ROBIN HOOD 3.0***
FORGET everything you think you know about Robin Hood.

Banish any thoughts of a swashbuckling Errol Flynn cutting a dashing figure through a Sherwood Forest or Kevin Costner in just right green attiire riding through the glen.

Dismiss any notion that Maid Marion is a demure damsel in distress or that the macho men of Sherwood forest will be wearing tights.

Like the movie “ Batman Returns”, this Robin Hood is a “prequel” and is all about going back to ground zero and rebuilding a legend. The thrust of the film is the events leading up to Robin being branded an outlaw and what inspired his pursuit of justice for all. The movie ends where the usual Robin Hood story begins.

A complex story begins with Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe) and his band of brothers in loyal service to King Richard the Lionheart as they continue their weary way home from the Crusades. Back in England Prince John , brother of Richard, is eager to seize the throne . Events are set in motion that leads Robin to assume the identity of the late Sir Robert Loxley with the blessing of his wife Lady Marion (Cate Blanchett) and his aged father Sir Walter (Max von Sydow). In fact, they urge Robin to take on the identity to protect them and the people of Nottingham.

Like many great actor-director collaborations, Ridley Scott and Russell Crow ( they combined for “Gladiator”) once again deliver an action-packed adventure that is filled with lush scenery, epic battle sequences and strong characters wrapped neatly around quite a believable and solid story. Russell Crowe delivers a strong performance as the righteous and heroic but also flawed man haunted by his past. Cate Blanchett makes a steely, resourceful Lady Marion. She and Crowe have good chemistry in the film. Veteran actor Max von Sydow, as Sir Walter, has an uncanny ability to pierce the heart and invests the old blind father with such emotion and defiance that he constantly threatens to steal the show.

The cinematography is sweeping and gorgeous . Production and costume design are top notch - the royal family's castles are grand in design, and, instead of showing the poor living in grand fashion, the poor's living condition are starkly realistic - complete with dirt and grit. Also, and pleasantly so, computer generation/special effects were sparingly used , meaning real extras, real fire, real horses, real buildings were used instead. It's just plain real and absolutely refreshing; Cecil B. DeMille would be proud if he can see the number of extras employed for this film.
In short, this new take on the classic hero is a perfect summer movie…it has action, adventure, comedy, romance, and drama all packed neatly into one spectacular ride. See it on the BIG screen because watching it later on the small screen would be a letdown..

Clark