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Pair of early reviews come in on Ridley Scott's ROBIN HOOD!
Hey folks, Harry here - well these two reviews certainly bring expectations down a bit, but then I haven't been really feeling much of what we've seen thus far. But I'm still anxious to see Ridley's ROBIN HOOD. I remember I went to see the Kevins ROBIN HOOD PRINCE OF THIEVES after local critics completely thrashed it. And while it is nowhere near the awesome of Flynn's ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD - I was surprisingly OK with Costner's turn. I have no idea what I'm going to think of this. But the criticisms in both reviews kinda supports some of my thoughts about the footage we've seen thus far. We'll see soon enough...
Hey Harry, I am a fan of your site and used to live in Austin while I was in college, but moved back to Dallas once I graduated. They had a screening of Robin Hood last night and I thought I would put in my two cents since I haven't read any reviews of it on your website. I'm warning you now, this is a negative review. If you use this at all, call me Mr. Midnight. Imagine Gladiator was a person...a male. Gladiator one day was walking along a street and accidentally bumped into a woman. That woman's name...let's call her Kingdom of Heaven (theatrical cut). Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven dated a few times, fell in love, and got married. On their wedding night, they had their ritual wedding fuck and nine months later, popped out a baby boy. That baby boy had the personality of Gladiator, but basically had all the looks and features of Kingdom of Heaven (theatrical cut). They named that baby Robin Hood. Because that's what Robin Hood is...a movie that completely rips off Ridley Scott's two better films, and while it may be a cut above the theatrical version of Kingdom of Heaven, it is in no way in the same ballpark of Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven (director's cut). It's as if Ridley Scott got a check to do this movie, said "fuck it," hired Russell Crowe, and told him, "Look, this worked once before, just do your thing whenever I yell action, heck, even completely rip off your Maximus performance, I throw in a cliched boring action sequence or two, and we will make the big bucks box office wise." Uh, you are wrong Mr. Scott. Robin Hood, while not a horrible movie, is a complete mess, and even though the film is a month away, the film I saw was 100% completed, which means don't hope for something else on the screen when you see it in May. Part of the problem with this movie is that it tells the origin story of Robin Hood. And while some would argue that it is unique to tell that story instead of another hackneyed story where he steals from the poor, gives to the rich, all the while trying to avoid the Sheriff of Nottingham and King John, the execution of this story makes it beg the differ. Any Robin Hood tale you see, whether it ranges from Disney's interpretation to Dave Chappelle being Little John, to Kevin Costner being a giant douchebag, all of those films have a 'Robin Hood' type feel to them. This movie, feels like I am watching a fucking sequel to Gladiator. Every shot, every camera angle, every blow to the head, every word coming out of Crowe's mouth SCREAMS Gladiator. The confusing storyline, partially blamed by the films editing, and crusade shit, is where Kingdom of Heaven (theatrical cut) sticks it's head in and waves hello. In this movie, Robin Hood is basically fighting for Sir Richard the Lionheart against France. He talks down to Sir Richard the Lionheart one night and he and his friends, including Little John, are imprisoned just outside the battle stuck on those wooden things you see in other medieval movies. Well, Richard the Lionheart gets killed the next day in battle, Robin Hood escapes, says 'fuck this shit' and heads out. Little does Robin know that the King of France has allies on England's side, including the main main villian Godfrey (played by Kick-Ass's Mark Strong), who tries to intercept the dead king's crown on its way back to Richard's son John, who will now be king. By the way, it doesn't really explain why they need the crown, because crown or no crown, John will be king. I guess it was just that Godfrey had been sent to kill the king but the job was already done for him and returning the crown to John was a way to show loyalty...ah who cares? Anyway, Robin intercepts them, gets the crown, but doesn't get Godfrey in time. A dying man that Godfrey's men ambushed asks Robin to deliver his sword to his father in Nottingham so that his sins may be erased or whatever. So Robin agrees and him and his men go to Nottingham where he meets the dying man's father, who is the ruler of Nottingham, and he also meets the dying man's wife Lady Marion played by Cate Blanchett (we know how that plot line turns out). So anyway, the rest of the movie deals with Godfrey's betrayal of King John and how Godfrey tries to lead France's army to defeat England, a country so divided that France doesn't think it stands a chance...or will Robin Hood make it so? All of this leads up to when Robin Hood is proclaimed an outlaw and finally becomes who he is in legend. One thing I really think is important to tell you is that the trailers to this movie COMPLETELY MISLEADS THE AUDIENCE. Every trailer I have seen, every God damn TV spot that's been aired on television, shows action after action after action after action...after action. The TV spots all basically show the first short battle at the beginning of the movie, and the last battle, which really isn't all that long either. THOSE ARE REALLY THE ONLY TWO BIG ACTION SEQUENCES IN THE MOVIE, along with some minor ambushes. At two hours and ten minutes, you have maybe about twenty minutes of action, and an hour and fifty minutes of lame story, exposition, romance, and Russell Crowe talking like Maximus. So if you are walking into this movie expecting another Gladiator, I'm sorry to say that in the end, you will be sitting on one of those donut things, because you just got raped in the ass. I'm talking George Lucas childhood raping in the ass. If you go in expecting the theatrical version of Kingdom of Heaven, you might come out liking it. But in this movie, when Little John is a big muscular dude, and he explains the reason why he is called Little John is because he has a tiny penis, you know something went wrong with Brian Hedgeland's screenplay. Not all of the movie is bad. Every single locale shot is very beautiful. The cinematography in this thing is excellent and will probably be the only thing that the movie will be remembered for. The musical score is good as well, but not very memorable. The acting is good as a whole, if you leave Crowe's ripped off Academy Award performance out of the picture. Especially Cate Blanchett, who will manage to come out of this thing okay. It's just that the story is really lame and instead of this feeling like an actual Robin Hood movie, you basically get Gladiator/theatrical version Kingdom of Heaven's love child. You don't get the feel of Robin Hood until the last five minutes of the film. The beginning battle was cool, especially the way they blew up the main castle gate, and the ending scene has a few moments, but like I said, nothing memorable at all. The film is completely fucking boring in the middle and even though it picks up at the end, it is not enough to deem it a recommendation.
