The film as an adventure, history of England, the pre-legend of Robin Hood?Ģ. However, for peace lovers, there is a nagging concern that the battles in all their vigoroous detail, do make war an adrenalin-pumping experience and seem mightily heroic, even for unjust wars – though it is balanced by showing the hardships that war causes at home, let alone the grim body count.ġ. Perhaps not as emotionally engaging as Gladiator but an admirable historical experience. William Hurt is Marshall, Danny Huston is King Richard, Mark Addy is Tuck and Matthew Mc Fadyen is the local daft villain, the sheriff of Nottingham. Eileen Atkins is the strong Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katherine Hepburn’s Oscar-winning role in The Lion in Winter). Oscar Isaac (whom devout audiences may remember as a young and nice Joseph in The Nativity Story) does very well as King John. There is an excellent supporting cast with Mark Strong (who has shown how repellent a contemporary villain he could be in Kick Ass) is excellent as the traitor, Godfrey. Cate Blanchett can do vigorous work and grief but her moments of remembering that she had played Elizabeth I and taking to armour and horseback stretched credibility a little. Russell Crowe can do earnest uprightness as well as leap on a horse and charge, sword flailing. His first deed to rob the rich to give to the poor is, with the aid of Friar Tuck, to steal the confiscated grain seeds and sow them for Marianne, Loxley’s widow.Īs can be seen from these comments on the history, there is a lot more going on than bows and arrows and merry men in Sherwood Forest. Nottingham, a small village, has been overtaxed, and Robin stays (in the vein of The Return of Martin Guerre and Somersby) to be Loxley. This is the background for the story of Robin Longstride, a master archer in Richard’s troops, who takes the place of the dead Robin Loxley of Nottingham, returning the crown to London and Loxley’s sword to his father.
He is manipulated by his seemingly loyal friend, Godfrey, against the advice of his chancellor, William Marshall, whom he sacks only to find that Godfrey is intent on dividing England so that King Philip of France can invade. Richard dies and his wayward younger brother, John, inherits the throne and immediately moves on the barons and their estates for more taxes. Here he re-visits the aftermath of the Crusades as Richard the Lionheart and his very loyal soldiers fight and plunder their way back to an England that has been impoverished by the taxes for the crusades.
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It is an intelligent look at history as well as action – and, considering some of the themes, the social problems of the time, the divine right of kings and the Magna Carta which would be signed later, it is something of an intellectual look at history.ĭirector Ridley Scott knows how to bring past periods alive, whether it be the Roman Empire in Gladiator or the 12th century crusades in Kingdom of Heaven. However, this is history more than legend, and geared for more of an adult audience (after all both Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett are in their 40’s). And there are some sword fights as well, especially between Robin and the more than dastardly villain, Godfrey. Just as Batman Begins took us back to Bruce Wayne’s past and offered explanations of why he became Batman, so this could have been called Robin Hood Begins – which is what the final caption tells us.įor those expecting swash and buckle, there is plenty in the battle sequences, a siege of a castle in France, the confrontation with the French troops on the south coast of England. But, only the beginning of the legend of Robin Hood as we have come to know him in the various guises of Douglas Fairbanks, Errol Flynn, Cornel Wilde, Richard Greene, Patrick Bergin and Kevin Costner (at least). Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, William Hurt, Eileen Atkins, Oscar Isaac, Kevin Durand, Max Von Sydow, Mark Addy, Gerard Mc Sorley, Robert Pugh, Lea Seydoux, Matthew Mc Fadyen.Īn adventure, a historical drama, a re-creation of the early Middle Ages. Peter Malone's Film Reviews and Resources.Michael Fallon Books and Audio-visual Resources.St Mary's Towers Retreat Centre, Douglas Park NSW.Missionary Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
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