Robin Hood Movie Review
Hollywood no longer produces many original stories, especially when it comes to big budget blockbusters. Instead, the industry has turned to gutless adaptations of existing material—comic books, television shows, old films, etc.
At first glance, Robin Hood seems like another mere rehash of something we’ve all seen before, but the truth is, it’s something we hardly ever get: A story that hasn’t been told.
Robin Hood’s plot is too layered for a full summary. In short, the film follows the titular hero (named Robin Longstride at this point) as he returns from the Crusades and makes his way to Nottingham. There, he helps battle political corruption and invading French forces. The movie is basically a prequel to the story we all know—it details the events that shape Robin Hood into the populist outlaw who steals from the rich and gives to the poor.
Make no mistake, this isn’t the Robin Hood of years past: There’s no magic this time, no whimsy, no joy. Still, there’s plenty of excitement, plenty of thrills; it just unfolds in a somber and realistic style.
So far, a number of critics have taken issue with the movie because of its refusal to embrace the conventional tale. But what they’ve judged a weakness is in fact the film’s central strength—originality. By now, we don’t need another escapist incarnation of Robin Hood. No, we’ve seen that enough already. What we need, and what Robin Hood delivers, are things we don’t get enough of these days: grit, guts and plain good storytelling.
The movie may not drip the merriment that defined its predecessors, but that doesn’t mean it’s humorless or boring. Unlike many blockbusters, Robin Hood is able to excite us without ever insulting us. The film contains lots of action, but it’s not stupid action, the type of stuff that makes you either cringe or giggle at the sheer impossibility of it.
The actors perform exactly how you’d expect actors in a Ridley Scott movie to perform: excellently. Russell Crowe is spot on as the protagonist, creating a character that’s both heroic and real. The supporting cast of Cate Blanchett, Max von Sydow, William Hurt, and, especially, Oscar Isaac are all on par with him.
Robin Hood is a film that defies expectations: It’s not another colorful adventure or the next Gladiator.  No, it’s a movie all its own, and that’s exactly why it works.
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