Then there's this from The Lone Ranger
Hi Harry, here's a review of "Robin Hood". “Robin Hood” by “The Lone Ranger” Apparently, behind-the-scenes turbulence of bringing “Nottingham” to the screen took its toll on this latest incarnation of the “Robin Hood” legend. Actually written as a “prequel” to the more-familiar story, Ridley Scott’s “Robin Hood” is a surprisingly dull and choppy origin film that adds little compelling to the canon and even comes out as a lesser effort than Kevin Costner’s much-derided film. Borrowing from his own “Knight’s Tale”, Helgeland’s screenplay casts Russell Crowe as Robin Longstride, a common archer coming back from the Crusades with his friends after the death of King Richard when fate enters by having them come across the aftermath of an ambush by nasty Mark Strong (here playing a villain again for the third time in almost as many months) that gives them wealth, the crown of King Richard, and the sword of Sir Roger Locksley. Crowe resolves to honor Locksley’s dying wish to return the sword to his father and assuming his name and knighthood, takes the crown to decadent King John (Oscar Issac, doing a nice Rufus Sewell riff) then to Walter Locksley (Max Von Sydow) who drafts Crowe as his “son” in order to keep his daughter (Cate Blanchett) Marian’s estate from being taken after his death. As this is a “prequel”, there’s little of the familiar tale we know. Instead, the plot mostly revolves around Strong preparing the way for a coming French invasion and King John dithering about how to save his throne when he’s not banging a cutie French Princess who wants to be queen. Sydow reveals that Crowe’s father was a “visionary” stonemason who believed the King had rights to his subject and got beheaded for his efforts, so Crowe is knightly in spirit, if not necessarily in title. (Sound familiar?) After more Mark Strong nastiness (the Sheriff of Nottingham is a comic and mostly absent character here), the film winds up with the French invading and Crowe, along with William Hurt (who looks great but doesn’t have much to do) leading the English forces to defeat the French. Crowe’s reward for this is inexplicably to be declared a traitor and outlaw by the King and forced to retreat to Sherwood Forest so we can get on with the rest of the tale. Scott’s virtues as a filmmaker are on view in the look and design of the film, but it all feels terribly second-hand somehow. Crowe and Blanchett have zero chemistry together and Crowe mostly just looks sullen by himself. Of the remaining cast, nobody really stands out except Sydow who’s still stealing scenes even at his age and Isaac, who definitely has the cutest girl in the film and gets to chew the scenary and wake the audience up every now and then. Considering the stories about the film’s troubled production, I don’t know whether the film could ever have been good, but as it, it’s got to rank as one of the biggest disappointments of the season. I guess old Kevin’s finally gotten the last laugh…
Readers Talkback
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I always wanted to do that!! Yay, me!
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Seriously. That would be so awesome yet so messed up.
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that commercial annoys me
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It's rare for Ridley Scott to misfire twice in a row. (I was rather disappointed by "Body of Lies.") I'm happy to hear I'm not the only one who thinks the director's cut of "Kingdom of Heaven" is a totally different film from the theatrical version. I'm not even sure what differences there are between the two, but I just remember not liking the movie at all when I saw it as a new-release DVD, but rather liking it when I watched the Blu-ray director's cut last year.
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The trailer looks awesome - Ridley will be back in form here. Feel free to hate other movies...
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before you die!
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Oh yes.
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April 22, 2010, 10:41 p.m. CST
I guess I'll have to skip this one - I second the return to scif
by Tapioca
anyone know how the Alien Prequel is coming along?
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Too bad he wasn't in this. Fucking spoons, man. Fucking spoons.
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April 22, 2010, 10:42 p.m. CST
Wonder if this will end up being another Kingdom of Heaven...
by thedarklinglord
Where the theatrical release is an incoherent clusterfuck while a vastly improved Director's Cut languishes on a shelf, only to be released after the movie tanks. Because Ridley Scott doesn't tend to make many missteps. In fact, I can't think of a single Ridley Scott movie that I feel totally blows. Tony Scott on the other hand... Well, there's no question who got all the talent in that family.
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Make an Alien sequel or prequel Ridley.
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Isn't this the same crowd that gushes over Blade Runner?
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April 22, 2010, 10:54 p.m. CST
The cut can make it or break it, just like Kingdom...
by Stereotypical Evil Archer
It could be a shitty movie like Kingdom of Heaven, or it could be a great movie Kingdom of Heaven: Director's Cut.<p><p>I'm expecting this to be a great movie soon, or within a couple years.
