What do you say
about a 2 hour and 19 minute that constantly reminds you of other
movies? There have probably been more movies made about Robin Hood than any other historical person.
Unfortunately this movie is not about the Robin Hood we know but about
Robin Longstride who would
eventually become, as the picture refers to him indicating a sequel,
Robin the Hood.

For anyone over
60 Robin Hood will always be Erroll Flynn which was all adventure, sword
fights and the pursuit of Maid Marian played by Olivia DeHaviland. For old time movie
goers, over 80, it is Douglas Fairbanks and Enid Bennett and those 50
and under have their choice of Keven Costner and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonia or Sean Connery and
Audrey Hepburn as Robin and Marian in their senior years and let's not
forget Mel Brook's Men In Tights with Cary Elwes as Robin and Amy Yosbech as Marian.

None of the
Marians are like Cate Blanchette's who goes into battle dressed in full armour and doesn't hesitate to put
a knife in someones back! It was also a problem for me to watch Eileen
Atkins play Eleanor of Aquitaine, and doing a fine job, without thinking
of Katherine Hepburn playing the same role in "A Lion In Winter" which also was Anthony Hopkin's debut in films playing
the major role of Richard the Lion Hearted, in this film played by Danny
Huston in a minor role.

There are big,
extended battle scenes with one the invasion of Britain on the beaches
by the the French that brought back the American invasion scenes in
Steven Speilberg's "Saving
Private Ryan". As good a job as Mark Stroney does as the villain he
doesn't come close to or is as memorable as Basil Rathbome and, of course, the
film's climax is the fight between Stroney and Crowe but you already
know that outcome.

I love historical, costume dramas and,
invariably, learn new things, if they are to be believed! I didn't know
Friar Tuck was a bee keeper or made the ancient version of moonshine.
Did you know that Maid Marian was only married for a week before her
husband went to battle, and died 10 years later, their never seeing each
other again?

I really don't
know what to say about Rusell Crowe who I like as an
actor and does a good job as Robin Longstride, which is what the movie should have been called. We all have
expectations when we walk into a film called Robin Hood and this one
doesn't deliver on any of those expectations. Possibly, if there is a
sequel, we will see Russell Crowe as Robin Hood and he will deliver the goods but until then have a fun
time at the movies and see the Erroll Flynn version or, even better, for
first rate acting and drama, without Robin Hood even being mentioned,
see A Lion In Winter!