Entertainment

Film Review: Robin Hood

Still from Robin Hood

The choreography of the fight scenes with the occasional bit of humour make it all worthwhile.

BBC television series Peaky Blinders director Otto Bathurst has taken a hiatus from television to direct his first feature film Robin Hood starring the sensational Kingsman Taron Egerton as the heroic legend. Otto was so keen to have Taron as the folklore hero that the original filming was postponed. Was he worth the wait?

There have been many versions and players of Robin Hood since films of the legend began. The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn in 1938, Kevin Costner as Robin Hood in 1999, and Russell Crowe as Robin Hood in 2010. Was this version any different and better than the last? I don’t think so.

An enjoyable film nevertheless, with the headliner roles well placed and suitably played. Taron Egerton did justice to Robin Hood as both Lord and crusader; Jamie Foxx did fabulously as the Moorish commander. The other familiar faces are Maid Marian, Friar Tuck, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and Will Scarlet. All these roles were aptly performed.

If you are a hardcore fan of Robin Hood, this particular re-telling seemed to have more of a focus on the corrupt and evil Catholic Church more so than the English Crown; the cast seems to be a little younger than previous portrayals and for the first time Robin Hood plays the role of a double agent by working with the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Otto Bathurst’s Robin Hood tells us the story of how the Lord of Loxley falls in love with the beautiful Maid Marian only to then be drafted to fight in the crusades. Upon his return, under the guidance of his Moorish commander he acts as a double agent, working his way into the trust of the corrupt Catholic Church and Sheriff of Nottingham whilst at the same time stealing from the rich to give to the poor as Robin Hood. As the film progresses, all things come to a head, and the choreography of the fight scenes with the occasional bit of humour make it all worthwhile. No doubt a sequel is intended.

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