Robin Hood Movie Review

Robin Hood Movie Review

Cast: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, Oscar Isaac
Direction: Ridley Scott
Genre: Action/ Adventure
India release date: 11th June 2010

ts natural to feel slightly disappointed when films that intend to reprise a historic figure, just touch upon the display of his heroism and elaborate a different aspect of his life altogether. Different and new as it may seem, the story of an ordinary man who is yet to put a full fledged display of his extra-ordinary archery skills somewhere lacks that punch needed in a historic epic.

I do not doubt the creativity of Ridley Scott or his story telling skills but it’s the story itself (by Brian Helgeland) that lacks what it takes to make a ‘Robin Hood’ movie. Had it been just another film, the story wouldn’t seem flawed.

With ample scope to a sequel, Scott’s Robin Hood is a back-story of the ordinary archer Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe) before he went on to become the iconic legend and outlaw, Robin (of the Hood). In simple words, the film ends where you want it to begin but it’s not all that bad, thanks to a brilliant cinematography and superb background score.

It goes like this. Robin Longstride is an archer in the army of King Richard the Lionheart (Danny Huston), who bankrupted England with his Crusades. On his way back to his country, Richard and his army ransack French castles. In one of these expeditions, Richard gets killed. Robin decides to deliver the crown of his dead king to the king’s mother in London. En route, he stumbles across a dying Robin of Loxley, who asks Robin to return his sword to his father in Nottingham. Once in Nottingham, Robin Loxley’s father requests Robin to impersonate his son in order save his land. Loxley's feisty widow, Lady Marion (Cate Blanchett) who seems displeased with the plan, later on starts falling for Robin’s impressive character and qualities. Together the two although have many battles to fight.

In London, with King Richard dead, his spoilt brother John (Oscar Isaac) becomes the king who is a wicked yet foolish monarch who fails to identify his true enemy. Will John be able to salvage the British empire?

As said before, there is nothing wrong with giving a different story of what happened before Robin became Robin Hood but the film in its first half goes haywire as it opens up various sub plots. The happenings fail to grip you. The build up towards the climax is extremely slow and the film only picks up in its second half when Robin reaches Nottingham.

Russell Crowe, one of the most brilliant actors, shockingly seems like he is least interested in playing a Robin Hood. He keeps mouthing something throughout which gets inspirational only towards the climax.

Cate Blanchett as Marion is stunning and superb. She infuses that fire needed for a movie of this subject. Oscar Isaac offers the comic relief. The actor makes King John quite an intriguing figure with his performance.



Robin Hood Movie Review
Robin Hood Movie Review
Robin Hood Movie Review
Robin Hood Movie Review



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