Review of Robin Hood (2010) by James W — 24 Jun 2014

An overlong, bloated, uneventful bore of a movie, Robin Hood opens with promise but quickly descends into a journey of talkative drama. Russell Crowe seems to have left his charisma at home and brought in a monotone voice, making for a rather bland interpretation of the hero. Cate Blanchett does her absolute best with what she's given, and most of it's standing around cleaning out her farmhouse and riding a few horses in a few fields, how has an Oscar winning actress been reduced down to a small role, or maybe should I ask what Blanchett saw here?

Ridley Scott's scale is present but not merely for long enough. The opening attack on Chalus castle is rather cool, the size of the army, the bows flying through the air in the hundreds and men charging against the castle doors, it's signature Ridley Scott action, one that leaves you jaw agape at his ability to immerse you in his epic battles, and once the flames erupt in this sequence you truly get the feeling this Robin Hood will be an entertaining epic with gripping storytelling but no, one decent action scene is not enough. The cinematography is undeniable gorgeous, sprawling beaches, forestry and looming castles look great, and there's a great action shot of Robin Hood looking down the bow aiming his arrow, water dripping off it, and then he fires. There's thought and craft for the sets and camerawork but nothing else.

Along with A Good Year and Body Of Lies, Robin Hood joins those two as Scott's weakest films, they barely measure up to Gladiator, American Gangster or Prometheus and worst of all, they commit the sin of being absolutely boring.