Robin Hood DVD BD Combo

A Liberty-Minded Non PC Robin Hood This is supposed to be the story of how Robin Hood became Robin Hood--and it does a great job. The scenery, costuming and cinematography are excellent. The movie is serious and fun at the same time. The English yeoman was what we would call our middle class, someone who earns his own way and is neither rich nor poor. And it is from this that Britons in America developed the classless, personally responsible, open opportunity society. This Robin is not a "prince of theives," but an executor of justice and a leader for the rights of free English men. Russell Crowe, regardless of how temperamental a person he may be, is a great actor and very convincing in his role. We're glad Cate Blanchett managed to put her eco-freakism aside long enough to wash her hair so that Robin could stand to kiss her. We need a few Robin Hood's these days, doing as he did---taking back what the people worked for from the narcissistic dictator. Rating: 5 (Robin Hood DVD BD Combo customer review by Passion for Truth, 2010-08-25)

Unsurprisingly Good The legend of Robin Hood has never been a favorite of mine, probably because the hero is typically characterized in a stupid context -- the movies are gag-fests and not meant to be taken seriously. (Come on... did you really take Kevin Cosner seriously? I didn't think so.) Having said that... what a great movie this is! At long last we are given a serious representation of the legend, without the typical corniness that so clogs other attempts to bring the man of Sherwood Forrest to life. This is a mature and historically rich (if inaccurate) approach to the material, which takes on a life of its own and provides reasonably good storytelling in the process. It is not a story of Robin Hood "stealing from the rich to feed the poor," but an outcry of freedom from tyranny and oppression. It's a glimpse into the corrupt politics and unfair peasant lifestyle of the middle ages, but for the most part without a modern agenda. (Lady Marion is somewhat feminized, which I did not mind -- and apart from a scene toward the end, her presence was not too much out of character for a noblewoman of the time.) I'm not an enormous fan of Russell Crowe (although he was magnificent in "Gladiator"), but he and Cate Blanchett have terrific chemistry in this film and their on-and-off flirtations and sidelong glances (with occasional conflicts) make this fun. Some have remarked on how "boring" this movie is -- with so many action scenes, I have to wonder what their attention span is, because I was not bored. It might frustrate some historians (much as "Ivanhoe" has done before it -- and this has the feel of "Ivanhoe" -- a rich old form of classic storytelling) but I was more than entertained, and quite surprised that the critics did not care for it. There are a few minor faults in the storytelling process, since it does move rather quickly back and forth between different characters in the first thirty minutes or so, but I suspect the Director's Cut will flesh it out and eradicate all the complaints that people have with it. I haven't seen the extras yet but would like to express my gratitude to the studio for offering DVD purchasers a reasonable selection of goodies. Too many great movies are being released as bare bones DVD's nowadays in an attempt to force fans to upgrade to BluRay, and I appreciate it when those of us who have no interest in upgrading are still treated with respect as serious collectors. I cannot wait to own it! Rating: 4 (Robin Hood DVD BD Combo customer review by Charity Bishop, 2010-08-13)

Refreshing tweak to the tale! As is widely known, this version of the tale is a prequel of sorts. It's only generally tied to the 'history' and the established myth but I found this refreshing. Crowe is quite good in his 'tough guy' sort of way and fine too in the romantic aspects. The action is very good. I really liked the opening seige in France and while the final beach battle is good too, I couldn't help thinking it looked a bit like Saving Private Ryan. The Liberty speech reminded me of several other similar efforts and the lost boys of Sherwood Forrest had a distinct Peter Pan (with a Wendy) look too. I found the representations of both Kings Richard and John interesting, as they went against type -to a degree. Indeed, King John was a lot of fun. There were many faces to spot (I don't think its giving anything away to say that Max Von Sydow accepts that any role he takes involves him dying.), including some surprises and people going against type. It's overall a very handsome film, with some sceens being quite spectactular. I had a lot of fun watching it. If you don't see it expecting it to be like Errol Flynn's version, you should enjoy it too. Rating: 4 (Robin Hood DVD BD Combo customer review by John E. Larsen, 2010-08-12)

