At the Movies with Fatwayne

I believe that this is the eighth incarnation of Robin Hood starting with the 1938 film starring Errol Flynn and including an animated version or two. One thing that marks this film is that it is the story of how Robin Hood (Russell Crowe) got to be the legendary figure he became. We meet Robin Longstride performing his duties as an archer in the Third Crusade (12th century England). After his King, Richard the Lionheart (Danny Houston) is killed in battle while besieging a castle in France, Robin tires of war and longs to return to England. His three friends Alan A’Dale, Will Scarlett and Little John decide to join him after spending ten years at war and away from their homes.

Along their journey they come across the scene of an ambush of the King’s guard by a duplicitous knight, Sir Godfrey (Mark Strong) who has ties with the King of France and was ordered to assassinate the English King. Sir Godfrey learns that Richard has already died and is chased off by Robin Longstride and his men. Robin meets a dying knight, Sir Robert Loxley, and promises to return a cherished sword to his ailing father in Nottingham. Robin and his cohorts take the dead knights’ armor and possessions and pose as knights themselves in order to secure passage to England.

Once in England, Robin, under the guise of Loxley, informs the Royal family of the death of Richard the Lionheart and is witness to the crowning of King John who is the cruel and arrogant successor to the Crown. One of King John’s (Oscar Isaac) first decrees is to have his henchman, Sir Godfrey, go about his already poor country collecting harsh taxes in order to raise much needed revenue. King John does not realize that Sir Godfrey is in league with the french King and uses his new found authority to create unrest throughout the country side in the hope of causing civil war in England thus making the French invasion much easier.

Meanwhile, Robin and his troop go to Nottingham to make good on Robin’s promise to return the sword to Sir Walter Loxley (Max von Sydow). The aging Sir Walter convinces Robin to continue impersonating his son to insure that his lands would not be taken by the Crown upon his death. Now where would our story be without Maid Marion? Lady Marion (Cate Blanchett) doesn’t trust Robin at first but as time goes by and she witnesses what he does for Sir Walter she starts to warm up to him. All this time they are man and wife only to the public who still think that Robin is Sir Robert who has returned home after the Crusade.

As the film progresses, Godfrey is successful in stirring up unrest throughout the country. The powerful Barons want to march against King John. Robin steps in to unite the country against the French threat. The English defeat the French and Robin kills Sir Godfrey with a well placed arrow to the neck. King John sees Robin as a threat and has him  declared an outlaw to by killed on sight. The King also reneges on his promise to the Barons to sign a document granting them rights. All in all, King John reveals himself to be the despicable man he has become. Robin is forced to take shelter in Sherwood Forest with Lady Marion and his friends and is destined to become the hero that we all love.

The scenery is beautiful and the acting is convincing. The story is fast paced and action filled. Russell Crowe makes a very good Robin Hood and the movie in general is enhanced through the acting skills of Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, William Hurt and Max von Sydow. I hope that you decide to see it because I know that I, for one, certainly did enjoy it!

Quotes from Robin Hood

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