Robin and the Hoods

Watching this movie not only made me smile, it also prove that with a strong enough imagination, you can always have a great time with friends.

Couple that with the references to Robin Hood and you got yourself a great family film. As an adult, though; I can't help but feel ashamed by the soft-hearted minds of some of the parents in Longsight. One mother's kid gets a tiny scratch on his forehead and she has him wearing a neck-brace?!

Pathetic!

I DO agree on the "No Hits Above the Shoulders" rule, though (or as some LARPers call it, the "Triangle of Doom.") Overall, this movie was a blast!!!

This was a fantastic family film which all ages will enjoy. The transition scenes between imagination and reality were filmed really well and provided lots of laughs throughout. It reminded me of my younger years and how much freedom we were lucky enough to have back then before areas got so built up with housing. There were plenty of laughs for children and adults alike through the film. The cast were all brilliant and the characters they portrayed were fantastic and relatable. Lots of powerful messages about friendship and teamwork throughout. It was a great film to remind children (and adults alike) of the power of our imaginations.

"For the tenacious 11-year-old Robin and her loyal band of friends 'The Hoods', the patch of overgrown scrubland at the end of their cul-de-sac is a magical kingdom."

Before I go into any detail I need to say just how much I adore this film. Watching this took me back to my own childhood playing in the woods, and reminded me so much of the films and shows I used to watch when I was much, much younger.

Phil Hawkins brings us a tale of children facing the realisation that their childhood is coming to an end. On the way to that realisation they spend their days using their imaginations to create a magical world based on the stories of Robin Hood. Facing off against their enemies, to protect their Kingdom and their crown, they have a set of rules to follow, but as they do the rules get broken and it's there that things start to change.

The real star of this film is the titular Robin, played by Darcey Ewart. She navigates the river of a child growing up, while trying to hold on to the fantasies of her younger life, with a masterful level of skill and style. While her career to date is but a short one, the future for her is incredibly bright. I really enjoyed the way she commanded the screen, sometimes in the presence of actors who have had decades long careers. She's fabulous.

While the whole cast is a lot of fun the two other standouts are Naomie Harris as Clipboard, and Gwendoline Christie as Aura/The Witch. Two truly wonderful performers that seemed to relish the roles they have in this story. Harris is the villain of the tale and chews the scenery with unabashed glee, creating moments that echoed many a villain from films she is likely to have enjoyed herself as a child. Christie is as Christie does, though here she is a woman of the woods, living in a one-person commune in the forest. She is seen by the children in their fantasy world as a witch, and she happily plays along in the scenes in the 'real' world. Two delightful performances of two extreme characters, by two genuine stars.

The director, Phil Hawkins, has done an admirable job bringing this tale to the screen. He uses sound and the camera like a conductor, and the way he weaves together the 'real' world and The Kingdom bring a genuine level of joy to this cynical old man's heart. I don't know his other works, but after this I'm going to. I look forward to what he's going to bring us in the future.

Overall? This is a truly wonderful film about the joys of youth and the use of imagination to enhance the world around you. Yet it also shows you that the world moves on and, while you might want to, it's not possible to stay a child forever. It has moments of glee, and moments of pathos but it balances them perfectly. The only thing I would say, and this is in no way a real negative, is that it feels like a film for the young. It is wonderful, but it has an air of needing a younger audience who can appreciate it for the immediacy of how it feels to their lives....and not just remembering a childhood long past like I did. It's getting a 4/5, with a massive recommendation to check it out, and watch it with your children to see how much of themselves they recognise on-screen.

Granted, when I sat down to watch the 2024 family fantasy adventure movie "Robin and the Hoods", I had never heard about it, so I didn't really have much of any expectations. And the fact that it was a family movie wasn't really doing much to bolster my expectations, if I have to be fully honest.

But I will say that writers Stuart Benson and Paul Davidson actually put together an enjoyable script and storyline. It was a nice combination of classic fantasy mixed in with elements of family entertainment. I had somewhat feared that it might have been for a younger audience, but it was actually also enjoyable for an adult audience, especially if you enjoy the fantasy genre.

And the storyline had a nice underlaying message to it, which added to the movie, making it more than just your average family movie.

Director Phil Hawkins actually pulled off the fantasy elements quite nicely in the movie, and I loved the way that the movie portrays the way that the kids see themselves as medieval heroes, and the fact of reality is shown as well. It was a nice blend of genres, and that particular way of showcasing the storyline sat quite well with me. So thumbs up to director Phil Hawkins for that accomplishment.

They had a nice cast ensemble put together for the movie. I was not familiar with anyone in the movie, aside from Gwendoline Christie, whom I was a bit surprised to see showing up on the screen. It should be noted that the acting performances were good, from children and adult actors and actresses alike.

Visually then "Robin and the Hoods" was actually quite a surprise. The effects were good, and they definitely had put a lot of effort into the fantasy aspect of the movie, which was something that I liked a lot and it added a lot to the overall enjoyment of the movie.

"Robin and the Hoods" is a movie that is quite worth taking 100 minutes to sit down and watch with the family. It is a feel-good type of movie.

My rating of director Phil Hawkins's 2024 family fantasy adventure "Robin and the Hoods" lands on a six out of ten stars.

This is such a beautiful film. First of all I want to say Darcy's professionalism and maturity in leading this film can not go ignored. Watch her future! Exceptionally gifted actress. Of course Naomi Harris is just an incredible actress and enjoy her performance and of course Gwendaline Christie who is a legend. Aura is a wonderful character!

Mark Williams and the rest of the cast, just wonderful.

I enjoyed the connection to nature, the imagination and the generally the storyline. Such a beautifully filmed movie!!

A lovely family film. I would recommend this to anyone. So uplifting and warm.