Robin Hood - Extended Director's Cut [DVD]

Silly title. There's been so many robin hoods that when you see the title you think not another one!When I first saw the trailer I thought it was some cheap attempt at making money off the black of the epic gladiator's reputation. Russel Crow playing the historic hero etc. But it isn't. Firstly it's not a cheap attempt, you can tell there's been a lot of work put into the scenes, the environment, and the cast. Secondly it's not set in a glorious empire like Gladiator and it doesn't try to be. It doesn't glamorise itself, it shows medievel England closer to its reality - a load of peasants being exploited by land owners, the politics and monarchy are amateurish by todays standards, and the wars are controversial not glorious. Finally, it doesn't try to be overdramatic. It doesn't try to make itself an epic it tries to be more down to earth. You can feel the mud, the hunger, the desperation, relate to the characters, beleive the politics; the whole thing feels very believable. Not trying to be what it isn't makes it great.Just a shame it let itslef down with the title. The title does try to glamorise it, try to pretend to be what it isn't.We all know the traditional robin hood story, this is a prequel. And neither is there as much cheesiness in this as most robin hood stories.Call it something like Robin Longstride or Robin of Loxley or Robin Hood Begins or The Legend Begins or something to differentiate it from the cheesy traditional Robin Hood narrative. It needed a title that doesn't say it's a gladiator cash in. A title that says this is different and more gritty than the stories you're used to.I almost didn't watch it for that reason, but glad I did. It's a good film.

I was absolutely disgusted with actually how much if this film they have cut out. There must be at least 10 mins throughout the film which has been cut out. So angry that my all time favourite film has been cut to bits in the way that it has. Please anyone that reads this DO NOT buy this film from here, if you've never watched it before then by all means away you go. But if you have seen it before, you will be very sad to see what they have done.

I watched a version of this film on Netflix and was baffled by the role of the 'feral teenagers' seen raiding Marian Loxley's grain store at the beginning of the film with her cursing them. Towards the end she is seen riding onto the beach with them to help repulse the raiding French, with nothing linking these events.I bought the 'director's cut' Blu-ray to find that all the scenes of Marian and the impostor Robin's involvement with these feral teenagers had been restored. This explained their arrival on the beach and made made this film complete. I then cancelled my Netflix membership because I could not know how many other films I had watched had been butchered in this way.This is a wonderful film by Ridley Scott. The acting by the leads and the supporting cast is excellent as is the cinematography.

Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood is a great film, even though it wasn’t historically strictly accurate in places. The candle lighting and country scenes were well done in the film producing a real authentic feel. Irrespective of the American critics giving it negative reviews, it was better and far superior than Hollywood’s bombastic versions of the historical story. Russell Crow’s somewhat laidback portrayal of Robin fitted well in the film. However, I missed the deeper historical legend of the character of Robin Hood. It’s not too late for Ridley Scott to make a sequel.

Quite good but I got the feeling the director didn't know what movie to make. Traditional Robin Hood avoided, a good step, but then we had a touch of The Hobbit, a bit of Lord of the Rings, a beach invasion like Saving Private Ryan, a King John whose character careered wildly from villain to nascent Good Guy and back to villain, pesky French and noble English, noble Lords and wimpy Sherrif of Nottingham, a mixed bag, a Curate's Egg.

This film, with Gladiator, are my favourite Russell Crowe films. I cannot tell you how many times I have watched it. The history is good and the location is splendid. Cate Blanchette plays a wonderful Maid Marion to win Robins heart. She plays a feisty role and the two put together with a 'different' slant on the tale of the 'Hood' is truly magnificent.

Great film which is why five stars which I have had of for a long time, I had to sent this one back as I wanted Robin Hood Prince of Thieves the Kevin Costner film, I ordered this one the Russell Crowe film by mistake, theres a first time for everything, oops again

This version of Robin takes me back to my school days when I read a robin hood book which was very like this story.More believable than some of the more romanticised versions of the tale.Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett are really a great match.Highly recommended.