Once again the tale of Robin Hood is told, but this time with a more modern Hollywood feel and twist that is mostly unwanted. We start out in Jerusalem, where Robin Hood (Costner) has been imprisoned by Muslims and is more or less awaiting death as other holy warriors are murdered by the infidels. Robin gets free and frees a "Moor" (Freeman) rather than fellow Christians begging him and they escape with a big goofy sword. Azeem now has to honor the fact that Robin saved his life, so he tags along. I know it is just as silly as it sounds. They eventual make it to England where Robin finds out that the Sheriff of Nottingham (Rickman) has been plotting to take over from Richard I "The Lion Heart." Hmm what happened to Prince John? He's killed Robin's father and taken his estates. Robin meets Marian (Mastrantonio), they talk and he takes to the forest to escape the Sheriff's men. There he meets what will become the merry men, anything but it in this film. He duels with Little John (Brimble), beats him, earns the respect of the men, being a noble who has sunk to their level and defies the Sheriff. Only one seems to have a problem, Will Scarlett (Slater), who does nothing, but insult and complain about him. Later we find out why and it's stupid. They begin to rob the rich, eventually meeting Friar Tuck (McShane). Who turns out to be nothing but a fowl, bumbling drunk and a forgettable character. Eventually their enclave is attacked by "Celts from the north" hired by the Sheriff to get them. The commune is destroyed and many of them are taken prisoner. Will says he'll turn traitor, he goes back, fails and tells why he is so bitter. Robin you're my half brother! It gets worse when they start hugging and Robin realizes he has a brother. Will reveals that Marion is to marry the sheriff so he gets into the royal lineage (wouldn't work) and now they must stop it. They go off, save mostly kids before they are hanged and Robin Hood fights the sheriff to the death. Robin then gets married just in time for King Richard (Connery) to see the wedding, even though he never returned from the holly land, he died in France.
I don't think this a terrible film, but it's not great. The modern version is much more violent a crude than most versions before this. So that gives it a tad more realistic feel than some of the others, but it's also rather unnecessary in many areas. For one, did we really need to see the Sheriff attempt to rape Marion in a semi "comical" scene near the end? Making the battle scenes more real I think is a plus as long as it's aimed at an older audience and not kids, as Robin Hood has for a long time has been a kid's favorite.
Without a doubt the dumbest thing in the film is the edition of a Muslim "Moor" parading around with Robin in Medieval England. This is laughable and does not belong in the Robin Hood story. The only evidence of black Africans in England was what may have been left over from Roman slavery and blacks of Muslim faith brought back as slaves from the crusades, nothing more. Just for the fact that he is a Muslim makes it even worse, he probably would have been killed off or enslaved. The "moor" is shown as being brilliant in all things, war, technology and of course medicine. Much of it is utter nonsense, a telescope that did not exist and the use of gunpowder not yet used by Islam. And of course the English are all dumb, filthy dirty. What no one knows how to deliver a baby but this guy? The scene shouldn't have been the film anyway. The "dark ages" have much myth about them and liberal Hollywood only helps to fuel the nonsense. And why was Robin playing around what was obviously the remnants of Hadrian's Wall in southern England? Or even better why bloodthirsty Celts were fighting a tad out of time?
The acting and script are nothing special. Many talk about Costner's acting, I don't think its great but what he does seems to work. And although I think the Moor character is unnecessary, Freeman as always does a great job. Rickman is the standout by far as the sheriff. I think he really comes as across as the slimy opponent of Robin. Slater seems to be just phoning it in. Probably the worst is Friar Tuck. Tuck the character is so poorly made in this film it is painful to watch. As some have stated I'm not sure Mastrantonio is the ideal Marion. She's nice looking, but she doesn't come across as being an English girl of beauty. The locations are very well done, definitely some of the brighter spots in the film. From small castles to the English country in general it does give a good feel. However it's a largely forgettable film that only gets 4 and half out 10 stars.
I don't think this a terrible film, but it's not great. The modern version is much more violent a crude than most versions before this. So that gives it a tad more realistic feel than some of the others, but it's also rather unnecessary in many areas. For one, did we really need to see the Sheriff attempt to rape Marion in a semi "comical" scene near the end? Making the battle scenes more real I think is a plus as long as it's aimed at an older audience and not kids, as Robin Hood has for a long time has been a kid's favorite.
Without a doubt the dumbest thing in the film is the edition of a Muslim "Moor" parading around with Robin in Medieval England. This is laughable and does not belong in the Robin Hood story. The only evidence of black Africans in England was what may have been left over from Roman slavery and blacks of Muslim faith brought back as slaves from the crusades, nothing more. Just for the fact that he is a Muslim makes it even worse, he probably would have been killed off or enslaved. The "moor" is shown as being brilliant in all things, war, technology and of course medicine. Much of it is utter nonsense, a telescope that did not exist and the use of gunpowder not yet used by Islam. And of course the English are all dumb, filthy dirty. What no one knows how to deliver a baby but this guy? The scene shouldn't have been the film anyway. The "dark ages" have much myth about them and liberal Hollywood only helps to fuel the nonsense. And why was Robin playing around what was obviously the remnants of Hadrian's Wall in southern England? Or even better why bloodthirsty Celts were fighting a tad out of time?
The acting and script are nothing special. Many talk about Costner's acting, I don't think its great but what he does seems to work. And although I think the Moor character is unnecessary, Freeman as always does a great job. Rickman is the standout by far as the sheriff. I think he really comes as across as the slimy opponent of Robin. Slater seems to be just phoning it in. Probably the worst is Friar Tuck. Tuck the character is so poorly made in this film it is painful to watch. As some have stated I'm not sure Mastrantonio is the ideal Marion. She's nice looking, but she doesn't come across as being an English girl of beauty. The locations are very well done, definitely some of the brighter spots in the film. From small castles to the English country in general it does give a good feel. However it's a largely forgettable film that only gets 4 and half out 10 stars.
