Robin Hood

[Pezzula]

All I have to say about this movie right now is this: remember when Ridley Scott used to give a shit about directing?

What a miserable and terrible film this is. I don't even think I have the mental strength to review it.

[constant]

I kind of assumed as much, but hoped to hear otherwise. I'll wait for the inevitable extended director's cut. Hey, it worked pretty well for Kingdom of Heaven...

As an aside, I really would've liked to have seen the oft rumored 'Nottingham' that seems to have originated this project. From what I've put together, it would've focused on the Sheriff of Nottingham as the protagonist of the piece and possibly cast the same actor as both the inimitable lawman as well as Robin of the Hood. I even heard of a draft that posited they were the same man. Sounds infinitely more interesting than Robin Hood Begins.

Lastly, "OUTLAWWWWWWWW!".

[Pezzula]

My review

tefsblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/tefb-review-robin-hood-marks-take.html

[jlfons]

Constant and Mark, be sure to read my review as we have very different opinions. Let me know what you think. And constant, I would suggest you watching the movie. Cheers

jlfons

[Pezzula]

Different opinions indeed!

Juan -

I agree that a film about "a man finding and connecting to his purpose and himself while inspiring others to rise to the occasion and be self-sufficient, fully functional and noble human beings" could be a great and inspiring film, however I don't think that's this film.

It's too easy to say that Scott and Helgeland went the Braveheart route, but that's essentially what they've done. And that movie, Braveheart, did the whole "common man rises up against oppressive forces" as good as it can be done.

In this Hollywood period of prequalizing and back-storying, I just wish we could have gotten a more interesting version of events. Telling the story of pre-Merry Men Robin Hood is fine. Telling it in a trite manner is just disappointing.

Then again, Max von Sydow is in it, so it's not a total loss.

[jlfons]

Hey Mark, I agree that Braveheart already told a story like this but if you really think about it, there's no story out there that hasn't been told. It's all about how you tell it. Plus, Braveheart was in 1995. I appreciate that after 15 years a movie came out that tells a similar story in a very well executed way.

What do you mean by more interesting version of events?

Jlfons

[Pezzula]

Hey Juan -

I used Braveheart as a placemarker for pretty much any sweeping period epic which follows one man from humble beginnings to a glorious and legendary end. Ridley Scott's dabbled in this genre a few times before, even, and I kind of wish he had kept it scaled back and more personal. I mentioned this in my review, but nothing connected for me. Nothing. Although yes, the cinematography was very beautiful. I did enjoy that.

I guess at this point it comes down to how we have different opinions on the way the film was executed. I felt it was half-hearted and thrown together. But it worked for you. I'll fully admit that a lot of my negative feeling towards Robin Hood deals with the disappointment of not having the original idea (non-virtuous Robin Hood, heroic Sheriff) not come into fruition. And also, I really, really love Ridley Scott, even though I think he's been more miss than hit for the past decade. Alien is my favorite movie of all time (see my avatar!), and I'm totally in love with his attention to detail and amazing technical proficiency. And when he nails a story, he NAILS it. This just didn't come through for me.

I will say that my mom agrees with your review, although I think that's more because she's the world's biggest Russell Crowe fan and would love even two hours of him reading out of a phone book!