The way he chews scenery in that film is just excellent. Every line has an exclamation mark. "Why a spoon, cousin? Why not an axe--" "Because it's dull you twit, it'll hurt more!"
Much as I respect Mayo for keeping Mark on his toes, I think it's foolish to suggest that this was intended as a family-friendly Robin Hood movie (if kids did happen to enjoy it though, fair enough). It's much too self-serious, portentous, gloomy and talky for family audiences, and the big action scenes are reserved for the start and the climax
@eveningtsar Man, that's actually a really good way of putting it, "Will they remember it fondly when they grow up?". That's something you can apply to almost any movie. Whenever you watch a movie and you're hesitant about what you think of it, the classic "It was well made, I liked a lot of the elements, so why am I not more impressed or touched?" situation, just ask yourself if you will remember if fondly, or indeed at all, in a couple of years. Good comment eveningtsar, thumbs up.
I think he's right on: this Robin Hood was dreary and dull. I always defended "Prince of Thieves". Whatever its faults, it was a fun movie. It had likable heroes and memorable villains and dynamic fight choreography and was filmed in natural colour as opposed to that depressing shade of blue that seems to infest most movies nowadays. Saying the kids will like it isn't saying much: kids will like anything with swords in it. The question is will they remember it fondly when they grow up?
I was born in '85 and saw Prince of Thieves as a kid. I imagine that's part of the reason why I love it so much. I still love it today, in spite of its many imperfections.
I was in high school when Robin Hood came out and saw it in theaters. No idea why. As soon as it was over I forgot basically everything about it except that it was dull and dark (turn the lights on!!). Also the soundtrack was nice in places.
think Mark is so right. This film looked pretty, well shot, lots of action, loads of Ariel shots etc, and unfortunately, boring. Lets have Prince Of Thieves back! Or Gladiator! I have faith Ridley Scott will return to form tho.
@algildea I think the film lacked drive, it tried too hard to shoehorn in real historical events only to abandon that narrative for a fictional French invasion plotline, and none of the characters had a chance to shine. A shame- after Kingdom of Heaven I was really looking forward to this.
The French invasion wasn't fictional. it happened in 1216, though after John had gone back on Magna Carta, rather than before as the film portrays it. The Barons actually invited Prince Louis of France to take the crown.
Not a bad movie, but it doesn't have a strong core. It feels listless. When it ended it immediately vanished from my memory. "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves" was quite stodgy and Kevin Costner seemed uncomfortable as Robin Hood. Richard Lester's romantic, bittersweet "Robin and Marian" while also flawed was a whole lot better. And it had a dream cast: Sean Connery as Robin, Audrey Hepburn as Maid Marian, Nicol Williamson as Little John, Robert Shaw as the Sheriff of Nottingham, and Ian Holm, Denholm Elliott, Kenneth Haigh, Ronnie Barker, Victoria Merida Roja (Victoria Abril) in a walk-through role as Queen Isabella , and Richard Harris as an alarmingly capricious Richard the Lionheart pulling an arrow out of his neck. Not an actionfest, but at times realistically brutal. It was remarkably well shot by David Watkin in earthy, autumnal colors. And also has a nice score by John Barry. A marvelous and sadly neglected movie.
I do agree with what Mayo was saying, which is that this Robin Hood is enjoyable despite the Irish/Australian/Geordi/English accent. Also I did wish it was more Gladiator-ish which is brilliant.
@seleucid23 It didn't get to number one on the opening weekend in the states, that's not a great sign. Unless there is great word of mouth (which there hasn't been), the box office receipts tend to trail off quite quickly in subsequent weeks. I don't think it will be a block buster either - it will make a fairly good profit though I'd imagine after international sales and DVDs. I tempted to go just to see Crowes bizarre accent in it
@terratrema I'm told that originally it was going to be turning the whole thing on its head, with the Sheriff as the good guy and Hood as a ruthless thug masquerading as a hero of the people. Then they decided that would be too tricky and just gritted the basic story.
The film wasnt bad really its just already been done before.I thought even at the end it reminded me so much of Saving Private Ryans opening.I cant really see Ridley Scott going to the trouble of doing a sequel though.
I agree with what Kermode says about this new Robin Hood not being very enjoyable to watch compared to Prince Thieves, yes Prince of Thieves was very camp and silly but you can't say that it wasn't fun to watch despite it's all too obvious flaws. Robin Hood 2010 on the otherhand was very dull, a prime example of a film that takes itself far too seriously whilst forgetting to include the all important excitement factor.
