In the last couple weeks, I have had the opportunity to watch quite a few of the new films out in the cinemas so I thought now would be a good time to do a review of each of them in a series of mass postings. I want to be able to put my thoughts down while I can still remember!
There have been four films, so I will start with the oldest and work my way through them. Easier that way.
First film was the new Robin hood film starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett. I didn't know a great deal about the film going in because I wanted to keep as open a mind about it as possible. It's always hard when a classic story is remade again because all of the previous versions you have seen or read tend to color the film. The first thing to strike me about it, though, was “Oh, thank goodness...no tights!” Sure, I have a personal bias regarding costume authenticity but I think everyone can agree that the previous incarnations of Robin Hood, and many of its similar themed stories, all had problems regarding accuracy of costume. This one looked good, it looked REAL. A die hard medieval recreationalist or such would be able to tell you the dozens of problems still left in each outfit, but it had a much more true feel to the look of the sets and the clothing on each character.
Which is good since the story itself seemed to be an attempt at accuracy in itself as well. It reminded me a bit of the recent King Arthur film, starring Clive Owen. The story takes place somewhat before the usual story, before Robin has taken his band to Sherwood forest. Robin Longstride (Crowe) is in the Middle East, assisting his king in his current crusade. King Richard is older, worn out but still fighting but also considering a return home. Home to a place filled with unrest, where the people are broke from paying for the crusade and the French are, as always, eyeing off the country for conquest. Robin Longstride, a long bowman, and his men do return to England, where his life becomes entwined with that of the Locksley family. The way they bring the two together, the different real men believed as possible basis for the Robin Hood of legend, is really well done and pulls together a very complete and interesting story.
There are, of course, plenty of sword fights and archery, some romantic moments between Marion (Blanchett) and Robin, behind the scenes plots and the always hated Sheriff of Nottingham. I love that they also managed to mix in some great moments of humor and some of the most recognized members of Robin's band, namely Little John (Kevin Durand), Will Scarlet (Scott Grimes), Allan A'Dayle (Alan Doyle) and Friar Tuck (Mark Addy).
The film closes with his entrance into Sherwood Forest as Robin of the Hood and finishes nicely, while still leaving space should they chose to continue the story with the more classic portion of the tale. In all, it's a film a would definitely recommend to fans of the story or those who just wanted a night out with a great film. It's not perfect and different people are bound to have different issues with the film, but I found it thoroughly enjoyable.
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