Film Review: Robin Hood

After waiting some time see Robin Hood, (starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett), I was less than enthusiastic after watching.

This is not Robin Hood, garbed in Lincoln green, lord of Sherwood, robbing the rich to give the poor I grew up with. Instead it's a tale of how a lowly archer, Robin Longstride, one of the rank and file in the army of King Richard I, becomes Robin Locksley and, finally, Robin Hood, an outlaw.

As Locksley he is more concerned with firstly his own needs, and then addressing the lawlessness and oppression which flourishes under King John than he is with redistributing wealth.

Even allowing for Hollywood’s objective of putting bums in cinema seats, (rather than being ‘historically’ accurate), this tale stretches one’s credibility almost to breaking point.

A treacherous Englishman Sir Godfrey, (Mark Strong) loyal to the French King Philip is ordered to assassinate King Richard I. The French are confident Richard’s brother, John, as King, will so alienate the English ruling class, that a French invasion might be seen as a desirable alternative. Silly buggers. Richard is killed before Godfrey can ambush him en route to the coast, but he mortally wounds Robin Locksley. Before dying Locksley persuades Longstride, (Russell Crowe), to deliver his sword to his father. Old, blind Sir Walter Locksley, (Max von Sydow), insists Robin Longstride assume the role of his son, Robin Locksley, to secure the family estate. A deliciously feisty Maid Marion, (Cate Blanchett), Locksley’s wife becomes more affectionate to her husband as his character emerges and is positively chuffed when he saves her from a watery death at the hands of Sir Godfrey.

King John, (Oscar Isaac), is a dark, weak, weasel-faced despot. After the English turn back the French, King John reneges on his promise to sign the ‘Charter of the Forests’ limiting his power. As John burns the charter document he declares the outspoken Locksley an outlaw, Robin (of the) Hood. Finally we see Robin and his merry men and women settling into Sherwood Forest prior to doing what Robin Hood does best.

No film of Robin Hood would be complete without Friar Tuck, Little John, Alan a ‘Dale and the Sheriff of Nottingham and they’re here, but more as bit players and for continuity rather than in meaningful or essential role.

The photography, locations and attention to period detail in the film is excellent. Battle scenes are reminiscent of director Ridley Scott’s previous work with Crowe in Gladiator and are wonderfully executed, though Crowe is more chubby than he was 10 years ago and cannot have many more ‘action’ movies in him. While I did not detect it with my 'Aussy ears', British friends remarked that they were confused trying to figure out why Robin Hood, that quintessential English hero, sounded Irish, but I guess its all in one's aural interpretation.

I was happier after a second viewing of Robin Hood. I picked up details I missed the first time and a second screening smoothed out what I considered the plot’s rougher edges, making the film more complete and altogether more enjoyable. Though not really the story I wanted to watch, it was an action packed yarn worth the time to view.