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April 22, 2010, 10:56 p.m. CST
However, I liked the original Nottingham concept.
by Stereotypical Evil Archer
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I don't begrudge people this kind of take, but I have no interest in it. I like Robin Hood as a action-adventure hero... Give me derring-do, scheming villains, lusty wenches, gorgeous maidens,a trickster hero and, hey, a focus on archery might be nice in a Robin Hood flick. Why is the Disney cartoon fox version the last one to make a big deal about him being a great archer?
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I must hate you now.
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The guy is a one-note actor who once upon a time played that one note convincingly, but not so much any more.
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April 22, 2010, 11:01 p.m. CST
it's okay to post reviews of robin hood, but not ironman2?
by cloudrider`
well, that says it all, doesnt it?
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I'll still check this out, but come on, man. Time for Ridley to return to his sci-fi roots.
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in Costner's Robin Hood. He was over-acting the whole time, a classic example of a stage actor treating film like a state setting.
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I liked the film anyway.
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I'm rarely disappointed by either Crowe or Scott. I'm there.
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ROBIN HOOD, just in general, is...just...boring. I've never seen anything on film that would make me want to see a ROBIN HOOD movie. Nothing. Zip. Nada. As a kid I was bored by the Disney version, as a adult I was bored by the Costner version. The setting, the time, the story...is just intrinsically dull. Set it in space=dull. Set it underwater=dull. Make it into a porno=dull. If I ran a studio and they told me they had cloned Burton and Heston and Bryner and Crawford and wanted to make a 500,000,000,000 ultimate 3D lifelike hologram ROBINHOOD movie, I'd stretch my legs, yawn, and say, "What are you, dense? There is no friggin way I greenlight that tierd old story." Word.
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this time with shia labouf and dakota fanning....so that it makes absolutely no fucking sense, but earns billions
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Wasn't this movie supposed to originally be from the Sheriff's perspective. As in, he's the good guy. I heard Crowe was supposed to play him. Then Ridley jumped the shark and made an unnecessary Robin Hood movie we've seen before.
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Robin Hood and Little John Walkin' through the forest Laughin' back and forth At what the other'ne has to say Reminiscin', This-'n'-thattin' Havin' such a good time Oo-de-lally, Oo-de-lally Golly, what a day Never ever thinkin' there was danger in the water They were drinkin', they just guzzled it down Never dreamin' that a schemin' sherrif and his posse Was a-watchin' them an' gatherin' around Robin Hood and Little John Runnin' through the forest Jumpin' fences, dodgin' trees An' tryin' to get away Contemplatin' nothin' But escape an' fin'lly makin' it Oo-de-lally, Oo-de-lally Golly, what a day Oo-de-lally, Oo-de-lally Golly, what a day
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So wrong. His "overacting" is what made that movie great. And really, it wasn't overacting AT ALL given the way The Sheriff was written.
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to maintain even a semblance of an appropriate accent? He "tried" to affect a dialect, what it was I have NO idea, but Someone on set should have quoted Yoda to him.
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will be loads better, when it comes out next year.
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was a dreadfully watchable film. I think it was Bryan Adams. For some absurd reason in history - I was a huge Bryan Adams fan. Shameful, I know, but there was something about his crooning that just kinda did it for me. I also liked Kevin Reynold's direction, Alan Rickman's weirdness - the odd casting of Morgan Freeman. I don't know - though I kinda hate it, I kinda love it too. It just reminds me of that period in my life and it makes me smile.
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The two Antonio Banderas Zorro movies are the only period swashbucklers in the last 20 or so years which was actually FUN as fuck...light, witty, and charming. Imagine a new Zorro movir done with desaturated colors, shakey-cam swordfights, and a droning Ramen Noodles/Hans Gregson-Jablonsky score? Bring back the Robin Hood who was a dashing rogue with a twinkle in his eye and a wit as sharp as his arrows. I love Scott, but he's made this same fucking move twice now (look for the fourth iteration circa 2015, as they come once every half-decade like clockwork).
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April 22, 2010, 11:48 p.m. CST
Did you know that The Skipper played Little John in the '38 movi
by Nasty In The Pasty
LITTLE BUDDY...!
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I guess Crowe & Scott thought lightning would strike (in a similar place) twice. Guess again, mates. Opening it a week after "Iron Man 2" wasn't too shrewd either.
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So says Dudewithsecrets.
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Yoiks...and away... [whump]<BR><BR>Yoikz...an'...aw-ay... [whump]
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World War Z, for me is like the equivalent of the Blair Witch Project. Unique enough to build a lot of hype in the moment, but once the moment is gone, it fails to leave a mark on the genre.
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Nasty--They weren't really my thing, but what you describe sounds an awfully like the Pirates of the Caribbean movies.
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No question...that Robin Hood is the greatest of all time. One of my favorite scenes in film history.
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...as much as I hate dubbing (I prefer subtitles), is that one day they will dub KC's "Robin Hood: Prince of Theives" with real British actors. Robbie Coltrane and Alan Rickman excluded. Seriously, I once watched 'Prince of Thieves, with the sound muted and was struck by how visually stunning the film was.
