Robin Hood - Extended Director's Cut Limited Edition Steelbook with Booklet [Blu-ray][Region Free]

The Rid and Russ double act re-team once again to tackle the Robin Hood legend that has so often been spun onto the silver screen. With script changes and release dates juggled, the signs weren't leading us to think that this could be anything but an unmitigated failure. Refreshing, then, to find that not only is it a glorious historically bented epic, but also a different spin on the man, the myth and this time in history. For here, along with Brian Helgeland's pen, Messrs Scott & Crowe have made an origin piece about the time before the legend began. Before what we know as the life of the outlaw who frequented Sherwood Forest, his duels with the Sheriff of Nottingham, the band of merry men so steeped in lovable roguish history. This is the time of Robin Longstride and just how did he become known as Loxley. A time of the French marching ominously towards attempted domination of England, a country at war with itself; aided by treasonous parties within the newly formed Kingdom. And of course the time when the burgeoning relationship with the lady Marion would shape what most know as the Robin & Marion story.

The historical epic is naturally divisive across the spectrum of cinema lovers. There's just too much demanded from so many different quarters. Think about it, how many historical epics thru history have across the board been lauded? Ben-Hur is possibly the one stand out that most can agree on, but by and large they are few and far between. This Robin Hood will not break the traditional mold of a genre ripped apart for various irks. Be it historical facts, too talky, too dark, even too confusing, the only sure fire thing is that this is guaranteed to annoy as many people as it enthrals. To which I personally can only say that it ticks all the boxes required for a genre piece. It has a supremely tight plot, one that doesn't treat us like MTV watching kiddies, a script that pings with intelligence and awareness, and the action (devoid of CGI overkill) flows and rewards those who have been patiently following the smart layers within the story. Then there is of course the cast to factor into the equation.

This is a long way away from Crowe's best performance, but it happens to be one of his most fun. With the swagger and all round hardness of Maximus, combined with the stern, yet affable leadership qualities of Capt. Jack Aubrey, Crowe's Robin is an action hero of some substance, and Crowe plays it as such. He's helped by the casting of his real life pals, Kevin Durand (Little John), Alan Doyle (Allan A'Dayle) and Scott Grimes (Will Scarlet). As easy as it is to accept that Crowe and these boys have many a time really drank tinnies in the sun together, so it be easy to accept these as a group of loyal "soldiers" in the film. For real chemistry in cinema look no further. Blanchett is a quality performer, we know that already, here she has to carry the female role of note and does it with a steely edge that is sure to please more than most. Danny Huston (King Richard The Lionheart), Mark Addy (Friar Tuck), Max von Sydow (Sir Walter Loxley) and Eileen Atkins (Eleanor of Aquitaine), each become their respective roles. But it's with a couple of not so well knowns and and old pro where the acting honours should go. William Hurt as William Marshal gives the most assured and believable performance in the film, a real lesson in how to knit the narrative together without resorting to genre compliant ham. Mark Strong as the villainous Godfrey dominates every scene he is in. Britain's best kept secret is now out of the bag and Hollywood has finally woken up to the joys of this wonderfully spoken Londoner. Then there is Oscar Isaac (Prince John), looking like a cross between Sly Stallone and Edmund Blackadder, those in need of an Alan Rickmanesque deliverance of vile campy weasleness need look no further. A real boo hiss bit of sexy involvement.

It does have problems of note tho, again one man's meat is another man's poison etc. The accents fluctuate way too much, particularly Crowe's, while Léa Seydoux as Isabella of Angoulême is just awful. She looks too young and acts like a rabbit caught in the headlights, just watch as she tries to hold court with Atkins during a crucial scene, poor indeed. Then there's the score from Marc Streitenfeld, it lacks oomph for the battles and stringy heart pulling emotion for the more tender sequences. This cried out for someone like Hans Zimmer (Gladiator), one has to wonder if Ridley and Hans have fell out because it arguably could have been a match made in (Kingdom Of) Heaven. There's also the issue of blood, or lack of in this case, for as great as the battle constructions are (especially the final beach conflict that plays like a days of yore Saving Private Ryan) there's an absence of "war is hell" vibe. The rating compromise all to evident and sure to send, ironically, the younger members of the audience home bored with their blood lust unfulfilled.

Gladiator 2? Yeah maybe, perhaps? But that could easily be tagged as lazy journalism since it sure as heck fire finds Crowe & Scott doing wonders for a genre that is always in need of a pick me up. 9/10

I like different takes on the same subject matter. May be this is why -against all the negative feedback here- I still like this movie. It could also be the fact that I am not English (although I am very familiar with Robin Hood and I love the concept as it is universal) and have no national pride involved. Still, the aura around this film, the way it tells the story made me like it.
First of all, (my observations are nowhere near objective as I am no history buff) everything looked more authentic. The way Scott handles Lionheart and Prince John appear to be more realistic. May be this Robin Hood takes itself too seriously but I believe it is a fresh approach. Up to now, it has always been Robin Hood and his merry men. Now it is Robin Longstride with his ex-military guerilla.
Every legend has something true at its root, which has been so twisted out of shape that it would be very hard to recognize after so long a time. Ridley Scott is attempting to explain how this legend came to life. And I believe he succeeds.
Are there no flaws? Of course not. Crowe's accent is a problem but Blanchett's serene, strong Marion balances his faults. Beautiful shots throughout the movie made me disregard the slow storytelling. Actually, for me it strengthened the effect of the film. I hate it when a director goes too quickly over character build-up, scene setting to the battles etc. It is not all about action. The legend has a heart and the film also tries to reflect that.
There are times when the hype around a movie becomes its pitfall. I feel everybody expected the ultimate Robin Hood from Ridley Scott. It isn't. But it is still a very, very good movie.

According to legend Robin Hood robbed from the rich to give to the poor. This DVD film proves a new angle. Universal Pictures know a way of robbing people by cashing in on a popular figure of legend by producing and selling a pile of tripe as a film.

This version is dark. It is long. Too long. It is slow and gloomy. The DVD box says that the News of the World described it as Stunning....A Blockbuster. Well either my copy is faulty or actually the film is a loud of boring tripe and the News of the World were watching a different movie.
The producer, Ridley Scott had produced the successful and much better film Gladiator in the 1990s and had used Russell Crowe as the lead actor. The duo teamed up again for this film about Robin Hood and it should be good but it isn't. This film comes no where near the standard of Gladiator.

The film has some good points. It is an attempt to tell a new version of the legend. It has an authentic historic atmospheric feeling and the acting is good. Although you are left feeling that in Europe at the time of King Richard I and King John of England people lived in the dark most of the time. It was always raining, damp and cloudy. Oh and it was foggy all day. But the script is boring and drags without any sparkle for two and a half snoring hours.
The DVD boasts that this is the Director's cut with 16 extra minutes not previously in cinemas. I think it would have been better without the 16 extra minutes. No actually it would be better if it had two and a half hours cut out of it.