Robin Hood combines strong action sequences with memorable performances from the lead actors. It is probably more of a medieval action film than a tribute to the folktale because the plot covers how Robin Longstride became a legend. There is not much devoted to the mythical feats such as splitting an apple with an arrow or steal from the rich to give to the poor. However, the film is successful because it provides motivation for Robin’s actions.
Returning to England after the death of Richard the Lionheart in France, Robin evolves from a brave archer to a man of conscious as he sees how King John is abusing his power. In Northern England, there is a massive disconnect between the crown, the church, and the people because of massive taxation to pay for military campaigns. Russell Crowe’s Robin is slightly more shrewd and less merry than other interpretations but the opportunism suits the mood of the film. Maid Marian is tough but adds moments of humour to the film. SirWalter Loxley, played by Max von Sydow is a sympathetic figure who provides a moral foundation to the film.
Unfortunately, other characters are very thin archetypes. King John – who was known as John Lackland and “Soft Sword” in real life because of his many defeats – is very similar to Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus from the film Gladiator. It seems easy for an actor to portray a villain who is thoughtless, jealous, and arrogant, motivated only by superficial concerns.
If this film was The Godfather and King John was Sonny Corleone, the Sherriff of Nottingham is Philip Tattaglia to Godfrey’s Emilio Barzini. Perhaps the Sherriff will take a bigger role in the sequel but he is no Alan Rickman. The Merry Men are also interchangeable simpletons who add nothing to the film.
Visually, the film is spectacular and there are many clever shots. Ridley Scott uses the latest techniques in filmmaking without compromising the medieval atmosphere of the film. There are some scenes that are strongly reminiscent of Gladiator, especially when Robin is leading his army and swinging his war hammer, and others than take from Black Hawk Down, such as the fight scenes filmed closely with handheld cameras.
The film includes some interesting historical facts, although fifteen years have been compressed into about a month. The taxation without representation team goes over better than The Phantom Menace; it is the idea which blossoms into the theme which carries Robin Hood: robbing from the rich to pay the poor. Like real history, the Magna Carta was initially disavowed by King John although perhaps he will change his mind in subsequent films. The film teaches history well (I look forward to the upcoming biography on John Locke). Most importantly, the events in the film provide the logic for the legend and firmly locate Robin in a specific time period at the end of the twelfth century.
One pet peeve: If the entire movie can be described in two flash cards, why would you show those at the beginning of the film? The gist of the plot could be communicated in two sentences which made Scott’s two-hour-plus film seem tedious. There was clear foreshadowing from the first hour onwards that a second film was forthcoming although this enabled Robin Hood to boast better than average character development and storytelling for an action film. ***