Review of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) by Daniel V — 02 Mar 2014

I know I gave this 5 Stars, well it has been one of my favorite movies since it premiered in the summer of 1991, but while this one is 5 Stars, it's extended cut is even better. So how can a perfect movie, in my opinion people, become more perfect? By adding more scenes and an interesting plot to the best character, The Sheriff.

Masterfully played by a master himself, Alan Rickman, the Sheriff of Nottingham is one of the greatest screen villains. He's as charming as he is evil and as hilarious as he is sinister, Rickman's balancing act steals an already exciting adventure movie.

This extended cut is all him and it was probably cut down because he was stealing too much of the movie from the Hero. Who by the way I think was quite capably heroic. Kevin Costner is every much the Robin Hood I have envisioned when I was a kid and the only Robin I knew was a fox.

I really could care less if an accent is there or not. I prefer it not if it's going to be bad. Costner is great actor but he is terrible at accents. Two examples of a great actor doing a terrible accent, Al Pacino in Scarface and it's quasi-sequel Carlito's Way.

He is in and out of accents so badly but he is such a good actor, people don't notice. Plus he yells a lot. Of course if the movie sucks and the accent bad even great actor can save it, Jodie Foster in Elysium.

Morgan Freeman is his usual likable amazing self as Ahzeem, Robin's moorish companion. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio gives as an elegant and beautiful Lady Marian as there has ever been. Robin's well known Band of Merry Men Will Scarlet, Little John and Friar Tuck are well represented here by Christian Slater, Nick Brimble, and Michael McShane respectively.

The action is top notch and the set pieces especially the Tree Village in Sherwood Forest are second to none. It also has one of my favorite and finest film scores of all time. The late, great Michael Kamen composed a rich inspired classic theme that completely encapsulates the epic feel that Robin Hood should command.

RH: POT is fantastic entertainment that is still the finest Robin Hood to ever hit the screen. Well that and it's most excellent companion, Mel Brooks' Classic Robin Hood: Men in Tights.