I saw this Robin Hood on Saturday, and although i quite enjoyed the movie. I did think it was instantly forgettable. P S, If you squint at the screen during the first 15 minutes you would swear that you were watching Gladiator. I wonder if Ridley will do a bloody Directors cut.
5:18 ...Kermode... Most kids don't think THAT deeply! They mostly judge a character by it's look. "Oh, that guy looks cool and his name is Robin Hood, he's the good guy! Oh, that guy with a scar in his face and the threatening expression is the villian!" And when they judge a movie they mostly think in black and white, they either go "yeah, I like it" or "No, it sucks"! You know, for being a huge fan of "Mary Poppins" Kermode sure forgot how kids see things.
i really enjoyed this film. from start to finish it had my attention and i felt it introduced us to the character we know from past robin hood stories. lil john friar tuck. kign john in a really good way. this issues with crowes accent tbh i never picked up on anything throughout the film so for me that wasnt really an issue. overall i really enjyoed this film one of the better ones ive seen this year behind sherlock holmes and iron man 2
This film is almost as bottomlessly rotten as Prometheus. Ridley Scott has been gradually deteriorating since Thelma and Louise. And with Prometheus, he has produced something that, I think, has a reasonable claim to being the worst film ever made He's also a money-grubbing bastard. Robin Hood has nothing to do with Robin Hood, but it's called Robin Hood to attract a larger audience. He kept suggesting to the media that Prometheus was an Alien prequel (only slightly) to attract a larger audience
I'm not sure if Mark is just being praiseworthy of Mark Strong because he met the guy a few weeks ago but Mark Strong was not interesting in this film (not his fault, I think he's great generally). Even the esteemed William Hurt could not save this film. It's boring, pointless and aimless.
Why on earth did they give this movie such an easy ride? Script lines like "You are much wiser than your owl", Robin Hood inventing magna carta! I mean wtf, this was a stinker!
There was nothing wrong with prince of thieves. I really liked that movie and the characters and actors were much better and more interesting than this one. I was incredibly bored through all of the movie
it isnt a terrible film but half way through it really loses it. it's hard to believe this film came from the same person who made alien and bladerunner. ridley scott has become mainstream sad to say
I don't think Kermode went far enough here. I thought the movie was mind-numbingly boring. They go for the "gritty, realistic" approach to the story this time, but when adventure movies are done in that style they often end up just dreary and dull. This was no exception. Plus there was no "rob the rich to feed the poor", no Merry Men, hardly any Sheriff of Nottingham or Little John; the movie might as well have been called "Banal Medieval War Movie". But then it might not have made as much money
The film’s stylish, action packed & well directed, however the acting (especially leading actor Russell Crowe) is poor as the characters are dull, the film’s long & underwritten. (39%) (2/5 stars) (mixed)
The movie was awful! I hate it so much. The last BBC TV series was painfully historically inaccurate but just like Prince of Thieves at least it was entertaining and more "fresh take" on the legend.
I loved this movie. You're reading too much into it this time. Sometimes ordinary people do things that make a difference. Crowe didn't need to own every scene in this sense. Which is odd, I agree with you about 95% of the time. Feathered haircuts never crossed my mind while watching this movie multiple times.
Errol Flynn's Robin Hood is still the standard. I could watch it over and over.
Prince of thieves is a lot of fun, Alan rickman made that film and nearly 30 years after seeing it at the cinema, I still really enjoy watching it
The way he chews scenery in that film is just excellent. Every line has an exclamation mark.
"Why a spoon, cousin? Why not an axe--"
"Because it's dull you twit, it'll hurt more!"
I like Mayo he interjects funny things at times. He keeps Kermode on track at times.
Give me Prince of Thieves any day over this.
I'm going to come right out and say it; Costner's hair in PoT was awesome
LOL - kids asking "Why aren't I getting more of Mark Strong?"
Much as I respect Mayo for keeping Mark on his toes, I think it's foolish to suggest that this was intended as a family-friendly Robin Hood movie (if kids did happen to enjoy it though, fair enough). It's much too self-serious, portentous, gloomy and talky for family audiences, and the big action scenes are reserved for the start and the climax
What was ridley scott thinking.
@eveningtsar Man, that's actually a really good way of putting it, "Will they remember it fondly when they grow up?". That's something you can apply to almost any movie.
Whenever you watch a movie and you're hesitant about what you think of it, the classic "It was well made, I liked a lot of the elements, so why am I not more impressed or touched?" situation, just ask yourself if you will remember if fondly, or indeed at all, in a couple of years. Good comment eveningtsar, thumbs up.
