ROBIN HOOD: THE PREQUEL

I’ve always been a major Robin Hood fan. It all started with the quintessential Robin Hood film that I grew up with starring Errol Flynn. Swashbuckling at its best, this film was by far the best telling of the story of Robin Hood. Several others have done a good job as well. I even liked ROBIN HOOD PRINCE OF THIEVES even though many critics rapped on Kevin Costner for not adopting an English accent. In any event, I’m a Robin Hood fan.

Sorry to say but I’m not a big fan of the new release to DVD, ROBIN HOOD starring Russell Crowe in the title role. Its not that it’s a bad film, it’s just not the Robin Hood I’m used to. Perhaps it’s not even the Robin Hood that most people are used to.

The film begins in the camp of King Richard where Robin Longstride (Crowe) is an archer in the King’s army. On their return from the Crusades, the army is attacking castles on the way home. The King ventures out one night in search of one honest man, he gets and earful from Robin. While glad for his honesty, this leads to Robin and his friends being placed in the stocks during the next battle. A bad decision as during the battle the King is killed.

Now here is perhaps the biggest problem with this film. While many films seem in need of more story, this film has far too much. We’re given scenes of Prince John, the heir to the throne behind Richard and his petulant child attitude towards life. We are shown the King of France plotting an invasion of England with traitor Godfrey (Mark Strong). We get court politics in the form of William Marshall (William Hurt) trying to do all he can to save England. And we eventually see a group of the King’s men returning home with his crown led by Sir Robert Loxley only to be ambushed.

Thanks to the efforts of Robin and his men heading home on their own after learning of the King’s death the crown is retained but at the cost of Sir Robert’s life. Robin promises to return the crown to London and Sir Robert’s sword to his father. Thus is set in motion an elaborate lie.

Robin returns and is greeted by Robert’s wife Marion (Cate Blanchett) and Robert’s father Sir Walter Loxley (Max von Sydow). Returning the sword, Sir Walter offers Robin a chance to better himself and help by posing as his son. Thus Marion would retain the land in the Loxley name and the lineage would continue.

While all of this is going on, Godfrey has convinced King John (now in place after receiving the news of his brother’s death) that the crown needs more funds and must enforce the taxes people have been lax on. Given a command of his own, Godfrey has them killed by a team of French soldiers who are now under his command, plundering each town they go to in an effort to anger the Barons thus causing a civil war to break out.

Okay let’s face it, Robin is the star of this movie and you know up front that he’s going to save the day. Word of the uprising reaches Sir Walter and the arrival of Sir William also brings about the back history of Robin. But I won’t spoil that for you. I also won’t tell you what happens from here on out with the exception that by the end of the film you discover that all of this takes place and sets the stage for the legends of Robin Hood we’ve all grown up with; living in the forest, loving Marion, his merry men, etc.

If you can’t tell from what I’ve told you already, there is tons of story involved in this telling of the tale of Robin Hood. So much so that at times between not being sure who is English and who is French and just who is siding with whom it gets a bit confusing. Some will have no problem following along here (fortunately I didn’t but it felt time consuming) but others will wonder what in the world is going on.

The cast does a good job here but no one shines in any role. Crowe, who I think is a great actor, just seems to be going through the motions. Blanchett seems to be far too much of an independent woman for this to be taking place in the late 12^th century. Only von Sydow comes off well as the blind patriarch trying to save his land and his country.

The golden age of the swashbuckler remains the classic telling of the tale. This film features much less action and only in about two scenes makes note of the famed skills with a bow and arrow possessed by Robin Hood. Don’t misunderstand; it is a good movie, just not one that I’m likely to watch repeatedly. Instead I’ll take down the classic with Errol Flynn, pop it into the DVD player and watch it again. It remains the standard that all Robin Hood films must be compared to.