Movies recommended or seen lately... les films a voir #119: Robin hood

Genre: Action/Historical/Historique

Annee/Year: 2010

Format: Blu Ray

Robin Hood. Well Robin hood is a bit like Batman: everything they reboot the franchise they need to find strong new ways to sell us the package. This time i was sold from the start since this iteration of the Robin Hood was directed by none other than Ridley Scott (also from Ridley: Alien, Blad Runner, Gladiator, Black Hawk down and many other first choice movies).

The movie casts a star crew as well with Russel Crow in lead role along with Kate Blanchet as lady Marion, also to note the participation of Max Von Sydow and William Hurt wo play strong performances as well as Kevin Durand, Mark Addy and Mark Strong who also hold memorable roles. First rate cast and play.

The story is a really interesting twist in itself as it does not take place in the usual Robin vs Sherif of Nottingham setting but instead takes a step back and follows the story from the end of the crusades with an english army returning home without as much faith as they had set out with. Very nice twist. Ridley also uses very well the setting of the French/English wars of the middle ages to set the story more precisely and with much more interest historically. This is the first Robin hood which gave me a sense that it be;onged in history (maybe even taught me something about htis period). Tip of the hat to Ridley and Brian Helgeland the screenwriter.

So we have a great direction, spectacular visuals, good story, great actors and play. Do we have a homerun? Well not really... partially disapointed wit the final result. Althoug all the pieces were there ;the whole does not add up unfortunately. I viewed the director's cut and that may part of the problem as i see this more a pace of the editing issue. The film has some lengths and is actually quite long (140mins vs 156mins for the director's cut). I dont mind longer movies but they need to keep your interest all the way. Somewhere after the first third i started wondering where we were going...
Definitely an entertaining movie worth watching but not a second Gladiator success for the Crowe/Scott team.

Robin Hood. Un autre reiteration de ce vieux classique. Va t'on nous le servir a nouvelle sauce? Apres avoir apris que Ridley Scott faisait la direction de ce film j'etais pas mal plus excite. La distribution de Robin Hood est excellente: Russel Crow dans le role principal et Kate Blanchet en lady Marion, aussi on prend note de la participation de Max Von Sydow et William Hurt qui offrent de solides performances ainsi que Kevin Durand, Mark Addy and Mark Strong.\

Cette fois si l'histoire nous emporte a la fin des croisades et une armee anglaise desenchantee et ruinee qui revient des terres saintes. Le film inclus un contexte historique beaucoup plus riche que les autres Robin Hood du passe et on y apprend des details qui rende la legende beaucoup plus credible et riche.

Avec une cinematographis excellente et de superbes effets speciaux on a donc un mega succes, non? Et bien pas tout a fait, le film fait faux pas avec le tempo et semble avec plusieurs longueurs a mesure que l'histoire progresse. Sans doute la version du directeur etait un peu trop longue avec ces 240 minutes.

En conclusion un film avec tous les bons ingredients mais un melange final incomplet. Quand meme une bonne sourece de divertissement masi pas aussi memorable que Gladiator aura pu l'etre.

Great quotes:

Friar Tuck: So why do they call you 'Little John'?
Little John: What are you tryin' to get at? I'm proportionate!
...
Robin Longstride: If you're building for the future, you need to keep your foundations strong, laws of the land enslave the people to a king who demands loyalty but offers nothing in return, I've been to the South of France, Palestine and back, you build a kingdom the same way you build a cathedral from the ground up!
...
Marion Loxley: Greenwood became the outlaw's friend, orphan boys welcome, there was no tax, no tides, no rich, no poor, fair trades at the table, many wrongs to be righted in the country of King John, watch over us Walter.
...
Prince John: Henceforth I declare you to be an outlaw.



Link: http: http://www.robinhoodthemovie.com/

Rating perso: 7.0/10