I think he's right on: this Robin Hood was dreary and dull. I always defended "Prince of Thieves". Whatever its faults, it was a fun movie. It had likable heroes and memorable villains and dynamic fight choreography and was filmed in natural colour as opposed to that depressing shade of blue that seems to infest most movies nowadays.
Saying the kids will like it isn't saying much: kids will like anything with swords in it. The question is will they remember it fondly when they grow up?
Mark looks like FBI Regional Bureau Chief Gordon Cole (David Lynch) from Twin Peaks. "HE'S GONE! HE'S GONE! ALBERT, CALL THE FRONT DESK!"
kermode was right about the box office
I was born in '85 and saw Prince of Thieves as a kid. I imagine that's part of the reason why I love it so much. I still love it today, in spite of its many imperfections.
How many tedious and aimless movies can Ridley make and still have folks call him genius? I count 7.
I agree. He seems to have fallen into the Hollywood trap of mistaking spectacle for entertainment
Mark is right on this movie
I was in high school when Robin Hood came out and saw it in theaters. No idea why. As soon as it was over I forgot basically everything about it except that it was dull and dark (turn the lights on!!). Also the soundtrack was nice in places.
think Mark is so right. This film looked pretty, well shot, lots of action, loads of Ariel shots etc, and unfortunately, boring. Lets have Prince Of Thieves back! Or Gladiator! I have faith Ridley Scott will return to form tho.
It should have been called Robin Hood Episode I: The French Menace
He was right. Mark Strong was the most interesting character in it.
@algildea I think the film lacked drive, it tried too hard to shoehorn in real historical events only to abandon that narrative for a fictional French invasion plotline, and none of the characters had a chance to shine. A shame- after Kingdom of Heaven I was really looking forward to this.
The French invasion wasn't fictional. it happened in 1216, though after John had gone back on Magna Carta, rather than before as the film portrays it. The Barons actually invited Prince Louis of France to take the crown.
Not a bad movie, but it doesn't have a strong core. It feels listless. When it ended it immediately vanished from my memory. "Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves" was quite stodgy and Kevin Costner seemed uncomfortable as Robin Hood. Richard Lester's romantic, bittersweet "Robin and Marian" while also flawed was a whole lot better. And it had a dream cast: Sean Connery as Robin, Audrey Hepburn as Maid Marian, Nicol Williamson as Little John, Robert Shaw as the Sheriff of Nottingham, and Ian Holm, Denholm Elliott, Kenneth Haigh, Ronnie Barker, Victoria Merida Roja (Victoria Abril) in a walk-through role as Queen Isabella , and Richard Harris as an alarmingly capricious Richard the Lionheart pulling an arrow out of his neck. Not an actionfest, but at times realistically brutal. It was remarkably well shot by David Watkin in earthy, autumnal colors. And also has a nice score by John Barry. A marvelous and sadly neglected movie.
+Max B. My favorite Robin Hood movie is a TV version made in 1991 starring Patrick Bergin and Uma Thurman.
I do agree with what Mayo was saying, which is that this Robin Hood is enjoyable despite the Irish/Australian/Geordi/English accent. Also I did wish it was more Gladiator-ish which is brilliant.
@Vebinz Your right!Thats what the skill is these days.
@seleucid23 It didn't get to number one on the opening weekend in the states, that's not a great sign. Unless there is great word of mouth (which there hasn't been), the box office receipts tend to trail off quite quickly in subsequent weeks. I don't think it will be a block buster either - it will make a fairly good profit though I'd imagine after international sales and DVDs. I tempted to go just to see Crowes bizarre accent in it
What big, flappy hands!
@terratrema I'm told that originally it was going to be turning the whole thing on its head, with the Sheriff as the good guy and Hood as a ruthless thug masquerading as a hero of the people. Then they decided that would be too tricky and just gritted the basic story.
Does Mayo not like Kermode?
He seemed quite snarky near the end.
Otherwise really liking these reviews!
Well he's right. Kids wouldn't like it because it was boring and it wasn't the Robin Hood story
The film wasnt bad really its just already been done before.I thought even at the end it reminded me so much of Saving Private Ryans opening.I cant really see Ridley Scott going to the trouble of doing a sequel though.
Lol, I've never seen Mayo quite this uppity.
Accurate footsteps...in pine woodland in England in the Middle Ages...nooooooo!
The Kevin Costner movie is better.
@MegaPhoenixBird I agree i thought Kingdom Of Heaven was bad.I liked Prince of Thieves too minus Costners accent.
@kieranbird5 Yes, they are large enough to hold a Bible.
