Robin Hood is a 2010 film based on the Robin Hood legend, directed by Sir Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe. It was released in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2010, after premiering at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, and was released in the United States on May 14.^[3] The film began development in 2007 when Universal Studios acquired a script entitled Nottingham, depicting a heroic Sheriff of Nottingham to be played by Crowe. Scott’s dissatisfaction with the script led him to delay filming, and during 2008 it was rewritten into a story about Robin Hood becoming an outlaw, with the position of being Sheriff as part of the story. Scott dropped the latter notion and Nottingham was retitled to reflect the more traditional angle.It is late 12th century England and Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe) is a common archer in the Third Crusade. Following the death of Richard the Lionheart in battle, Robin and three other common soldiers, Alan A’Dale, Will Scarlett, and Little John, attempt to return to their homeland, having spent ten years fighting abroad. Along the way they come across an ambush of the King’s guard by Sir Godfrey (Mark Strong), an English Knight with French lineage and allegiance. The King of France had ordered Sir Godfrey to assassinate Richard. Having discovered the King is already slain Sir Godfrey is chased off by the arrival of Robin and his companions. Aiming to return to England safely and richer in pocket than they left it, Robin and his men steal the armour of the slain Knights and head for the English ships on the coast under the guise of noblemen. Before leaving the scene of slaughter Robin promises a dying Knight, Sir Robert Loxley, to return a sword to the man’s father in Nottingham.

Upon arriving in England, Robin (who has assumed the identity of Loxley) is chosen to inform the Royal family of the King’s death and witnesses the crowning of King John (Oscar Isaac), who is the younger brother of the recently-deceased Richard. The arrogant King John shows no remorse to his poor Kingdom and demands harsh taxes to be collected, sending Sir Godfrey off to the North with the task of raising revenue. Unbeknownst to King John, Sir Godfrey is an agent of the French King and uses this Royal Decree to stir up enough unrest to cause Civil War in England.

Robin and his companions head to Nottingham, where Loxley’s father Sir Walter (Max von Sydow) asks him to continue impersonating his son, in order to prevent the family lands being taken by the crown. Loxley’s widow, Lady Marion (Cate Blanchett), is initially distrustful of Robin, but soon warms to him when he recovers taxed grain for the townsfolk to plant.

Meanwhile, Godfrey’s actions have stirred up the northern Barons, who march to meet King John, and demand the signing of a charter of rights. Having realized Godfrey’s deception, and knowing he must reunite his people in order to meet an imminent French invasion, the King agrees. A battle follows shortly where Godfrey’s men are interrupted while ransacking Nottingham, and chased off by Robin and the northern Barons.

The film climaxes with an invasion on England’s south coast by the French, who are met as they land by the English army. The English are victorious in the ensuing battle, during which Robin slays Godfrey with a well-placed arrow from a long distance. However, King John perceives the French surrendering to Robin, rather than to himself, as a major threat to his power. In the final scenes, King John reneges on his word to sign the Magna Carta, and declares Robin to be an outlaw. In response to this, Robin moves to Sherwood Forest with Lady Marion and his friends to form what will become the Merry Men of Sherwood Forest.

Recommendation: 3/5 Not as interesting as what I expect. Well, kind of long winded. I knew that I fell asleep in the middle of the show. =X

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 23rd, 2010 at 22:42 and is filed under Movie Madness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.