DVDpendence . videophile
ROBIN HOOD
With Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt, Mark Strong, Mark Addy, Max Von Sydow
Written by Brian Helgeland
Directed by Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott has proven himself as a master filmmaker a multitude of times,
Here he teams up with his favourite leading man once again to tell the oft told tale of Robin Hood, having sen every filmed version imaginable (from varied straight forward narrative, to Disney animation, and slapstick comedy via Mel Brooks). Naturally Scott opted for the serious dramatic take with a realistic slant, focusing on what led up to the man becoming the legend (famously taking from the rich to give to the poor). We pick up on our hero's trail during Richard The Lion Heart's crusade. Together with his tight group of battle-worn comrades they simply want to go home in the wake of Richard's death. But by thwarting an ambush, resulting in the earth of the man returning Richard's crown to England with the news of his demise, Robin Inadvertently becomes the news bearer, taking the identity of the man charged to do so. Robin becomes aware of the treacherous new man on the throne's selfish tax exploitation of the already suffering rural population, something his conscience cannot condone.
Marion is a tough woman running the farm on her own (her husband missing in war). Robin's path crosses with hers (on bringing news of her husband's death) and a timeless partnership is galvanized when hr father in law suggest he becomes his substitute offspring (and Marion's husband) to avoid her losing their land as a widow. Naturally this arrangement develops into something more.
Together they take on King John's stripping the land bare, to have justice prevail. And while the country is on the brink of civil war, the French are preparing to invade England.
Systematically Robin and his gang take on the authorities in action packed scenes put together like only Scott can.
Ridley Scott was one of the first directors to popularize the “Director's Cut” with Bladerunner. This edition of the movie is the Director's Cut with an extra 16 minutes of footage (plus deleted scenes).
The door is left open for further chapters.
4 / C
- Paul Blom
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