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...who worked on the movie and she said that everyone loved working with Cate Blanchett and that the general consensus on Russell Crowe was that he was a huge egomaniacal dickhead who went off on everyone (like Christian Bale did in Terminator 4: Stinkfest Day, and the two actors did not get along that well. Having said that, I think I'll wait for the Director's Cut on DVD / Blu-Ray. Like others have said, Kingdom of heaven was a completely different movie! Besides, it's always good to watch Cate Blancett.
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As far as I'm concerned, Scott gets a free pass for life for making Blade Runner and Kingdom of Heaven - The Director's Cut. When he makes stuff like Black Hawk Down and Alien, its just icing on the cake! I never had a hard-on for Crowe though. He was good in L.A. Confidential and Master and Commander, but I don't think he has earned his free pass yet!
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They've taken the one historically accurate part of some versions of Robin Hood -- in Richard's absence, his brother John tries to take control.<p>I also noticed the Crusades angle is missing. Now, granted, there are many variations of RH, but anyone think they may have decided that they may offend someone by having our hero fight in the Crusades against the Muslims in the holy land?
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Fucks The Haters
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You know like thumbs up, thumbs down
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The second reviewer I can get board with. He seems to have a point and he sticks to it. The movie sucks. <p> The first reviwer though, spends half the review slating the film for being to close to Gladiator, then the second half saying how don't expect another Gladiator. <p> Also this is a sequel. This was the movie they made instead of nick cave penned Gladiator 2. I fully expected it to be another Gladiator, THATS THE POINT. <P> Still gonna go into this with an open mind methinks.
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Seriously, that's like mugging yourself and stealing your iphone.
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Word of the wise to the reviewers. Scott has repeated himself, not ripped-off his older films.
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I liked Prince of Thieves despite my "knowing better". It's ok to enjoy a film on a different level than what your brain tells you, because that's the magic of cinema! If the film leaves you with a provoking experience, including nostalgia, it is worthy of your affection.
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Somehow I turned out not gay.
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nobody ever listens to me...NOW LOOK!
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Right next to the Prince of Theives, and Return of The Jdei
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That would have compelled me to see this.
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to believe these reviews
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Great. Russell (I never met a man I didn't feel I should punch in the face) Crowe and a wheezy old Brit fairy tale combined to make another adventure film set in a boring past with no reason to exist except as a vehicle for a director whose talents are continually wasted and and an actor who I would turn the hose on if I saw him on my lawn. Have another Guinness and speak of the Commonwealth, I'll be having a Lone Star and waiting for the next Star Trek film...
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http://www.fanboyweb.com/?p=271
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April 23, 2010, 1:46 a.m. CST
"I'm talking George Lucas childhood raping in the ass."
by yodalovesyou
I've got just one thing to say to that... CUNT!
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This movie is garbage?!?!?!
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April 23, 2010, 2:08 a.m. CST
LOLLERSKATES!! Honestly.h. who DIDN'T think this would suck?
by LargoJr
You've got WAY too many virtually iconic performances that are a part of this subject matter... From Errol Flynn to Sean Connery.. and yes, even Kevin Costner (granted, he butchered it, but you're not going to soon forget it are you?). <p> Simply put, if you're going to do a 'prequel', it's still got to have the elements that the audience loved in the main story as well. Otherwise, whats the fucking point in even seeing the film or calling it "Robin Hood"? Why not "Crusades", or some such? <p> Finally, Russel Crow is largely overrated as both an actor & a lead. I've never liked him, and think his giving the camera 'a hairy eyeball' for the majority of his career is just boring, practically phoning it in.
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Am I the only one who finds her physically unappealing? I mean, she's not hideously ugly, but there's something about her facial features that just makes me squirm (and not in a good way) when I look at her. She CAN look beautiful. I've seen pictures where she does. But most every movie she's in has her looking distorted, ghoulish, or skin-crawlingly creepy as fuck. The only movie I can think of wherein she wasn't just pretty but actually "Goddamn, I wanna hit that" hot is Veronica Guerin. Which baffles the shit out of me, because I'm generally not a fan of short hair on women, but it seriously worked on her.
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The only thing Crowe is REALLY famous for is his hit show "Foitin 'round the world". You can't cage that guy in England with a bunch of fags shooting arrows anymore. Standards have changed.
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Sorry...it needed to be said. No Mussel Crowe TB should go without a mention of that particularly glorious work of cinematic excellence. Peter Weir...please come back.
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Yes, Costner sucked at his half-assed attempt at a British accent - his voice in general is bad, have you listened to the Dances With Wolves voice-over recently? - but Prince Of Thieves was just a good fun time at the movies. It's as simple as that. It entertains. It has some good humor and some great derring-do, some wicked flying arrow shots, a very pretty and likable Maid Marian, and it all tops off with a cool-as-hell cameo. Yes, it's goofy, but so is Flash Gordon and I love that fucking movie too. Let it go already. It's not accurate, and who gives a shit?? Sean Connery plays a Russian sub commander with a Scottish burr. Repeat after me: Who...Gives...A...Shit.
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On Costner's Boston accent in Thirteen Days.
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He has misunderstood the Little John/tiny penis line completely. It's a throwaway gag when some drunk guy's having a go at him in a tavern. I've also seen the movie and thought it was really enjoyable - no Gladiator maybe, but that doesn't mean it's bad.
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LOLWUT. Anyway, thought this looked pony from day one. I am not at all surprised to hear it's wank.
