Robin Hood

This has just been run on British TV. What a pleasure to see something from Hollywood that feels realistic when referring to something over here (no US cavalry riding to the rescue at the critical moment!!). Apart from that it is also well made, enjoyable and I'm just sorry I didn't start the recorder at the beginning. Uma Thurman is not the most gorgeous Marion I have seen (not too bad either though), but she was believable and that counts for a lot. The action scenes had a touch of authenticity about them that is all too often missing (for example when Robin was handed a staff by Will to battle with John Little it was a thick branch, forked at one end and obviously from a tree, not a martial arts supplier - just the sort of thing that might have been picked up in a real situation <accepting that something like that might well not have been lying around unless it was rotten>). All round, a film I will watch next time it is screened and I hope I manage to get the DVD recorder going in time next time.

Revisionist as well as dark version of the medieval tale . Modern recounting in which some Hood aficionados will appreciate the painstaking effort taken to adapt the vintage story to recent times ; including great action scenes with some fun images about the Merry Men . This time in the Sherwood forest , the adventurers inhabitants are amusingly portrayed by agreeable actors . In 13th century England , Robin is a noble Xaxon , he escapes from a nasty baron , the powerful Normand called Roger Daguerre (Jeroen Krabbé who had previously worked with John Irvin in Turtle Diary ,1985) , and the extremely villain Sir Miles Folcanet (Jürgen Prochnow) . Stalwart Robin goes to Sherwood forest where forms his brave band of marauders and confront corruption in the local villages and lead an uprising against Prince John (Edward Fox) and his underlings that will forever alter the balance of world power . Meanwhile , tax collectors brutally invade villages under the pretext of collecting Royal taxes . The legendary Sherwood forest's hero Robin Locksly and again the graceful Lady Marian (Uma Thurman) along with his Merrie Men , Will Scarlett (Owen Teale) , Friar Tuck (Jeff Nuttal) and Little John (David Morrissey), facing off the really malicious Daguerre and Sir Miles , two extremely crazed , wicked Normands . Later on , they save two kiddies from hanging .

This well developed movie has great action sequences stunningly staged with stylish and vitality , adventure , romance , poke fun and results to be pretty entertaining . Although is a little revisionist about characters , history , townsfolk , and time when is developed the action in a dirty , gritty Middle Age , as spectators generally disapproved the changes of Robin Hood's classic canon . Three studios announced plans to remake ¨Robin Hood¨ in 1990 and two were completed , including this one which was scaled down for Cable TV . Nice performances abound , as the politically correct rebel with a cause who battles the bullies , being rightly played by Patrick Bergin . Patrick is very fine as well as Uma Thurman who is memorable and attractive , she comes up the film as a valiant and obstinate heroine . Special mention to treacherous Sir Miles , magnetically performed by Jurgen Prochnow and Edward Fox as evil and crazed king in a sensationalistic interpretation as Prince John . Despite some critics' complete and utter distaste for the film , I found it fun , well-acted , and fast-paced . There are great action sequences including the battle into an impressive fortress and the final confrontation at the climax of the film . Impeccable but dark cinematography by Jason Lehel . Although a little shading and foggy , as the sun does not fully shine until the end of the film . Movie is shot on natural sets and English woods , and interior scenarios with impressive production design . Being shot on location in Peckforton Castle , Peckforton , Cheshire , England, UK . Lively and vivid musical score by Geoffrey Burgon . The motion picture was well directed by John Irvin who managed to stage some excellent action scenes , stunning scenarios and clever edition . However , being a flop , though the critics considered one of the best adaptations . John Irvin would later cast Uma Thurman and Edward Fox in another film of his prestigious career , A month by the lake (1995).

