Robin Hood

So Russell Crowe teams up with Ridley again in another adventure of honor and daring do. Crowe uses not just bow and arrow in this one, but swords and even a hammer (not for DIY) as he takes the role of Robin our hero returning from the Crusades on the death of Richard the Lion heart. He returns to Nottingham the place of Birth of Robin of Loxley who unfortunately dies during an ambush plotted by Godfrey (Mark Strong) also seen in Rock and Rolla. Godfrey is actually French and in league with the king of France. However Godfrey is also good friends with Prince John and on becoming King John agrees to Godfrey taxing the Northern England Barons for as much as he can, creating unrest and insisting a possible civil war. Meanwhile Robin has taken the mantel of Sir Robin of Loxley and falls for the Lady Marion the late Sir Loxley’s wife. (I know it’s a little sick, but there is a good reason for it and although he does take Sir Loxley’s sword he doesn’t take his boots as well. Perhaps they didn’t fit.!!!)

So while Robin is getting his feet under the late Loxley’s table and at the same time doing some good at rebuilding the village of Nottingham, planting Wheat fields and generally banding the local populous together, Godfrey is pillaging his way north of the Watford gap up towards Nottingham with his band of French soldiers. Eventually the new King, John, realizes Godfrey is a traitor and has to create a charter of writes for the English Nobles and commoners alike so that they are all treated as equals. This agreement allows the King to create a coalition of forces with Robin and the other Northern Barons so that Godfrey’s French pillagers can get a good hiding and allows Crowe to say the immortal words, “every Englishman’s home is his Castle”. Yes it is rather good that bit, the quote and the Frenchmen getting a good hiding.……
All the fighting is well choreographed and in some places quite explicit. As far as action sequences go you can trust in the Scott and Crowe partnership which we know is tried and trusted.
The film is quite long at 140minutes and it does feel a little slow in places especially if you were thinking it might be another Gladiator, however after ambling to the end you are rewarded with a battle overlooked by Dover’s cliffs. This battle is realistic and entertaining and of course involves our hero and Godfrey battling it out with Marion (Cate Blanchett) thrown in to the mix as well. Although they get to Dover, from Nottingham, in a matter of hours the English forces all seem to know what they and each other are doing and don’t appear to be tired in the least, which is a good thing as they have to fight off an invasion force under the command of the French King.

Overall the acting is sound (but the accents are not), England’s scenery is lush and bountiful and should be used on the next Visit England tourist website. The story is enjoyable although not the same as the classic Errol Flynn version which in my opinion is the best of the Robin Hood versions made. (Let’s not talk about Prince of Thieves).

Look out for some good Bowmanship from Crowe (the practice worked a treat) Blanchett in armor (sexy, but hard to get off it seems), lots of Frenchmen getting their just deserts and all-round English victory and merry meant. Let’s hope it’s the same in the World Cup……..common Three Lions