Robin Hood

After such hits as Gladiator, American Gangster, and Body of Lies, Russell Crowe and director Ridley Scott team up yet again to bring us one of the most highly anticipated films of the year. Robin Hood depicts the rise of the legendary archer Robin Longstride (Crowe) from his humble role in the king’s army to his notorious status as an outlaw. After King Richard’s (Huston) death, medieval England is plagued by tyranny in the form of Godfrey (Strong), a royal aide who seeks to facilitate a French invasion.

Meanwhile, Robin travels to Nottingham, where he agrees to take the place of Walter Loxley's (von Sydow) dead son in order to prevent his land being appropriated under the law. Consequently, Robin finds himself married to Walter’s daughter-in-law, Marian (Blanchett). The village constantly finds itself under raids and attacks led by Godfrey, and as a result Robin rallies a group of warriors to fight back and ultimately face the imminent French invasion.

Ridley Scott reinvents the story of Robin Hood in an intriguing way, focusing not on the overdone, run-of-the-mill aspect of the hero that stereotypically steals from the rich and gives to the poor, but rather on the shaping of the legend itself. The cinematography is stunning and the action scenes astounding, with a surprisingly modest usage of CGI that highlights the immediacy and authenticity of the battles.

Crowe delivers a solid performance as the rugged yet relatable hero, and his interactions with the initially hostile Marian are a delight to watch, especially as Blanchett’s Maid Marian is more intriguing and assertive than previous renditions of the same role. Overall the film is a spectacular blockbuster worthy of the high expectations it has generated, and further confirmation of the cinematic enchantment that Scott can create.

Ana Paula Pereira de Souza