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what I thought already. Apart from Bladerunner and Alien I don't like Scotts films. If the cinematography is good then the cinematographer takes that credit.<p>As for russel crowe, he's the old sam worthington. boring, wet and one dimensional!
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DEMANDS your viewing if you haven't done so before. Practically the only thing wrong with it is Orlando Bloom and his Orlando Bloominess, He's not playing Balian - He's playing Orlando Bloom, but that's what you get with Orlando Bloom anyway and honestly who the fuck cares about Balian? I will personally slap you and call you a sonavabitch if you deny that Edward Norton playing a an ultra-badass leper king is not worth your time. Eva Green... Liam Neeson... Brendan Gleeson... Jeremy Irons... You sonuvabitch. Watch this movie or eat dog shit.
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April 23, 2010, 3:33 a.m. CST
So the trailers are accurate except that it's also really dull
by JT Kirk
Yeah, that's not a surprise in the least, but thanks for writing them reviews anyway guys. I plan on avoiding this one like the plague, but I had already made those plans long, long ago. <p>Prince of Thieves is an entertaining movie, it works for what it is, it's not trying to be something amazing, just a Robin Hood that is told in a movie with some decent settings and actors. It's a good cast and is paced well, there's a balance of romance and humor and adventure. It's not brilliant, but at least it knows what the fuck to do with a Robin Hood story, unlike this turkey we're talking about in here. I think there's too much blowback from Costner's ego period in general, even Waterworld was an entertaining movie (bloated though it may be). Yes, he makes overindulgent self-important pap from time to time, but not everything he does is that, it's just cheap to paint Prince of Thieves with the same brush some folks paint The Postman.
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Blade Runner alone would make Ridley Scott not overrated. And then he made other very good movies.
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It was easy to see that a better movie was lurking somethere inside that movie. Which was proved in spades with the release of the director's cut. Of cours,e now whenever i think of the movie, i only think of the Director's cut. The theatrical cut is now a curio, but not the movie itself.
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Everybody loves to hate on PRINCE OF THEIVES but personally I really digged the film when I saw it in theaters as a teen. I think I was 18 or 19. It kicked my ass! I just saw it again a week or so ago on Blu-Ray and see the flaws but I can't deny I still have a great fondness for the film. Costner has great charisma and even though he doesn't even try to sound English (in the commentary track he admitted he regrets not going for the accent but at the time he didn't think he could do it so he dropped the notion) he makes a terrific Robin Hood.
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I can't believe Harry went ahead with posting those "reviews". Anyone who knows anthing about Ridley Scott knows his films have slow build ups. Gladiator was snail-paced punctuated by action. All his films are slow punctuated by high octane action, and that's one of the things I love about Scott films. You don't get constant action every five minutes to appease the lowest common denominator. The Gladiator - KOH love child analogy makes no sense at all. ALL directors riff from their previous films. Avatar had more than a wiff of Aliens, but no one was complaining at the time. And y'know this is set in medieval times so of course its going to have some fucking similarities to KOH. Complaining about that is like complaining that a film set on Mars is too much like what's been done before because the planet looks red. Jeez. Harry I can't believe you were stupid enough to publish these retarded reviews. I've read some bad reviews from the average film watcher in my time but these two really take the biscuit.
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April 23, 2010, 3:45 a.m. CST
shit, that was supposed to read I HEART COSTNER'S ROBIN
by NightAvatar
Oh well. I guess the bracket + 3 didn't work.
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But then again, I'm not a jaded fuck.
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But only "Robin of Sherwood" did it above all. And yes, I don't expect this crap to be any better than a "grim and gritty Men in Tights"
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I love Ridley Scott's movies more then most people in here. So much so that i loved Blade Runner back in the day it was fashionable to dismiss it even among the geekry, and I saw qualities evne on the theatrical cut of KINDGOM OF HEAVEN and saw a better movie in there then most who watched it. But saying that, i fucking hated WHITE SQUALL and have nothing but despise for G.I. JANE. So, yeah, Ridley Scott did misstep twice in his career. TWICE, and just twice.
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I'm really hoping it's the first reviewer who has his historical facts wrong, as it was KING (not Sir) Richard, and John was his brother not his son.
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Ridley Scott's is gonna blow. As will this summer's cinematic events on the whole i think.
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I don't give a fuck if they put and entire gravel pit of grit to gritty reboot this thing, enough with the mincing around in forests with Merry Men, Hollywood. Its boring.
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The real roots of Ridley Scott is historical movies. His first movie was THE DUELISTS, set during the napolean wars. Scott making historical movies is him going on his real roots. Learn the man's history as a filmmaker, friend. ALIEN was his second movie, not his first.
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Great start with the escape from the prison abroad. Brian blessed riding out to his death at the hands of the unmasked alan rickman. Morgan Freeman is brilliant as Hassem (bad spelling probably). The mad witch who advises the Sherriff. The brilliant way that they steal that gold and then dissappear back into the forest. Every line Rickman speaks. One of the most amazing action sequence ever when they rescue the captured men who are being hanged including little johns son (remember when you had well choreographed action that didnt use special effects,those were the days). When it trys to be funny it is funny. When its tries to be dramatic it is. Simply awesome. Minor flaws are that Costner clearly sounds amaerican and the one line where theyve just landed at dover and he says "come..we'll be in nottingham by nightfall" yeah only a few hundred miles on foot in a day lol. If all films were as "bad" as Prince of thieves id be a very happy guy.
