The Cinemaphiles Discussion Forum

[Jim]

So - I've been following news regarding the upcoming Ridley Scott Robin Hood Movie. For those of you who know me - you won't be surprised that I'm very excited about this movie.. but at first I was more than a little skeptical of the direction the movie was supposedly taking. Originally the movie was going to be called "Nottingham" and Russell Crowe was to play the Sheriff of Nottingham... ok - that's fine.. I was good with that. Then is was rumored that the Sheriff wouldn't be the "bad" guy so much and Robin Hood wouldn't be necessarily the "good" guy. What? Robin Hood not the hero? Now I'm worried...

Then it was said that there would be a love triangle between Robin, Marian and the Sheriff... hold on now! This doesn't sound like Robin Hood to me! To further muddy the water, another rumor had Russell Crowe playing the parts of both Robin and the Sheriff - REALLY not good.

But I breathed a sigh of relief when all this got sorted out. Russell Crowe will portray Robin as an archer returning from the Crusades who will take up the cause of justice in England against the Norman oppressors.. Cate Blanchett will portray Maid Marian, Scott Grimes/Will Scarlett, Matthew Macfadyen/Sheriff of Nottingham, William Hurt/Sir William Marshall and many others.

Now I understand why there seemed to be some support about the originally planned variation of the Robin Hood legend.. but if it's changed too much where Robin is a villain or anti-hero.. then it's not necessarily the story of Robin Hood - they might as well just create all new characters.. But to be completely fair, the legend of Robin Hood began hundreds of years ago and in the earliest stories - he seems to be rather ambivalent.. with no mention of "championing the poor." These earliest stories do mention Little John, Friar Tuck, Guy of Gisbourne and the Sheriff of Nottingham.. Maid Marian is a later addition, as is many of the other features of the legend..

Ok - you probably just learned more about Robin Hood than you would ever want to... so I'll quit now..

Needless to say - I'm looking forward to seeing this movie - it has the potential to be an excellent action/adventure movie in the vain of Kingdom of Heaven and Gladiator... As long as it's better than "Prince of Thieves" I'll be happy!

JIm