Other versions about this famous personage are the followings : ¨Robin Hood¨ (1922) an extravagant silent production by Allan Dawn with Douglas Fairbanks ; the classic rendition is ¨The adventures of Robin Hood¨ by Michael Curtiz with Errol Flynn and Olivia De Havilland. Furthermore , ¨Robin Hood price of thieves (1991)¨ by Kevin Reynolds with Kevin Costner , Alan Rickman , Michael Wincott and Morgan Freeman , the same year was exhibited this ¨Robin Hood¨ by John Irvin and thus did not receive a theatrical release in the United States . And a hilarious retelling : ¨Robin Hood , men in tights¨(1993) by Mel Brooks with Gary Elwes, Richard Lewis, Roger Rees Amy Yasbeck . Besides , ¨Robin of Locksley¨(1995) by Michael Kennedy with Devon Sawa , Joshua Jackson . Plus , ¨Princess of Thieves¨ by Peter Hewitt with Keira Knightley , Malcolm McDowell and Stuart Wilson . And TV series as ¨Robin Hood¨ produced by Hammer Films with Richard Greene , Peter Cushing , directed by Terence Fisher and ¨Robin Hood , the legend¨ (1995) with Jason Connery , Oliver Cotton , Nickolas Grace and directed by Ian Sharp and Robert M. Young .

Only thing I liked about Costner's RH was Alan Rickman as the Sheriff. But this take was a "stylistic" departure from the old story. The "theives village" was fascinating! And Bergen was a much more convincing Robin. If you like this one check out the BBC TV production, "Robin of Sherwood" (1984) [TV-Series 1984-1986] starring Jason Connery (son of Sean.) It's the most intersting and "magical" of all Robin versions!!

Okay, let's get this straight: just because ROBIN HOOD is more realistic and less bombastic than Kevin Costner's ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES from the same year, that doesn't make it any good. It might be a more traditional film, but I actually prefer the Costner version, despite the many faults, errors and cheesiness, purely because it's a lot more fun.

ROBIN HOOD gets a lot more of the facts right but it's lacking as a decent piece of drama, mainly because the characters, although carefully depicted, are all rather unlikeable. That's particularly true of Patrick Bergin, whose Hood, all wild eyes and wilder hair, appears to be something of a sociopath instead of the folk hero of old; I just can't buy Bergin in good-guy roles, and that's the same here. Stick to SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY, buddy.

The supporting actors are better, with one exception. Jurgen Prochnow is less hammy but no less amusing than Alan Rickman in the Costner version, and it's always good to see Jeroen Krabbe in Hollywood fare. Owen Teale, Danny Webb and David Morrissey are all good choices as Merry Men. The exception is Uma Thurman, who's terribly miscast as Marian; the scenes in which she disguises herself as a boy are excruciating.

Other than that, the script is overlong and underwritten and the action scenes just aren't very exciting. The sets and costumes are decent though, so it's just a shame that more effort couldn't have gone into making this a rousing swashbuckler of old. Instead it's a dour, uninspiring and ultimately forgettable version of a classic story.

Action? Adventure? Swashbuckling excitement? Well you have come to the WRONG Robin Hood for that. The choreography is non-existent. But that's okay.

There are other reasons to watch this movie, especially for aficionados and romantics. The costumes and sets are beautiful, delicately balanced between realism and romanticism. The greenery is lush, the settings are well chosen. There is a poetry in the dialogue, and the acting is heart-felt. This movie makes you think a little bit, including a moving, moral ending.

The classic trope scenes of the Robin Hood fairy tale are a let down. Little Jon on the river is painful to watch, and not in a good way. The bow staff fight is a yawn, as is the absurd "action" scene of Robin floating down a gentle river. If you seek excitement, again, this is the wrong movie.

On the other hand, you are treated to a version of the Robin Hood tale that offers an educational slant. Unlike Prince of Thieves, this Robin Hood dives into the Saxon-Norman antagonism that characterized the centuries following the successful invasion by the Normans under William the Conqueror. Set one to two hundred years after, this Robin Hood takes place in an England that is hosts to a ruling class of French/Viking descent. (There is even a clever allusion to the French Baron being a descendant of pirates).

As mentioned, the acting is quite good, as is the script. The characters, which at the start of the film seem one-dimensional, become infused with real humanity as the movie progresses. No cartoon villains here, just flawed humans from a vicious era, and a meditation on the attractiveness and seductiveness of simple decency when presented as a possibility.