ROBIN HOOD

Robin Hood stars Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong and Max von Sydow. Directed by Ridley Scott. Rated PG-13 with a running time of 2 hrs and 28 mins.

Robin Hood chronicles the life of an expert archer, previously interested only in self-preservation, from his service in King Richard's army against the French. Upon Richard's death, Robin travels to Nottingham, a town suffering from the corruption of a despotic sheriff and crippling taxation, where he falls for the spirited widow Lady Marion, a woman skeptical of the identity and motivations of this crusader from the forest. Hoping to earn the hand of Maid Marion and salvage the village, Robin assembles a gang whose lethal mercenary skills are matched only by its appetite for life. Together, they begin preying on the indulgent upper class to correct injustices under the sheriff.

First off i think Russell Crowe is a decent actor and he is good playing these war heroes like the one in Gladiator and now Robin Hood. Too bad Robin Hood is not nearly as entertaining as movies like Gladiator. There is not enough action and too much talking. The trailer is chalk full of battle scenes but let me tell you there is only one big battle scene and it is in the last 20 minutes of this 2 hour and 28 minute movie. This movie is way too long and I think they could have at least cut some of the boring talking scenes to make this movie at least 2 hours. That being said this movie's cast is excellent its just the script does not allow them to do much at all. I just don't get why they would tell the origins of Robin Hood. I don't think anyone really cared where he came from they just like seeing him steal from the rich and give to the poor, but unfortunately that is not in this movie. You can appreciate what the director and crew are doing but i just think it does not work too well for an action adventure movie. The end is just basically setting up a sequel if this one does well. One person I enjoyed particularly was Mark Strong who plays the main baddie in this movie. Strong is very good at playing bad guys. He played the bad guys in Sherlock Holmes and Kick-Ass and I believe he is also going to play the villian in the upcoming Green Lantern movie. Kudos to Strong! Good acting and a decent battle climax aren't good enough to save this movie. Overall this flick is mediocre.

C