Robin Hood

Rating:
Summary: Best Robin Hood film in the past 50 years
Review: A Robin Hood film with a talented lead, excellent supporting actors, and an actual feeling of "being there," this Robin Hood flick is simply fun. Bergin is the perfect trickster-like Robin, Thurman is the first Marian with a spine and a brain in years, and the supporting cast populate a medieval England complete with mud and overcast skies. The classic plot actually feels fresh, and while the final confrontation between Hood and Falconet might not match the Errol Flynn (nothing can), it definitely gives it a better run for the money than has been managed in a very long time. The true genius of the castle invasion gives the film a trickster quality, and overall it has some of the best one-liners ever. While not overtly/annoyingly political, it does manage to send a firm message whilst maintaining a great plot with a fine cast. As Will Scarlet says, "Give me back my country!"

Rating:
Summary: Equal to Errol Flynn, better than Kevin Costner
Review: An attempt to show the legend in a more realistic light. It lets the viewer put faces on the people of the "Dark Ages", and assumes that they could have been as political in their thoughts, the Magna Carta would soon arrive, as we are today. Filmed in a dark brooding style that brightens in color at the ending, its humor and vision allows the viewer to remember it's just a faire tale. View it after April 15 and pay attention to Robin's speech on Taxation.

Rating:
Summary: The best Robin Hood
Review: Excellent movie !!
Thi is really the best Robin Hood ever made.

Rating:
Summary: better than Kevin's version
Review: First let me say tht I'm a Kevin Costner fan. I prefer Wyatt Earp to Tomestone and have actually watched Waterworld from beginning to end (perhaps the only person ever to have done this!). Nonetheless, this gritty version of the RH story is second only to Robin and Marian (think, Sean Connery as Robin Hood!) as the best. Uma Thurman was (more or less) unknown when this was made (well, I didn't know her anyway...) and Patrick Bergen remains unknown (again, this is only so far as I know...). But together they make a degree of music not seen with my bud, Kevin's version of the tale.
Early on in this film, there is a confrontation between Robin and a team of the sherrif's men. It sets the stage in a way that Kevin's confrontation in the Middle East just doesn't make. Anyway, this movie is definitely worth your dollar - if you want to enjoy a darker Robin Hood (and Uma Thurman).

Rating:
Summary: Very Historically Accurate and Well Done English Film!
Review: For students of medieval history, this English version of Robin Hood is a VERY accurate re-telling of the classic Sir Robert Hode, 4th Earl of Huntington ( a real person ) legend. Well written and adapted for the screen, expertly cast, and superbly directed by English director John Irvin, this relatively low budget production has never received the accolades it deserves. If you prefer the "Hollywood formula", American version with Kevin Costner, so be it. But if you prefer to be transported back to another time and place, to see an accurate glimpse of medieval history come alive on film, see this version. Excellent!

Rating:
Summary: Very Historically Accurate and Well Done English Film!
Review: For students of medieval history, this English version of Robin Hood is a VERY accurate re-telling of the classic Sir Robert Hode, 4th Earl of Huntington (a real person) legend. Reminiscent of the swashbuckling classics made in the thirties and forties, this film transports you back to 12th century England, when the mighty Normans ruled with an iron hand. Sir Robert Hode (Patrick Bergen) is a Saxon nobleman who insults the sinister knight Sir Miles Falcanet (Jurgen Prochnow) and is branded an outlaw. Clever and quick witted, he changes his name to Robin Hood and a legend is born. Robin becomes an outlaw hero, celebrated across the land for his dashing heroism. He ambushes the tax collectors of the greedy Baron Roger Daguerre (memorably played by Jeroen Krabbe), and gives the money to the poor. Then with his true love, Maid Marian (Uma Thurman) about to be married to Falcanet, Robin and his band of loyal men embark on their boldest adventure yet, to storm the Baron's castle and rescue Marian from a fate worse than death. Well written and adapted for the screen, expertly cast, (too many memorable performances to mention here) and superbly directed by English director John Irvin, this relatively low budget production has never received the accolades it deserves. This movie is a thrilling medieval adventure filled with action, romance and humor. If you saw the disappointing "Hollywood formula" American version with Kevin Costner, but prefered the original with Errol Flynn, and missed this one, give it a try! It is an opportunity to be transported back to another place and time, to see an accurate glimpse of medieval history come alive on film. A must see film for all history buffs... Excellent!!!

