Ever since Gladiator , director Ridley Scott has been trying to recreate the success of his award winning historical epic. Now personally I feel like he did succeed with the 2005 movie Kingdom of Heaven but unfortunately in its theatrical cut butchered in the edit, which is a shame because the directors cut (which is how the movie should have been seen in theaters) was well received.
2010's Robin Hood was Ridley Scott's second historical epic following Gladiator and sees the return of Gladiator's leading actor Russel Crowe. It is a more realistic spin on the classic Robin Hood story we all know and love. This movie was clearly intended to be the first of a series of films but due to its lukewarm reception by critics and underwhelming box office performance, it will likely never get the sequel it deserves.
Not The Disney Movie
One misunderstanding I feel that critics and audience members have is that this films was supposed to be a fun whimsical story of an outlaw. The films is in reality going for an origin story of Robin Hood. He isn't an outlaw yet but he is still recognizable as the character we have envisioned in our heads.
Once again Ridley Scott proves that he and his crew are masters of costume and set design. The cinematography is incredible. The films is extremely immersive and just like with Kingdom of Heaven you really feel like your there in this lived in medieval world. The opening battle sequence is especially enthralling and looks very realistic/practical. The slower pace and grounded grittiness of the movie probably put audience members to sleep. These people likely expected men in green tights to do their best impressions of the elf archer Legolas in Sherwood Forest. Ridley Scott seems to have said no to that and instead aims to craft a truly compelling epic hero that is portrayed in such a way that you could be fooled into thinking for a moment that this was an actual historic figure.
While I will always treasure the Disney animated feature Robin Hood in my heart, I found the more realistic yet still larger than life Robin Hood of the Ridley Scott film to be more compelling in the end. I suppose something could be said though about how a comparison between the two films is not fair because one is aimed at a different audience and aims to be far more whimsical in nature.
Characters who are human beings
The characters in the film have more understandable motivations compared to previous iterations.
The antagonists, King John and the Sheriff of Nottingham were portrayed as annoying villains we all hate. In this film we see a King John that does have a thorny personality but stems from the bitterness of having to live in his older brother's shadow. While perhaps not the most righteous leader that ever lives, King Richard the Lionheart was generally considered to be a effective military commander and fairly decent monarch. John is more of a pretty boy who people don't idolize as much. In the film he refers to himself as the "runt of the litter", acknowledging himself as the lesser son. He wants to come off as strong and capable but does so at the cost of making enemies and losing the love of the people.
As for the man him, Robin Longstride is played beautifully by Russel Crowe whose accent may be hard to pinpoint but then again this is a fictional character were talking about. Anyways Robin's master archery skills as explained as a result of his years fighting the crusades and training in the English army. This is far more realistic and relatable than just writing him as a born prodigy. He is depicted, as he has been, as a morally grey hero, performing questionable deeds such as deceiving others to think he is an anointed knight. In a way this origin story of how he became a well known outlaw is also a journey of self discovery for Robin. He questions his own larger purpose and moral compass, abandoning the army shortly after King Richard falls in battle when he becomes disillusioned by the cause. He realizes the importance of being a leader and example to the people he leads after inheriting the lands of the knight he was disguised as and later decides to continue his late father's legacy of pursuing liberty by law.
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Ridley Scott's historical epics are well known for having rousing speeches and the own delivered by Robin her is no exception. Robin delivers a powerful and uplifting speech near the climax of the film, urging King John to recognize his subjects as equally important to the king as the king himself. We see him take on the role of champion and voice of the common folk and for a brief moment we even see the cold-hearted King John waver under Robin's words, agreeing to their proposition (though he does go back on his word later) and thus uniting the local English lords in the films climactic battle against the invading French.
Now, Robin's romantic interest Maid Marion, played by Cate Blanchett is not the fairy tale like woman some may have expected to be. Instead she is depicted simply as a reasonable attractive woman that is the widow of the knight Robin was posing as. She agrees to pose as Robin's wife as if her husband never died and over the coarse of their time together as lord and lady of the land, they of course develop feelings. Its a romance with a very natural feeling progression to it that isn't overly dramatic or campy. Its quite down to earth and wonderfully genuine. It's honestly refreshing to see a romance unfold without the sex and making out. One could argue that the romance lacks the energetic passion but I think it fits this Robin's noble character to have a more tastefully mature and wholesome love life. it certainly helps strengthen the Maid Marion character for this movie as she is seen more of Robin's equal in mentality if not physicality. Her determination to protect those around her even bring her to the front-lines of the climactic battle which is a little reminiscent of the moment when Lady Eowyn fought alongside the Rohirim in The Return of the King. While Maid Mario might not be the romanticized eye candy girlfriend of Robin Hood some were expecting, we did get something better. A woman who earns our respect (and Robin's) who has a genuinely heart warming romance and partnership with our hero.
Merry Men
Admittedly the merry men are not as wonderfully depicted as the main protagonists and antagonists. Alan A Dale and Little John are both in this movie but they don't really have a whole lot of speaking lines and really only serve to fight alongside Robin as well as shoot arrows at French. Thy aren't bad characters and I do like them when they are doing stuff on screen but they aren't memorable or really just follow Robin around.
That being said this is an origin story for the outlaw and so it could be that Ridley Scott planned to have the side kicks be more prominently featured in the sequel. After all they technically aren't the merry men we know and love yet as of the events in the film.
The Music (Criminally underrated)
The score composed by Marc Streitenfeld fits the Robin Hood movie so well in such a way that I can;t explain. It gave me this sense of adventure and feel for the epicness that is the character of Robin Hood. It is emotionally moving while also capturing the culture that surrounds this tale.
I am no expert on European music but it does seem to have a distinct traditional European flavor to it. Marc Streitenfeld himself seems like he doesn't feel all that appreciates, stating in an interview that quote, "no one cares about the composer" which is so sad, especially given that this film was just passed off as mediocre. Too often are good soundtracks forgotten because the movies they are tied to poorly received. I will definitely be listening to the soundtrack of this film for years to come and I encourage you all to listen as it is a phenomenal work that captures the spirit of the character and his legend.
Closing Thoughts
The battle scenes are epic, the music enchanting, and the character of Robin Hood emotional moving in its execution. It is such a shame that this movie will likely never get a sequel. If a television series with this style of direction and tone is ever made I would be down to watch in a heartbeat.
In a way though the ending of this film can be seen as conclusive as it could be interpreted as leaving the rest of the tale up to the audiences imagination. The lack of a sequel in a way makes the ending that much more emotional as well.
Overall Score: 9/10