues his fine acting as honorable archer, Robin Longstride, just trying to get back to his home, and away from the service of England. Oscar Isaac as King John is perfect as the period playboy looking to go from prince to king. Ever beautiful Cate Blanchett as Marion Loxley portrays the now widowed wife with an inner strength for the lands she tills, the people she supports, and the mantle she shoulders in the stead of her formerly crusading husband. She and Crowe have fine chemistry as they become more involved throughout the film. Mark Strong is soon becoming the go-to villain actor, excelling in his role as the betrayer Godfrey as as he did in Sherlock Holmes, and the soon to be seen Sinestro in the upcoming ”Green Lantern” movie.

This film had all sorts of acting power, with William Hurt, Danny Huston and Max von Sydow on board as well. I also enjoyed Kevin Durand as Little John, Mark Addy as Friar Tuck and Scott Grimes as Will Scarlet. They were the needed semi-comic relief that the movie needed. Durand is making good as of late on his size and surprisingly good acting chops as he has with "3:10 to Yuma", "Legion" and "Wolverine". Keep an eye on him in the future.

All of that being said, I was just not as enamored as I should have been. The story was well-crafted, but the climatic plot points seemed diluted. When the French come off the boats onto the English shore with the English archers targeting down on them from the tall cliffs, it did not have a fraction of the impact that Spielberg produced for the landing at Normandy in “Saving Private Ryan”. When Robin Hood speaks up for the northern Baronies to take up arms with King John instead of against him, it seemed to be a hollow dialogue. When all of the English and northern barony horse riders gallop down on the French infantryman on the shore, it harkens back to the Charging riders in “LOTR: Return of the King” without the emotion.

You can see the movie, disagree with my assessment, and blame my poor review on fever of the brain, but while all of the elements were there for a fine film, it just seems like I have seen better.


Worth: Netflix