'Robin Hood' (10)

'Robin Hood' (10) (PG-13) (2 stars)

Writer: Brian Helgeland
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt, Max Von Sydow, Mark Strong, Danny Huston, Scott Grimes, Matthew Macfayden, Eileen Atkins, Mark Addy

"Robin Hood" is like sitting through History class in high school as the teacher drones on and on about a particular period in time. When I go to see a summer blockbuster like "Robin Hood" I expect a rip roaring, swashbuckling time. Is Ridley Scott trying to get serious for an Academy Award bid like he did with the over rated "Gladiator"? I liked "Gladiator" because at least it was fun, exciting and intense even if it is not Best Picture material. "Robin Hood" is a very lifeless and unnecessary version of a story that has been done to death. Does anyone need another "Robin Hood"? I wouldn't mind if the two leads had chemistry, the action was exciting or the performances were alive. That is not the case with Scott's version and I am a little surprised. This is one of our most exciting film makers and he may have made his weakest movie yet. "Robin Hood" starts off okay and there is some good humor amongst Hood and his merry but rough men. Those parts only take a half hour so the rest is a patience trying slog. Russell Crowe is a very great actor but when the material is weak and dull he comes off as a mumbling bore. This is not one of his most intense performances. Cate Blanchett plays Maid Marion and she is fine but there is no chemistry with Crowe. She just comes off as a beautiful bore and William Hurt barely registers in a small part. When I was reading the end credits I had to be reminded that he was in it. The actors who play Robin's merry men have the best parts because they share the only comical moments. This movie is way too serious and the action scenes seem plodding and are not Scott's finest hour.

There was a cheesy Kevin Costner version in 1991 where Costner lost his British accent every so often but at least the movie had life and was somewhat fun. It also had a scene stealing villain in Alan Rickman. I don't even know who the true villain is in this movie which makes it a movie with one of the weakest bad guys. The go to guy for the evil villain these days is going to the very fine actor Mark Strong but he is not used well here. He was the bad guy in the disappointing "Sherlock Holmes" but again that is a better movie than this one. I don't mind that Ridley Scott has made a serious take on "Robin Hood" but he forgot to lighten up just a tiny bit.

P.S. If you want the real deal for a Robin Hood movie check out Richard Lester's "Robin and Marian" with Sean Connery and the legend Audrey Hepburn or even the hokey but fun "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" with Costner.