Cinema

Directed by Ridley Scott

From age five, I have been a Robin Hood fan. Being an elder statesman, Erroll Flynn will always be the tops, even in tights and for those of you who don’t know, I was one of the Norman Cross bowmen that killed ‘Robin of Sherwood’ eg Michael Praed in the television series but even then he appeared again as Jason Connery. Since then there’s been Kevin Costner and another Jason in the Greenwood, and now there is Russell Crowe.

First lets get the accent out of the way. As we know he is a New Zealander who often plays Americans. In this instance he is half Midlands/Northern and yes there is a hint of Irish. Does it matter? To be honest not a jot! Why? Because it’s a good script with great action sequences as only director Ridley Scott can deliver.

Robin Longstride is a bowman with King Richard in the crusades. He returns home to England having promised Robert Loxley, who is dying, that he will deliver his sword to his father Sir Walter Loxley (Max von Sydow), which is does, thus meeting Maid Marion ( Cate Blanchett). Sir Walter Loxley encourages Robin to take the place of his son, meanwhile a very dodgy Kind John is causing havoc. The Barons and locals are not best pleased with him and a very weak Sheriff of Nottingham (Matthew Macfadyen)
Suddenly the land is being savaged by Godfrey (Mark Strong) and French Hordes. Robin and company retaliates, which climaxes on the beach with a massive battle. It’s all good stuff with all the star’s doing their thing very well. There’s even a jokey Magna Carta from Robin, which King John presumably hijacks.

In the end Robin, Marion and the gang end up in the tree’s and he becomes a hood. Robin Hood 2 is next.

4 stars