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was A Good Year any good? I haven't watched it, but I thought it was also considered a misstep by Scott.
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Whatever the case, I figure this will probably be another pretty entertaining take on the Robin Hood legend, maybe up there with other off beat but cool versions like the Patrick Bergin "Robin Hood" or "Robin and Marian" with Sean Connery.
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This 'prequel' looked dull from the first still, people want a cool Robin Hood shooting arrows, saving damsels in distress, messing with Nottingham's plans. <P> I remember hearing about this when it was the Nottigham project, with Hood being the villain, now that was interesting, obviously too interesting for Hollywood. <P> So what do we get? Gladiator Lite. <P> Russell Crowe, make a Master And Commander sequel, no!!!
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If you are so nonchalant about correct accents, how about somebody making a movie about Geroge Washington and have him speak with a mexican accent? Or a french accent? How would you like them apples now?
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My kingdom for an edit button!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe Harry could do that on his God Tablet!
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just reading the first review! (not the review itself the actual plot synopsis)
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We were talking about his FILM ROOTS, not his expertise.
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You got me ther,e friend, becaus ei havne't watche dthat movie yet. The only thing that temps me is that Marion Coutilar is in the movie... with long hair! Yummy!!!
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Blade Runner and Alien are genuine classics!
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"At two hours and ten minutes, you have maybe about twenty minutes of action, and an hour and fifty minutes of lame story, exposition, romance." So, it's even more like GLADIATOR than the commercials suggest.
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Without Sir Hiss floating around in a balloon, is going to suck.
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There, I said it. at the time I saw it, I felt I had seen enough "You killed my family, now you must die" films. And no emperor was ever killed by a gladiator. I really like the director's cut of Kingdom of Heaven though.
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why try and turn Robin Hood into something it's not, Gladiator 2
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the first reviewer is wrong about the Penis joke, basically when drunk Friar Tuck asks Little John why they call him Little John and asks if it is about how big he is down there. I should know I was sat behind the wall operating the sound when it was filmed.
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I say he's overrated because he's got two genuine classics from 30 years ago, and the rest of his stuff ranges from mediocre (THELMA & LOUISE, BLACKHAWK DOWN) to bad (GLADIATOR, BODY OF LIES, LEGEND, WHITE SQUALL) to godawful shit (HANNIBAL, GI JANE, BLACK RAIN). If he was really the genius that people seem to think he is, he probably would have made another genuinely great movie since 1982.
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Captain RawBeard, thanks for that. Now when I watch that scene all i'll be able to think of is some Long John Silver look-alike crouching behind the wall, clasping his parrot's beak shut to stop it from distracting the actors.<p> Don't take the negative crit to heart tho mate... I still expect Ridley's latest to be at least 50% superior to whatever else is playing that week, and i'll wager most readers of this site will eventually end up watching it either at home or at the flicks.
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He always gives a great look to his movies. Sadly tho, that's about all he does. He should just stick to cinematography and leave the directing to someone else.
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Remember when this was gonna be Crowe as the good Sheriff trying to fight the bad Robin Hood? Can we go back in time and make that movie instead?
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I dont think it matters how long ago those films were made, they are simply brilliant, I'm hardly Scott's biggest fan but he has made movies that will be remembered forever. I think that counts for quite a lot.
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Mosquito March, many of the films you list as mediocre, bad and godawful shit are Oscar winners, Oscar noms, and hugely successful commercial hits.<p> So I guess one man's meat...
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Thats what I have been saying for an age, that would have been original at the very least. And to see Crowe take on a slightly different role.
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I was looking forward to this. Don't sound good dies it.
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Almost sure to make its money back because of the star, director and tentpole feel, but this really was a terrible idea from the start.
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It looks like every other "gritty" retelling of a familar story. All muddy, and boring visuals, and monochrome cinematography. I have little interest in this one. I've started Stephen Lawhead's King Raven trilogy, itself a reimagining of the Robin Hood story. So far it's excellent so anyone that likes the legend I recommend checking it out. The first book is called "Hood" and the rest of the trilogy, "Scarlet" and "Tuck", are out now as well.
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moisten cunts and turn once flaccid cocks to granite.
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I love ALIEN. I love BLADE RUNNER. But, Scott's given me no reason since 1982 to get excited about A New Ridley Scott Film, and it blows my mind that so many people do rocket-powered motorcycle wheelies whenever his name is attached to something.
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Is something of a marvel. It works, and works really well, despite the fact that there's a void at the center of the film. The void's name is, of course, Orlando Bloom. It's not that he's bad in it, per se, it's easily his best performance, but the best performance from Orlando Bloom is still merely serviceable. Can you imagine how fucking great that movie could have been with a great performance holding it all together? Or, by contrast, imagine Lawrence of Arabia with Orlando Bloom in the lead. Would it still be a damn good flick? Sure, but it wouldn't be the absolute masterpiece it is thanks to O'Toole's performance. I just wish they'd properly cast the lead of KOH. We could have had an all-time classic.
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the second review unfortunately seems to be a bit more on the money. Still Im not surpirsed the film is underwhelming. Scott's ouvre is very patchy
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He's not the Robin Sherwood Forest deserves. He's the Robin Sherwood Forest needs. Or some dumb shit like that. Cue the music.
