Robin Hood: How the Man Became the Legend

"And so the legend begins."

Steve's Take: It helps to know beforehand that this 2010 film is a prequel to the Robin Hood story.  Unfortunately for me, I figured it out later in the film than I should have and it cost me some confusion during the early parts.  I still enjoyed it with popcorn in hand, while wishing for more mystique in the movie than butter grease in my popcorn. It may not rank in the lines of Ridley Scott's best work, but he does provide a mature, believable background for the mythical hero.  And solid as the scenes are, the climax failed to capture the exhilaration that comes along with the movie's genre, save perhaps for a trademark hero's speech by Russell Crowe addressed to King John and the people. Crowe provides another solid performance along with the rest of the film's quality cast, most notably Cate Blanchett (Lady Marion), Oscar Isaac (King John), William Hurt (William Marshal), and Max von Sydow (Sir Walter Loxley).  Mark Strong should have gotten more opportunities to display his acting prowess.  As it turned out, his character, Sir Godfrey, was your typical bad guy that just HAD to be placed in the movie. Verdict: Ridley Scott's take on Robin Hood provides a strong and mature foundation to the mythical legend but at the cost of chopping away some excitement and ending with a tapered climax and diminished intrigue.

Merle's Take: My Score for Robin Hood: 8.5/10 Like Steve, I was not privy to the knowledge that this was going to be the prequel of the Robin Hood story we all know. Halfway into the flick, I was wondering when Russel Crowe would start stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. In fact, the idea that this was a prequel only truly struck me when the movie ended. However, unlike Steve, I thoroughly loved the state of cluelessness I was in, and how I was able to piece everything together at the end of the movie and better understand the history behind the legendary character. The story starts with the reign of King Richard, who is brave and respectable but, unlike the King Richard's in the other Robin Hood films, has his noted flaws - he regards his citizens merely as soldiers who aid in his thirst for conquest (the kind of war leader one would expect during those times). This is the first of many instances where our common knowledge of this legend is shaken, the first of many reasons why I enjoyed this film so much. In this movie, Robin Hood (or Robin Longstride as he is known in this film) is portrayed not as an aristocrat, but as a commoner. He is rugged, but with his charms, a subtle paradox that Russel Crowe displays flawlessly. He is the son of a simple smith who was executed for vocalizing his lofty ideals about how a king must treat his people. Robin's memory of his father only resurfaces as a result of a happenstance encounter on Nottingham, where he sets out only to deliver some sad news to Sir Walter Loxley. It is in Nottingham where his life takes a drastic turn. This is where he meets and falls in love with Maid Marian (Cate Blanchett) who embodies modern feminism to a tee - ladylike but strong-hearted. This is also where he later receives a great calling to unite a people against France, as well as unite a people to rally for a better government. The whole movie was one exciting ride for me, as I felt myself rooted on my not so comfortable couch, eyes glued to the tube. It has its fair share of blazing arrows and clanking swords; not as many action scenes as one would see in a medieval war movie genre, but this is not only forgivable but commendable because this movie was able to spend more time doing what is essential - weaving a rich tapestry behind the legend. Verdict: This movie is a must-see and must be commended for its great acting and plot. Action scenes are not exemplary, but not essential to the direction of the movie.