I agree with what Kermode says about this new Robin Hood not being very enjoyable to watch compared to Prince Thieves, yes Prince of Thieves was very camp and silly but you can't say that it wasn't fun to watch despite it's all too obvious flaws. Robin Hood 2010 on the otherhand was very dull, a prime example of a film that takes itself far too seriously whilst forgetting to include the all important excitement factor.
@TulseLuper its france so your right
Your quite right Mark
I saw this Robin Hood on Saturday, and although i quite enjoyed the movie. I did think it was instantly forgettable. P S, If you squint at the screen during the first 15 minutes you would swear that you were watching Gladiator. I wonder if Ridley will do a bloody Directors cut.
5:18
...Kermode... Most kids don't think THAT deeply! They mostly judge a character by it's look. "Oh, that guy looks cool and his name is Robin Hood, he's the good guy! Oh, that guy with a scar in his face and the threatening expression is the villian!" And when they judge a movie they mostly think in black and white, they either go "yeah, I like it" or "No, it sucks"!
You know, for being a huge fan of "Mary Poppins" Kermode sure forgot how kids see things.
From the trailers, I thought the movie was attempting something like Braveheart.
i really enjoyed this film. from start to finish it had my attention and i felt it introduced us to the character we know from past robin hood stories. lil john friar tuck. kign john in a really good way.
this issues with crowes accent tbh i never picked up on anything throughout the film so for me that wasnt really an issue.
overall i really enjyoed this film one of the better ones ive seen this year behind sherlock holmes and iron man 2
"you've got dead ears mate"!
This film is almost as bottomlessly rotten as Prometheus.
Ridley Scott has been gradually deteriorating since Thelma and Louise. And with Prometheus, he has produced something that, I think, has a reasonable claim to being the worst film ever made
He's also a money-grubbing bastard. Robin Hood has nothing to do with Robin Hood, but it's called Robin Hood to attract a larger audience. He kept suggesting to the media that Prometheus was an Alien prequel (only slightly) to attract a larger audience
I'm not sure if Mark is just being praiseworthy of Mark Strong because he met the guy a few weeks ago but Mark Strong was not interesting in this film (not his fault, I think he's great generally). Even the esteemed William Hurt could not save this film. It's boring, pointless and aimless.
Why on earth did they give this movie such an easy ride? Script lines like "You are much wiser than your owl", Robin Hood inventing magna carta! I mean wtf, this was a stinker!
I'm really get tired of all those "dark and gritty" films.
"Dark and gritty" does NOT equal realism or quality.
Sorry I missed the bit where you reviewed the film amongst the waffling please start again
There was nothing wrong with prince of thieves. I really liked that movie and the characters and actors were much better and more interesting than this one. I was incredibly bored through all of the movie
It missed totally this movie and I love ridley scott but this one is a huge turkey
I think Simon was getting pissed at Kermode in this.
This movie was boring as hell.
it isnt a terrible film but half way through it really loses it. it's hard to believe this film came from the same person who made alien and bladerunner. ridley scott has become mainstream sad to say
Nah. Prometheus, for all its flaws, had Idris Elba, Fassbender and Rapace. There are far worse films without good actors to redeem them.
Kermode might be right about the film, but I'd expect him to be wrong about the box office.
Am I the only person who DOESN'T think Kermode has big hands?! They look normal to me....
I don't think Kermode went far enough here. I thought the movie was mind-numbingly boring.
They go for the "gritty, realistic" approach to the story this time, but when adventure movies are done in that style they often end up just dreary and dull. This was no exception.
Plus there was no "rob the rich to feed the poor", no Merry Men, hardly any Sheriff of Nottingham or Little John; the movie might as well have been called "Banal Medieval War Movie".
But then it might not have made as much money
Simon was wrong,this movie was dull
The film’s stylish, action packed & well directed, however the acting (especially leading actor Russell Crowe) is poor as the characters are dull, the film’s long & underwritten. (39%) (2/5 stars) (mixed)
Russell Crowe...too old?
It was awful
movie wasnt great .cant b arsed to watch it again
@TulseLuper
LMAO
That was a much better idea. Unfortunately he ended up making a very dull film.
The movie was awful! I hate it so much. The last BBC TV series was painfully historically inaccurate but just like Prince of Thieves at least it was entertaining and more "fresh take" on the legend.
Robin Hood was not fun by any means.
I loved this movie. You're reading too much into it this time. Sometimes ordinary people do things that make a difference. Crowe didn't need to own every scene in this sense. Which is odd, I agree with you about 95% of the time. Feathered haircuts never crossed my mind while watching this movie multiple times.
Prince of thieves was a rip off of Robin of Sherwood, which is much better. Even the line '... and ban christmas' was a rip off from that show.
I thought this movie was great.