Robin Hood & Expectations

Warning: This review contains minor spoilers!

Last Friday night I saw an excellent film, Robin Hood. The cast was great, the story well-told, and the production design and cinematography excellent. However, this same film has a mere 45% on Rotten Tomatoes. The main thing generating the negative reviews, I think, is that this simply isn't the Robin Hood movie those reviewers wanted to see. 

Roger Ebert, for one, writes that this film  "is a high-tech and well made violent action picture using the name of Robin Hood for no better reason than that it’s an established brand not protected by copyright." Mr. Ebert was apparently expecting a swashbuckling, tight-wearing, quippy archer from the glen. Not a problem by my standards, I watched Men in Tights the night before I went to the theater to watch Ridley Scott's version. I understood going in that this was a Batman Begins or Casino Royale style reimagining, taking a fantasy character like Batman or Bond, and placing him a more realistic operating world. I thought that was quite clear from the marketing. 

And here's my retort to the thought that Robin Hood should remain typecast as Errol Flynn: There is room for this character to exist in various interpretations all at the same time, not unlike the aforementioned Batman and Bond. I watched the BBC Robin Hood series a couple times and enjoy it, and I think that is also quite different from the other versions of the character. I don't think we need another Errol Flynn Robin Hood. I'm quite glad we got this version.

Another brief note: I don't think version is as "gloomy" as people are saying. I thought there was actually a fair bit of comic relief. I will also say Robin's speech had a tear in my eye. 

I think what enjoyed most, beyond just the sheer gorgeousness of the film (I need a Blu Ray player for this one!) was placing Robin Hood in a full historical context. Sure it glosses over things and mucks with the timeline a bit, but this is a two hour movie and not a 1200 page novel. And a damn fine movie it is. I'm sure part of this bias is my love for anything medieval, but I think if you're inclined to see this movie, and go in with an open mind, you'll find something to love. 

Man, I hope we get a sequel. And bring on the Director's Cut! 

Related: The journey this film took from "Nottingham."