- Why do I keep giving Ridley Scott second and third and fourth chances? More importantly, why am I continually surprised when I end up not loving his movies? Because I’m sure if you go back in the archives and read my reviews to his most recent movies, I probably say something similar every single time.
- I suppose I give him multiple chances not because I like him but because he keeps working with actors or subject matter I like. I like Cate Blanchett and Russell Crowe and swords and medieval times. Damnit.
- I was annoyed that a title card told us that the movie was taking place at the turn of the twelveth century when it was also taking place in like 1199 (i.e. the turn of the thirteenth century) or something. Who is responsible for checking these things?
- As per usual, I was not thrilled to find Danny Huston playing the sweaty and drunk King Richard. Naturally, I was thrilled when they killed him. The king is dead; long live the king!
- Now, I understand completely why Loxley Sr. would propose that Robin Longstride pretend to be his son; obviously Loxley has come to love Marion like a daughter and wants her to inherit his estate, which she can’t do as a widow. What I don’t understand is why Robin was like “Sure, works for me!” without even batting an eyelash or taking ten seconds to think about it. I would have liked to have seen a little careful consideration about the request, given that we’re supposed to understand Robin as somewhat moral and these scenes read as him being an unscrupulous opportunist.
- As an origin movie no doubt set to be a springboard for multiple sequels, I found the story particularly stupid. Robin’s repressed memories about his father were totally lame; the flashbacks were cheesy and his milking Loxley Sr. for the truth was awkward and unnecessary. It was inserted in a really awful “Look, I have traumas in my past!” sort of way that didn’t really fit into the story very coherently. (Also, I have nothing but ire for scenes in which adult sons place their hands over their deceased fathers’ handprints.) The whole son-switcheroo plot was also unnecessary; it felt forced and awkward, and ultimately how important was it that Marion pretend Robin is her husband Loxley Jr. if they’re going to lose their land anyway? The characters couldn’t have foreseen this, obviously, but I feel like using this as a contrivance to get Robin and Marion to meet was really clumsy and silly when ultimately there were probably a thousand other ways to get their characters to meet without borrowing a plot from a not-so-hilarious comedy of manners.
- Speaking of which, there was no chemistry between Robin and Marion. What I imagine were meant to be longing gazes came across as creepy psycho glances or, on occasion, dementia.
- Mark Strong was great as per usual. Loved when he got the arrow right through his cheek.
- Loved when King John was like “Remember when I was going to sign the Magna Carta?” and then burned it instead. Fail. The bigger fail was Robin’s dad writing the first draft of it. Lame.
- The closing credits were pretty cool.
- I saw this on Monday night while on vacation so I really don’t remember much beyond this.
Robin Hood
Swordfighting, yay; the rest of it, meh.
IMDB Plot Synopsis The story of an archer in the army of Richard Coeur de Lion who fights against the Norman invaders and becomes the legendary hero known as Robin Hood.
I haven’t loved Ridley Scott movies since Black Hawk Down but I keep coming back too.
I’m bummed at the lack of chemistry between Cate Blanchett and Russell Crowe. I thought this would have been the best thing about the movie aside from the sword fighting.
I think Black Hawk Down was definitely the last time I liked Scott as well, now that you mention it.