Review of Robin Hood (2018) by Alan C — 28 Nov 2018

Another attempt at an origin story for the transition from Robin of Locksley to Robin Hood. There are changes to the canon enshrined in songs and attempts to make the story obviously relevant to today. Some modern characters are translated to the crusade efforts and the megalomaniacal Sherrif of Nottingham echoes world leaders.

---Spoilers---.

Even as a middling student of the era, the armour, weapons and tactics portrayed are jarring. They evoke more the current times and what a modern military encounter would be like. The coat of plates, looking like a flak jacket would not be likely as general issue equipment. Using longbows in close combat held full draw would be most unusual as swords and shields tended to rule.

As in a previous retelling, Robin falls in with a Moor. This is a saving feature of the movie providing a pathway for the sheltered conscript to move from a talented bleeding heart liberal to a daring-do disruptor of demegogary. Training scenes hearken to the Mask of Zorro and have very entertaining sequences.

The armour of the sherrif's men jars the sensibilities again as each suit of full plate would be a knight's ransom and the sameness of uniform makes the force look more like storm troopers from Star Wars. As a visual poetic metaphore it works some.

Missing in action are: King John and King Richard even as honourable mentions.

Marion and Tuck are woven into the plot nicely and add a layer of intrigue as does the French Revolution style stirring in the peasantry of Nottingham. Some elements of romance and betrayal get added by the subplot of the story of Robin and Marion. It takes some post analysis to realize the added depth and twists.

The plot car chases along to its conclusion setting up for the sequel with Robin in the greenwood with a village band of merry MeV, Marion, Tuck, and the Moor now revealed as Little John.

I somewhat enjoyed the movie as the actual close combat archery appeals with its Matrix likr "arrow time.".