Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett Forge an Epic Adventure in ‘Robin Hood’

Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 13, 2010 - 8:04pm

CHICAGO – “T’wang!” is the the sound of an archer’s arrow going right into the center of the summer movie kick-off season. Director Ridley Scott, Cate Blanchett, Max Von Sydow, William Hurt, Mark Strong, Oscar Isaac and Russell Crowe – in the title role of “Robin Hood” – offer a compelling story, plenty of action and an epic quality to the oft-told legend.

Rating: 4.0/5.0

This is the Robin Hood of the Crusades, as the film opens at the end of the 12th century, and King Richard the Lionheart (Danny Huston) is leading his troops through the last invasion in France before everyone gets to go home. Robin is shown to be exceptionally brave through battle, and establishes further credibility when he meets his compatriot Little John (Kevin Durand) during a game of chance. When an encounter with the King lands both of them in the stocks, they miss the final battle, where King Richard is killed by an errant arrow.

Escaping the stocks and seeking passage back to their homeland, Robin and his companions – including Will Scarlet (Scott Grimes) and Allan A’Dayle (Alan Doyle) – encounter Godfrey (Mark Stong), a double agent for the French king, who has raided the company responsible for carrying King Richard’s crown back to England. Robin’s men dispatch the marauders, but Godfrey escapes. At the scene of the raid, Robin receives a special sword, and promises the dying knight who owns it that he will personally deliver it back to the warrior’s father in Nottingham.

Assuming the identities of the knights who are delivering the crown, Robin and his men get their passage back to England and completes the delivery of the headgear to the new King John (Oscar Isaac), an immature egotist who immediately starts rescinding all of his brother Richard’s good intentions. Enter the evil Godfrey again, who now also sits on the court of the king while planning with the French to plunder England. The legend of Robin Hood begins with his returning of the sword to Sir Walter Loxley (Max Von Sydow), pretending to be that dead knight and husband to Lady Marian (Cate Blachett), plus assuming the duties of protector in Nottingham, despite the ineffectual Sheriff (Matthew Macfadyen). a beekeeping Friar Tuck (Mark Addy) and Godfrey’s pursuit of his head.

”Robin Hood” opens everywhere May 14th. Featuring Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Max Von Sydow, William Hurt, Mark Strong, Oscar Isaac, Danny Huston and Mark Addy, written by Brian Helgeland and directed by Ridley Scott.