Sunday, May 23, 2010

“Epic adventure of action-packed 'Robin Hood' triumphs”

“Epic adventure of action-packed 'Robin Hood' triumphs”

Epic adventure of action-packed 'Robin Hood' triumphs

Posted: 23 May 2010 03:03 AM PDT






ROBIN HOOD (Rated PG-13)


Everyone from Errol Flynn to Kevin Costner has played the mythical legend of Sherwood Forest. Even Mel Brooks came up with a spoof of the men in tights, as they went about the business of redistributing the wealth during the Middle Ages.


With typical bombast, director Ridley Scott now puts his own spin on "Robin Hood," and Russell Crowe is the right guy for updating the legend.


Actually, "Robin Hood" is more a prequel than revisionist history. In the service of an epic adventure on a grand scale of explosive action, Ridley Scott finds that slogging through the French countryside during the Crusades is a more useful backdrop to Robin Hood's eventual outlaw career.


"Robin Hood" is set during the turn of the 13th century, when King Richard the Lionheart (Danny Huston) is so preoccupied with the Crusades that he's left Britain ignored and nearly bankrupt from his overseas adventures.


Russell Crowe's Robin Longstride is an infantryman in the ranks of King Richard's overstretched army. On the return home to England, the king can't resist laying siege to a French castle, hoping to recoup part of his fortune involuntarily forked over to the French king during the Crusades. King Richard doesn't survive the battle, and it probably didn't help that Robin had been locked in the stockades for his insolence.


During the heat of this battle, Robin and his friends, who later become the famous Merry Men, escape back to the homeland, but not before encountering a group of British noblemen who had been killed in an ambush. The sole survivor, a dying Lord Loxley, asks Robin to take his sword back to Nottingham, returning it to his father Walter (Max Von Sydow).


Walter and Lord Loxley's wife, Marion (Cate Blanchett), are trying to save the family farm from tax collectors and the nasty sheriff. Robin agrees to the charade of pretending to be Lord Loxley for the sake of holding the King's tax agents at bay.


Meanwhile, in the aftermath of King Richard's untimely demise, political intrigue roils the British royal court. The king's younger brother Prince John (Oscar Isaac) ascends to the throne, but he demonstrates little notice in governing or fighting to save the crown.


He's more interested in tossing aside his English wife for the sexual favors of French aristocrat Isabella (Lea Seydoux), setting her up to become the future queen.


Feckless and obnoxious, King John proves to an even worse ruler than his deceased brother. Reneging on promises to British barons so that England is united in the face of French invasion, King John quickly turns to autocratic rule that oppresses the citizenry with repressive taxation.


Not to be overlooked is that King John is truly an insufferable twit of the first order. First of all, he is easily conned by his bilingual advisor Sir Godfrey (Mark Strong), who is setting the stage for a French invasion by betraying the confidences of the British royal court.


The duplicitous Sir Godfrey plots to divide the barons of the northern countryside from the British Crown, thereby enabling the French to launch a full scale assault on Britain on the belief that the British remain hopelessly divided and easily conquered.


Well, it doesn't quite work out that way, as Robin, among others, rally to the cause and repel the French navy during a spectacular battle on the English shores.


Following the epic clash, Robin returns to Nottingham, where he continues his hesitant courtship of Marion, which is made awkward by the pretense that they are already husband and wife.


Though Britain, thanks to its citizens, has defeated the French, King John exhibits no gratitude to the barons for unifying the country. Reneging on his promises, the evil king sends his troops to pillage villages and to rob the people of their money.


Robin Hood, of course, rebels against high taxes and the oppressive big government. After the king's agents destroy Nottingham, Robin Hood retreats to Sherwood Forest for the fight we've always expected.


Ridley Scott's "Robin Hood" is interesting for the historical dimension offered to the emergence of the hero's legendary qualities.


Political intrigue is one small measure of the film's appeal. Action fans will not be disappointed that "Robin Hood" is an odd mix of "Braveheart" and "Gladiator," owing to the fact that Russell Crowe's swagger and bravado as Robin Hood recalls his work in the latter film.


The passage of time, since Crowe fought as gladiator Maximus, has not yet diminished the actor's physical ability. Still, if a sequel to "Robin Hood" is forthcoming, let it happen soon while Crowe remains credible in an action role. Meanwhile, enjoy this splendid, thrilling epic adventure.


DVD RELEASE UPDATE


A cause for celebration for fans of the Western genre, Warner Home Video is releasing "The Louis L'Amour Collection" on DVD.


Featuring film adaptations of three of bestselling author Louis L'Amour's classic Western novels, the DVD collection includes "The Sacketts," "Conagher" and "Catlow."


Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott are brothers who migrate west to New Mexico to make their fortunes in cattle-herding and gold prospecting in "The Sacketts."


Sam Elliott and Katherine Ross star as a cowhand and a widowed ranch owner who are drawn to each other when ruthless rustlers threaten his livelihood and her homestead in "Conagher."


Yul Brynner, Richard Crenna and Leonard Nimoy star in "Catlow," the story of a renegade outlaw who wants to pull off a gold heist but finds it hard because he's such a wanted man – by the Mexican army, his hellcat girlfriend, an Indian war party, a vengeful killer and several hotheaded cowpokes from his former gang.


Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.



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