Russell Crowe and director Ridley Scott are preparing to take us on a new adventure with Robin Hood! I did notice that the trailer looks edgier than previous adaptations and it almost seems to be set in the medieval era.
Roger Friedman in his blog asks:
Does the public want a dark, brooding Robin Hood who takes Sherwood Forest seriously? Robin Hood movies and TV shows are always fun. The Ridley Scott movie doesn’t sound like fun from what I’ve been told. It’s dead serious. “I don’t know if it will make money,” says a source. “But it will be respected. It’s dark, violent and very Gladiator.” “Robin Hood” started out as “Nottingham.” Many scripts came and went, and along with them, many millions of dollars. The shooting script was revised a lot while the movie was being shot. Crowe is prone to clashes with Scott...
>>new extended trailer
>>featurette video
Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn (1938)
Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn in 'Robin and Marian' (1976)
Kevin Costner (1991) and Jonas Armstrong (2006-09)
SYNOPSIS: Russell Crowe stars as the legendary figure known by generations as Robin Hood, whose exploits have endured in popular mythology and ignited the imagination of those who share his spirit of adventure and righteousness. In 13th century England, Robin and his band of marauders confront corruption in a local village and lead an uprising against the crown that will forever alter the balance of world power. And whether thief or hero, one man from humble beginnings will become an eternal symbol of freedom for his people.
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 (Blanchett), 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.
With their country weakened from decades of war, embattled from the ineffective rule of the new king and vulnerable to insurgencies from within and threats from afar, Robin and his men heed a call to ever greater adventure. This unlikeliest of heroes and his allies set off to protect their country from slipping into bloody civil war and return glory to England once more.
View trailer Expected for release: May 14, 2010
IMDb
Russell Crowe & Cate Blanchett
Crowe, Alan Doyle, Scott Grimes, Kevin DurandI didn't recognize Doyle (singer from Great Big Sea) with a beard!
Matthew Macfadyen as Sheriff of Nottingham
The more I read about this movie, the more I feel more uncomfortable. Someone may explain to me how a widow would be "maiden"? Or will they produce a mix of Gladiator with Harlequin romance?
ReplyDeleteThey look far, far too old for the traditional Robin and Marian. He looks more like a Little John or something, not ROBIN HOOD. And "Maid" Marian a widow????
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I'm gonna like it. It sounds too weird to be Robin Hood.
ReplyDeleteHow bizarre that they are setting it after the reign of Richard I, taking out of the realm of the traditional RH stories. And I agree with Shoujofan, what part of Maid involves being a widow? I suppose that was one way of explaining the casting of Cate Blanchett. Interesting that Matthew MacFadyen is playing the Sheriff in this.
ReplyDeleteThis adaptation sounds very, very strange. I can not help it, but casting Russel Crowe as a national hero of these days is kinda unfortunate. I am sure that some people will find it as a good film, but I must say "No" - though I would love to see MM in another period/historical drama.
ReplyDelete