As a big Ridley Scott fan, I was a bit disappointed with the trailer of Robin Hood; it felt like a sequel to Kingdom of Heaven. At first, there was no urgency to see the movie. But, who was I kidding, I always see Ridley Scott’s films in the big screen. To my surprise, Robin Hood is a solid movie, with Ridley Scott’s signature stamped all over it, but it’s not without its flaws.

Firstly, I have a problem with Russell Crowe as Robin Hood. He is a great actor, and he carried the film pretty well. But, I still cannot accept him as Robin Hood; perhaps he’s too old, or maybe a little too fat, his accent didn’t sound English either, more like Scottish. But, maybe I’m mistaken since Ridley Scott is English, and should know the difference.

I was disappointed that this film was rated PG-13; but this movie is violent for PG-13, this is how I prefer it. The arrows piercing through the enemy’s flesh was enough to make me cringe and smile at the same time.

Cate Blanchette was decent as Marion Loxley, but all I saw was Cate pretending to be Marion, she didn’t sell her character well. Her scenes were too long and served no purpose for the storyline. Scott emphasized too much on how noble she was because she was out there in the fields with her servants. Okay, I get it!

The cinematography is great, as it was done by John Mathieson, whom was responsible for Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven. But, unlike his previous movies, Robin Hood looks much cleaner and brighter; the waterfront scene looks amazing at dusk, while the lighting of the forest was spectacular.

Overall, I enjoyed this film, but it’s not Scott’s greatest work. It’s a bit too long, and the acting is flat; some scenes were repetitive, but the cinematography, and the fierce battle scenes were enough to keep me captivated. I recommend this film if enjoyed Scott’s previous work such as Gladiator or Kingdom of Heaven.

Grade: B-

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