Not perfect, but interesting I had been following this films release for a long time, and remember really wanting to see it when it first came out. I can't explain what a huge Robin Hood fan that I was as a kid. I had the all green motif in my room until I was about 8. I remember reading the Pyle version of the story, well before I was old enough to do so, but as the film approached release, due mostly to bad press, and a really bad trailer that came out right before release (note that trailers are not usually made by the actual film makers, so why people base their expectations on them, to include myself is beyond me.) it was being marketed to a historically accurate version of Robin Hood. How it could actually have happened, which is just another way of saying we b sed and speculated, kinda like that horrible clive owen version of king arthur. Something in the vain of glaidiator but with robin hood, roll eyes. This film is not that. I missed the initial release and ended up seeing it for free in a second run theater, and I have to say that I was mesmorized. It was really good. Not like best movie of the year good, but thoroughly entertaining, and it took some liberties that I was not expecting. A lot of people say, oh great a sequel, some say there can't be a sequel of robin hood, because its an idea, a folklore, kind of like batman. Different directors have focused on different parts of the mythology, because there are so many different sources to choose from. I always thought that the Pyle version was the original book, but have subsequently found there are like at least 10 very different versions ranging from shakespeare, to Dumas, to Tolken C.S. Lewis Oxford alum, so with that in mind, this is its own telling. In most original versions, Robin does his thing, as a commoner, becomes an outlaw to be pardoned by the king, go off to fight in the crusades, and come back to sherwood, maybe fight a last battle, and then die after defeating sherriff of nottingham. This film starts with robin as a soldier, who comes back after the war, trying to find the peace that has eluded him in life. Will and Little John are other Veterans, and the saying that no one wants peace like a soldier holds true. They fight for the people who couldn't go fight, and who can't stand up to the government. There are various allusions to the current conflicts and low approvals of current policies. While the story of robin may not be historically accurate, the way it is told is. All the customs and set pieces are the most accurate representation of the time yet put on film, and it does stem from Ridly Scott's maticulous eye for historical detail. This does lend itself to be a film for the whole family, and roots Robin's uprising on modern ideals and rebels agains English rule and oppression. There is no King left to pardon robin in this. The film's story doesn't travel as far as I would have liked, but it it definately a prequel, and since he ultimately must fail in liberating england, I think the subsequent sequels will be most interesting as robin's ideals, and his men's loyalties to them are questioned under the rule of king John. I hope that more people get into this film, because I really thing that with writer Brian Hedgeland of LA Confidential and Mystic River Penning this series, the next film could be ever bit as good as the dark knight, though I'm afraid with the poor boxoffice it might never be. Rating: 5 (Robin Hood DVD BD Combo customer review by Joseph Parker, 2010-08-04)

The Roots of Liberty It used to be the standard, in educating the young members of American or British societies, to talk about the Magna Carta as the root document for our idea of liberties. We have gotten away from that because the Magna Carta applied only to a small number of people, and it was only over time that the class of people who enjoyed those liberties expanded. Yet there is a great truth hidden in the old story, which this movie helps restore. The late historian Sidney Painter wrote of how the Normans extended what had been the rights of "vassals" who served the king to all free men, as a means of avoiding revolts. As the class of free persons grew during the Middle Ages, all who joined that class came to enjoy what had been (and remained, in other parts of Europe) the traditional rights of knights. The history in this movie is imperfect, in order to tell that story in a way that is easier for a modern ear to hear. Nevertheless, the movie is outstanding as an endorsement of ancient liberties in full voice. Robin Hood, 'the common archer,' is elevated to knighthood by pretense and comes to be a defender of the idea that these basic rights should be enjoyed by all of humankind. This movie does a great service by providing a aesthetic to go with these ancient notions of "liberty by law," and helping to introduce modern viewers to the questions. As with Braveheart -- another movie whose history was imperfect, and indeed far worse -- those engaged by the aesthetic will pursue these questions further, to our common profit. Rating: 5 (Robin Hood DVD BD Combo customer review by B A Patty, 2010-07-29)