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Scott may get a lifetime pass for ALIEN and BLADE RUNNER, but he sure doesn't deliver winners every time.<p> sure, GLADIATOR looks incredible, features some great performances, and terrific action. But, as a piece of writing? sorry but it's a terrible fucking script.<p> I've only seen the theatrical cut of KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, and that was so bland i can barely remember it. i've heard good things about the director's cut, so i'd be willing to suspend final judgment.<p> i don't know anyone who saw A GOOD YEAR or had anything good to say about it.<p> AMERICAN GANGSTER was decently entertaining, but certainly no masterpeice.<p> And the trailers for ROBIN HOOD have me completely underwhelmed: it looks like GLADIATOR IN TIGHTS, and by the sound of the first review, that's exactly what it is.<p> fuck man, it's not like Crowe and Scott aren't capable of doing great work separately. But they've yet to do a great movie together...
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sorry had to read the second review twice just to make sure wtf he was on about
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...is no Seven Samurai, but it's a damn fine popcorn flick.
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it's you.
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Gladiator has a terrible fucking script? Man, your standards must be skyscraper high. If you think Gladiator has a terrible script what do you think of 99% of Hollywood popcorn films? Bear in mind that the big planned finale was the Roman army invading the city and it would have been spectacular - but the money ran out. Also Olly Reed dies halfway through filming. All things considered its a pretty fucking great movie.
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I mean it's just an ass-kicker. The arrow POV's. The cool shit Robin does with the arrows to get them to do different shit. Drunk ass fatfuck Friar Tuck defenestrating that piece of shit priest. Alan fucking Rickman in every fucking scene. Fucking Freeman bursting in at the end to fuck up that diseased witch. The movie is the shit.
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Fuck you haters. That movie is great despite the flaws. Also, Defendor is better than Kick Ass. Just so you know. That is all.
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There will never be a better Robin Hood film than the 1937 Warner Brothers flick with Errol Flynn. Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman laughed at that film when they were interviewed for their stinkfest, but who really gives a fuck about the piece of shit they made now? Scott's film will be even more full of self importance, and will have a listless lead who is barely better than Costner. I'll pass.
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Jay(Caligula)Robinson was killed by Victor(Demetrius)Mature. C'mon, everybody knows that!
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...Demetrius stood by in the gladiator arena as the Praetorian Guards assasinatied Jay's demented Caligula, but close enough.
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sure, lots of hollywood films have a shitty script. but how exactly does that excuse GLADIATOR?<p> i'm not the only one to hate on GLADIATOR's bad writing either:<p> Roger Ebert: '"Gladiator" lacks joy. It employs depression as a substitute for personality, and believes that if the characters are bitter and morose enough, we won't notice how dull they are'.<p> AO Scott: 'grandiose and silly'.<p> David Edelstein: 'I've seen subtler characterizations in Don "The Dragon" Wilson kickboxing pictures."<p> I'm sorry they ran out of money, but that's no excuse for a dumb script.
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"Those giraffes you sold me, they won't mate. They just walk around, eating, and not mating. You sold me... queer giraffes. I want my money back." <p> "If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead!" <p> Are you not entertained...Come on, GLADIATOR had a cool script...
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You gotta love a movie that has Morgan Freeman busting in an hurling a scimitar at a little old lady. That was BALLS OUT. Oh and that Friar Tuck was hilarious.
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The sequels were UNBELIEVABLY dreary and joyless.
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Emperor Commodus was in fact assassinated by a gladiator called Narcisus. He was not killed in the arena, no, he was killed in the baths. Narcisus a gladiator and Commodus's wrestling partner, not a disgraced general. but yes, commodus really was assassinated by a gladiator. So there.
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God save the poor souls of those who piss on Gladiator's script if I ever found out they were ever ntertained by a Michael Bay movie. God will have mercy on them, i'll not.
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Part of the reason why people remember Robin Hood is because of the legend, and all the great things he did during the tyranny of Prince John and his Merry Men. You take that away, and what do you got? Especially when Ridley Scott makes it? Just another blatant rip-off of Gladiator. Lemme first say that I liked Kingdom of Heaven as well as Gladiator, but I really don't feel like watching what seems to be the bastard child they got together on a drunken one-night stand. Ridley, GO BACK TO SCI-FI!!! It's where you belong!!!
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Oh no, you're gonna have to work for it the same as anyone else. He's not so much "over-rated" as he is over-used. Christ, man - it almost seems like TWO fucking Ridley Scott films are released each year. And yes, they're ALL mediocre at best. Take a break, Ridley! We don't need another bad ALIEN film.
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and woefully casted. Costner's Robin sounded like he was from Milwaukee not 11th century England. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio looked like she belonged in Venice, since when did Marian look Italian? Alan Rickman played the Sheriff like a pantomine villain. Christian Slater looked so clean and wholesome he looked like he had just walked off the Beverley Hills 90120 set. Fun movie but don't take it seroiously for a second.
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The haters can cram it with walnuts.
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For once I agree with Harry... somehow PRINCE OF THIEVES is both dreadful and yet highly watchable.