Rating:
Summary: MY APOLOGIES TO MR. COSTNER & CO.
Review: I have a confession to make. When I first saw ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES back in '91, I missed the point too. Let's face it, if there is one reason why so many of us didn't like it when we first saw it it's because we didn't understand what the folks at Warner Bros. were trying to do when they made it. PRINCE OF THIEVES was never intended to be a strictly-by-the-numbers version of the Robin Hood legends. The producers' purpose for making that film was to present a modern retelling of the famous tale for today's audiences, period. In that respect it is no different than all the other swashbucklers that have since followed (THE MASK OF ZORRO, THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK, etc.), except that this particular film is probably the best.
That same year, as you know, there was another Robin Hood movie in the works that was intended to rival PRINCE OF THIEVES at the box office but wound up on TV instead. On closer observation it is obvious why it suffered that fate. It's very clear from the start that the rocket scientists at 20th Century Fox who made that dud were more concerned with beating Kevin Costner to the theaters rather than making a good film. The plot is too simple and uninvolving for modern audiences. No sign of originality whatsoever. The "action" is presented in a tame and somewhat comical manner that is more appropriate for a made-for-TV family film. Even the 1938 Errol Flynn version is more exciting and suspensful!
The choice of casting Patrick Bergin for the leading role simply because he sported a mustache kinda tells you how disconnected the makers of this film were with movie audiences. Did they really think the character actor best remembered for his brief role as the psycho husband in SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY would stand a chance against Costner, fresh from DANCES WITH WOLVES, and who at the time was one of the most popular movie stars on the planet??
The look of the film is no more colorful than the craggy actor they picked to play their hero. The tale is set against a backdrop of dark, gloomy castles and a grey, cloudy countryside that only comes alive with color in the final scene when good has triumphed over tyranny. (Kind of a neat idea, by the way, but I'm sure it probably looked better on the script than it did on film.)
Okay, I won't exaggerate either. This ain't the worst flick ever made. That honor goes to COBRA. In fact it actually does have its moments, if only just a few. But your kids might enjoy it a hellova lot more than you. Unless, that is, you like live-action movie versions of Saturday morning cartoons. Peace, bro.

Rating:
Summary: Hands down the best Robin Hood Movie so far...
Review: I keep watching for people to do it right when it comes to film adaptations of classics. For example, there has still never been a great "Tarzan" movie, but they got it as right at anyone could when they put together the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and the A&E "Hornblower" series is top-notch. What do those have to do with this version of "Robin Hood"?

THEY GOT ROBIN HOOD RIGHT! The setting, the dress, the hygiene, the politics, the action, and the characters are all spot on. Sure some people wonder about casting Bergin in this role, but he does an awesome job throughout, with just the right combination of panache, bravado, and, at the same time, reliance on friends and sometimes enemies to pull off being Robin Hood.

I particularly appreciated the muted colors throughout the movie followed by the breaking of spring at the end as the story's political and interpersonal conflicts are resolved.

Now to wrap this review up, I have watched this movie 20+ times, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it each time. It's a staple of my collection. If you are like me, and you like smart (though not necessarily glitzy) action films, then this movie might be for you, too!

5 - stars, no question (and I don't give 5 stars to just any movie) -- ARH

Rating:
Summary: Great Robin Film!
Review: I saw this movie last night on Television and I have seen it before. It's a great film and I love Uma Thurman's portayal as s Maid Marion, a woman who won't put up with whats going on around on around her and takes action! it was a great adventure and the ending was the best!

Rating:
Summary: This movie should be titled "Will Scarlet"...
Review: I was extremely disappointed with this movie. I have a feeling that it was due to having first seen "Sleeping With the Enemy" (that crazed, psychotic look in Bergin's eyes is in his Robin Hood portrayal) and also the vastly superior, definitive version of Robin Hood, the Goldcrest TV series "Robin of Sherwood" starring Michael Praed (and to an extent, Jason Connery) as a perfect Robin Hood.

This movie should be titled "Will Scarlet" rather than "Robin Hood" as it appears that it is Will who has the compassion (he tells Robin to plead for Much), good sense (he reaches a truce with the man he fights in the end as opposed to Robin and tells Robin that the taxes should be given back to the poor), and courage that is mysteriously lacking in Bergin's Robin Hood (who seems more of a spoiled boyish brat whose pride has been offended). Bergin's Robin Hood is repulsive and crude, especially in the scene in the church and with Friar Tuck (perhaps the screenwriter was trying to say something about religion?). It is hard to believe he is a hero as he is shown as pursuing his own desires (at one point, Will tells him he is always putting others in danger) and is never really shown as an inspiring leader (it is Will who comes up with the good ideas). At least Kevin Costner's Robin Hood does say some rousing speeches to rally the men (never mind the poor delivery). Also, this movie tries too hard to be overly politicized. Rather than wanting to save Much from an unjust law, Robin takes the situation and places it in a larger context of "Normans vs. Saxons" as his lands have been taken over by the Normans. What happened to the Robin Hood who fought for justice and was concerned about the plight of the poor people under the oppressive rule of Prince John?

Both Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and this version have something in common: they tend to leave out important characters (in RHPOT, it is Prince John, in this version, it is the Sherrif of Nottingham and Guy of Gisbourne), they fail to explain much of the legend (why does Robin Hood not dub John Little "Little John"?), and they both have a silly subplot dealing with Marian's virginity (or lack of it, in this case). Sherwood Forest seems to be quite contained and small (at least in Kevin Costner's version, the movie looks as if it has been filmed on location as we are treated to expansive shots of landscape). The script is extremely confusing and incoherent, and is more interested in showing a flawed Robin Hood rather than a heroic one (this is, after all, a legend, not a real story) and an independent/radically feminist Marian who disguises herself as a boy and has sex before marriage (somehow ignoring the code of chivalry which prevailed in old England).

For true lovers of the Robin Hood legend, I recommend the TV series "Robin of Sherwood" which incorporates Celtic magic, which brings forth all the characters and facets from the legend, has an amazing soundtrack, includes a beautiful, tasteful romance between Robin and Marian and portrays an appropriately heroic, larger than life Robin Hood.