'Robin Hood' a gritty retelling of classic story

Director: Ridley Scott

Cast: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, William Hurt, Max Von Sydow

He’s been a long-time Hollywood favourite so it’s no great surprise to see Robin Hood back in his familiar Sherwood Forest robbing the rich to help the poor and righting wrongs.

This version of the story delivers exactly what we expected … lots of blood and sweat and action and certainly not in a conventional Hollywood version, no baggy green tights, no funny feathered hats and no great glimpses of the notorious Sheriff of Nottingham.

This much grittier and down-and-dirty take on the legend goes more into how an archer in King Richard’s army (Crowe) became one of history’s great heroic figures, fetched up in corrupt Nottingham, formed his band of merry men, fell for the fetching Lady Marion and nicked anything that wasn’t nailed down.

Crowe makes for an excellent Robin, all dirty and sweating and snarling and throws himself into the role with abandon (and, actually, he’s hardly if ever referred to as Robin Hood).

Blanchett brings her willowy sexuality to the role of m’lady, tinged with more than a hint of worry over what our hero’s agenda really is.

This is certainly a different Robin Hood, and all the better for it.

Star Rating: 4/5