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that he 'made it' a bit later in life than most directors and is now making up for lost time. I know he did commercials and was very successful before The Duelists and Alien, but by the time he was enjoying the success of Alien, I think he already had a few kids and was 42. Just a theory on why he seems to have more shit in development across movies, music videos, television, and just about every other visual medium than any other comparatively successful director... at age 72.
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that you can see in the trailers? I didn't know there were jets flying around in those times...silly me!!! LOL
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I'm with you on this. Although I'm not sure if it's the writing or just the fact that the movie was soo overated at the time of release that when I finally got to see it, I was very much underwhelmed.<p>As for Prince of Thieves, as silly as it is, I enjoyed it. Why? because it's not pretentious and just enjoyable!
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"Did God paint me? Ha! For certain."<p>"Why?"<p>"Because, alla loves wonderous variety."<p>WIN. Prince of Theives is the shiznit, and it always will be. <p>"But why a spoon, cousin?"<p>Cancelling Christmas on all the haters.
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Thanks to the reviwers. Just saved me some bucks.
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Is the first reviewer just confused, or does the movie alter history to make John the son of Richard? They were brothers, sons of King Henry. Also, these reviews are describing different plot details. Are they that unreliable, or is one just a lie? Both are negative though, and while that may be earned, they're snarky enough for me to want to ignore them.
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...a non accent over a bad accent any day. Like Keano's abortion of an accent in Dracula. I would rather him not had one. I can ignore a lack oof an accent more than a bad one.
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Fuck haters.
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I think the first reviewer went a little overboard with comparisons to Ridley's other terrific historical films. If there's a similarity, all the better. And believe it or not, some people don't need action scenes every ten seconds in a film that aims at depth. As for Russell Crowe's 'ripped off' performance from 'Gladiator', hey, why mess with a great thing, a talented actor who can so compellingly pull off the notion of a hero working against great odds and inspiring others along the way? Yeah, a prequel, and so why should it appear familiar? Isn't that the point? Sorry, nothing in this profane diatribe to inspire a pass on what looks like an intriguing new read on the legend.
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Why would I want to see a watered down Gladiator? I'll wait for the R rated directors cut on blu ray.
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Had to be said. Anyway, from the trailer, I was afraid this might be another one of those historical epics long on self-importance and short on anything resembling fun. This just confirms. I'll pass.
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....even from the trailer, it was easy to tell this film was greatly lacking. Nothing seems original and the whole production feels "been there done that". I just hope the Alien Prequel isn;t a clusterfuck.
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....even from the trailer, it was easy to tell this film was greatly lacking. Nothing seems original and the whole production feels "been there done that". I just hope the Alien Prequel isn;t a clusterfuck.
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Jesus, imagine if the film was about Liam Neeson's band of badasses instead of Bloom's bloody cunt. Imagine if Neeson got to bang Sibylla instead of Bloom. Now that would have been an outstanding movie.
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is an awesome film. And, furthermore, "Body of Lies" is fascinating, if only for the performances from a sly Mark Strong and a chubby bureaucratic buffoon from Russell Crowe. But, why do redo Robin Hood and not have fun?
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sucked. Stop bringing it up, I'm getting bad flash-backs.
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best Robin Hood ever. when's the reboot?
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Sir Ridley knows his business.better than a lot of the auteurs du jour..Robin Hood is a legend worth revisiting and certainly worth revisiting with Scott and Crowe.Next time you watch the 1938 version of RH note the sparkly stuff on Flynn's emerald green outfit...that wouldn't pass muster today. Relax.
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Please read my review in The Zone. It sounds to me like these two wanted to see the same Robin Hood again and had no interest in this movie to begin with. This film is not Sherwood Forest. It is a completely original film that felt close to real history rather than fiction. Please read my review in the Ridley Sctt's Robin Hood section.
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he is sooooooo hit or miss anymore. His a working director who cares more about working then the end result which is how it should be but c'mon now stop making shit films you fucking english bastard.
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If you are a talented working director for many decades you will have hits and misses.Calling the guy a fucking English bastard is unecessary.
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IF SCOTT & CROWE WANT TO MASTURBATE, WHY DON'T THEY GIVE A HAND JOB TO SOMETHING NEW? WHAT THE FUCK IS SO BAD ABOUT '0RIGINALITY' THESE DAYS? I'D LIKE TO POUND RIDLEY'S CIGAR BACK INTO HIS MOUTH FOR WASTING HIS MARVELOUS TALENT ON SHIT LIKE THIS. FUCK YOU, RIDLEY! AS YOU RIDE INTO THE CELLULOID SUNSET!
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I certainly hope it is mostly because I have a soft spot for his films. I'd like to think he would have challenged himself this time out. The Nottingham script in concept sounded promising, but instead he stuck to the tired and true. That said, it's even more demoralizing to hear Scott is treading on familiar ground a la Kingdom of Heaven (though it was a comfort to see someone make the distinction between the godawful theatrical and far superior director's cut).
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like the first reviewer went in wanting it to look and feel like Gladiator and that's what he saw. I know a couple of folks who have seen it and say that outside of it being a period piece it really has nothing to do with the look and feel of gladiator at all.
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Familar ground? What about the originalty of yet another super hero comic book movie? Had enough of those yet? Iron Man,BatMan, x-Men,Superman,Hulk,SpiderMan. Coming up Green Lantern, Thor etc;etc;etc.....Originalty of source material? Commemorative super hero 7-eleven slurpee cups?
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