Lionsgate
Errol Flynn. Kevin Costner. Russell Crowe. Sean Connery. Cary Elwes. These are all actors who have graced the big screen as the heroic outlaw Robin Hood. Taron Egerton, who previously starred in both Kingsman movies, joins the ranks of classic actors who have portrayed Robin of Loxley. The newest version of Robin Hood is directed by Otto Bathurst, who previously worked on Peaky Blinders. After Rob returns from war, he realizes that the Sheriff of Nottingham has taxed the poor in hopes to fund the ongoing war between the English and the Moorish. The war-hardened Crusader is followed home by John, a Moorish commander who helps Rob mount a revolt against the corrupt English crown.
I am fond of the story Robin Hood. Over the years I have tried to watch every Robin Hood film there is. My favorite version of Robin Hood is The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn. I was excited to see the new sleek updated version of the classic tale. While this movie has received poor reviews since its release, I found this familiar but new story very exciting.
Taron Egerton provides all the characteristics of Robin Hood that I am fond of. He believed in helping others, fighting for the small people, and being a voice for the poor. He is a much younger Robin Hood than what I am used to, but I felt Egerton hit all the right notes to make this a memorable performance. I was happy with the casting of Robin Hood since I have enjoyed Egerton in all his previous roles.
The story had a decent pace. They introduced Robin Hood in a quick way with little to no backstory. They tell you more through narration that this won’t be the Robin Hood story you are familiar with and they want you to forget everything you know about the character. After a long opening credit scene, the film jumps into Rob and Marian’s relationship and then he is sent off to war. On one hand I appreciate the quickness of the scenes since it gets to the action and story quicker, but on the other hand I would have liked to see a little more backstory for the character. After Rob returns from war, the film slows down and focuses on character development as well as telling the story.
Ben Mendelsohn plays the Sheriff of Nottingham, who taxes the poor for his own gain. Mendelsohn has starred as a villain in such movies as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Ready Player One. I am convinced that Mendelsohn was born to play the villainous role in any movie he stars in. He was sinister in the movie but not providing an over-the-top performance that could ruin the character. Also providing a great performance in the film is Jamie Foxx as John, or as we know him, Little John. He proposed the idea to Rob of stealing from the rich to give back to the poor after sneaking on a ship back to England with him. I bought into Jamie Foxx’s character and thought he worked well with Rob. Egerton and Foxx had great chemistry and they both kept the movie entertaining and fun.
The action in Robin Hood was filmed surprisingly well. Director Bathurst added his own style to the classic tale. What made me happy about the action scenes is that they weren’t quick cuts with poor editing. There are plenty of chase scenes throughout the movie and Bathurst handled them with the viewer in mind.
I understand that everyone isn’t going to enjoy this new version of Robin Hood, but for someone who grew up watching different tales of this character, I was able to find enjoyment in it. This film isn’t perfect and suffers many pacing issues, but each story of Robin Hood is going to be different and try to set itself apart from others. I appreciated Bathurst’s take on the character and many elements worked for me. There are rumors of setting up a Robin Hood universe, but for right now, this film will work for me.
Robin Hood has a run time of 1 hours 56 minutes and is rated PG-13 for extended sequences of violence and action, and some suggestive references.
Share this post
