|
||
 
ROBIN HOOD Cast: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt, Max Von Sydow, Mark Strong, Oscar Isaac, Mark Addy, Eileen Atkins, Lea Seydoux, Kevin Durand, Scott Grimes, Alan Doyle, Matthew Macfadyen Director: Ridley Scott Cert: 12A
Returning from the Crusades, expert archer Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe) and his companions of arms witness an ambush. Robert Luxley, an English nobleman who was taking the crown of the late King Richard back to London, is killed. Robin returns the crown to London, and Richard's brother Prince John (Oscar Isaac) becomes King. As insurgencies from within and threats from afar threaten England and her new King, Robin heads to Nottingham, having promised to return Robert Luxley's sword back to Robert's father, Sir Walter of Luxley (Max von Sydow.) Lady Marion (Cate Blanchett), Robert's widow, is initially suspicious of him, while Sir Walter reveals he was close to Robin's own father. Before long, Robin and his men become entangled in the quest to save England from civil war and invasion.
US TRAILER
|
MonkeyScore: 83%
The legendary role of Robin Hood is so charged with childhood memories that it takes an actor of Russell Crowe's calibre to re-invent the part, giving it both substance and finesse. His performance is thoughtful and physical, letting you into the legendary archer's psyche and giving you a glimpse of how he became such an endearing character. Whether story or history is besides the point: there are so many variants to the accounts of the "real" Robin Hood that we will never know which is the "true" version of events. Ridley Scott's film picks the path of grounding its hero in England's history, weaving in the constant presence of France as public enemy #1, the infamous reign of Bad King John and the politics of a nation on the brink of civil war. It is suitably epic, with stunning views of England, hold-your-breath battles and an incredible invasion sequence, which somehow mirrors Saving Private Ryan's Normandy landing. While it seems the parallels with previous Scott/Crowe collaboration Gladiator is inevitable, Robin Hood differs from its illustrious predecessor in that it feels au naturel. There are of course CGI fx but most of the decors were built for the shoot rather than added in by computer geeks, giving the film an aesthetic quality that Gladiator could only dream of. Robin Hood also seems a much better candidate for a new movie franchise. Indeed the film is about the birth of the legend, and how Robin took to the woods with his band of merry men: we, for one, cannot wait to see what Scott/Crowe make of the actual legend in the next instalment. The summer blockbuster season is starting early this year: Robin Hood does not disappoint despite the huge expectations.
|
|
