Robin Hood

I'm glad Russell Crowe is back in an action movie. It seems he's been gone off the big screen for awhile or maybe I just missed his movies somehow. Not sure how that could be. But it happens.

In this version of Robin Hood, the story is much like you remember— harassment by the sheriff, tax collection, poverty, battles, merry men, Friar, King John etc., but here's where it gets interesting. The movie starts with Richard the Lionheart dying. He won't be coming back at the end of the movie like he has done in previous versions. And there's no Will Scarlet.

What this movie does have is Russel Crowe— yeah! He plays a tough Robin Hood, who has a soft spot for Lady Marion. He also is a fair man with the conviction that every person has the right to hunt and provide for his family on any open land -even if it's the King's land. With King John now in power taxing the poor peasants of Sherwood what is Robin Hood to do? Steal from the rich. Well, we don't see him doing that very often, but we do see Crowe learning about who he really is, who his father was, and how he fulfills his destiny.

There was only one thing that I disliked because it was reminiscent of Jack Nicholson's line from A Few Good Men - "You have to ask me nicely". But other than this film was was gutsy and fun to watch. The supporting cast was good - Blanchett as Lady Marian, although I liked her better in Elizabeth the Golden Age. Regardless, with Ridley Scott teaming with Crowe again, it makes for a great start to summer blockbusters.

Worth the money rating: $$$$