Robin Hood (2010)
I avoided the 2010 Robin Hood because of the rumor that it was too violent, and why watch a Russell Crowe movie if he has a bad haircut? Now that it’s Cate Blanchett week at Hot Toasty Rag, I decided to rent it. Although she does play Maid Marion, the story in this version is quite different; she’s not exactly “maid” Marion. She’s married!
In this version, the film takes us through the origin of Robin Hood’s band of merry men – but it takes a while to get there. This is a very long movie, and the first hour is battle upon battle upon battle. Marion remains in the village waiting for her husband and caring for her blind father-in-law, Max von Sydow. When Prince John (played by Oscar Isaac) gets put into power, his head bad guy (Mark Strong) heads into battle again. Robin finally falls into company with Friar Tuck (Mark Addy), Little John (Kevin Durand), and Wil Scarlet (Scott Grimes). In this version, the Sheriff of Nottingham (Matthew Macfadyen) is not featured nearly as prominently as the other bad guys.
However are Robin and Marion going to meet, let alone get together? When her husband dies and asks Robin to visit his family and present his sword to his father, Robin gets to travel to the village. Anyone who rented this movie to see a romantic version is in for a disappointment. There are a few flirty glances, but that’s about it. This movie is far more about the fighting than the humor and romance, like other versions. You’ll see lots of familiar faces, though, including William Hurt, Eileen Atkins, and Danny Huston. But if you’re a Max von Sydow fan, you might not want to rent it – or at least keep your fast-forward button handy, like I did.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to violence, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
More Cate Blanchett movies here!
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1938's The Adventures of Robin Hood here!
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1991's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves here!
In this version, the film takes us through the origin of Robin Hood’s band of merry men – but it takes a while to get there. This is a very long movie, and the first hour is battle upon battle upon battle. Marion remains in the village waiting for her husband and caring for her blind father-in-law, Max von Sydow. When Prince John (played by Oscar Isaac) gets put into power, his head bad guy (Mark Strong) heads into battle again. Robin finally falls into company with Friar Tuck (Mark Addy), Little John (Kevin Durand), and Wil Scarlet (Scott Grimes). In this version, the Sheriff of Nottingham (Matthew Macfadyen) is not featured nearly as prominently as the other bad guys.
However are Robin and Marion going to meet, let alone get together? When her husband dies and asks Robin to visit his family and present his sword to his father, Robin gets to travel to the village. Anyone who rented this movie to see a romantic version is in for a disappointment. There are a few flirty glances, but that’s about it. This movie is far more about the fighting than the humor and romance, like other versions. You’ll see lots of familiar faces, though, including William Hurt, Eileen Atkins, and Danny Huston. But if you’re a Max von Sydow fan, you might not want to rent it – or at least keep your fast-forward button handy, like I did.
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to violence, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
More Cate Blanchett movies here!
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1938's The Adventures of Robin Hood here!
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1991's Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves here!