The Plot
Set in 13th Century England, this folklore adaptation follows Robin Hood (Russell Crowe) an expert archer from a humble background who, whether cast as an outlaw or a hero, fights to give his people the right to eternal freedom.
The story chronicles the life of this talented archer whose life priorities lie whole-heartedly with his service to King Richard I's army against the French and his self-preservation within this dangerous line of work.
However, things change for this young man following the death of the King as his subsequent travels lead him to Nottingham, a town suffering with the corruption of a sheriff and a crippling taxation and the home town of Lady Marion, the woman of his dreams.
Maid Marion, played by Cate Blanchett, is weary of the motivations behind Robin Hood’s promises to overturn the corruption so, in the hope of earning her hand, this young crusader groups together a gang of men with a wealth of lethal mercenary skills.
Fighting within a country already seriously weakened from decades of war on top of poor leadership rule and the possibility of threats of conflict from both afar as well as within the country, Robin and his men end up on the journey’s of all journey’s as they try and prevent England from slipping into one of the most bloodiest civil wars of all times.
The Verdict
Like all of Ridley Scott's films Robin Hood is beautifully lensed, well acted and technically perfect.
He's a sure hand; a visionary director; a trailblazer when it comes to epic action on a grand scale.
At 72 he's still one of the best. But your enjoyment of the movie will depend on what you expect to get out of it.
If it's a 'fun packed' knockabout blockbuster then you may be disappointed. But if you are looking for an earnest, kind of serious, character driven drama, with lots of plot and backstory on an epic scale, not to mention a rather feisty Lady Marion, then it may get your bow all a quiver!
