The Robin Hood character just may be the most over told story in all history. With countless versions existing in live-action, comedy, and animation, it’s easy for moviegoers to latch onto a specific version and forever call it their favorite.
My top three (3) Hood films, from the bottom-up:
No. 3: ROBIN HOOD DAFFY. Go ahead, laugh. That’s the point! Technically it’s not a “film”, as it is only a cartoon-short, but it is classic and arguably the funniest of all Hood parodies. It is a faithful homage to the classic 1938 version (most notably the costumes), and the one-liners and physical comedy is that of legend and fine childhood memories. I was tempted to place Mel Brooks’ MEN IN TIGHTS over this, but one thing from DAFFY gave it the edge:
“Ho! Ha ha! Guard! Turn! Parry! Dodge! Spin! Ha! Thrust!”
This line of course precedes the staff recoiling and smacking his bill upwards. Classic.
No. 2: THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938). The only thing that kept this gem out of the top spot on my list is its age. It’s an old film with an old style of storytelling, and it shows. However the swashbuckling (of which there is a LOT, maybe even too much) and strong cast makes it classic and perhaps even the basis on which all Hood movies are judged. Errol Flynn was forever immortalized after this movie, and no other Robin actor has come close to that since.
No. 1: ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES. Kevin Costners’ troublesome accent aside, this film gets my top spot on the account of a solid story, script and most of all: engaging characters. Each character is fleshed out nicely with strong emotional attachments, and the script/narrative rarely gets boring. Casting borders upon an ensemble, and who doesn’t love seeing Morgan Freeman swinging a big-ass sword? Sean Connery’s cameo is priceless and appropriate (he played Robin in ROBIN AND MARIAN 1976), and the whole trip is worth it just to hear Brian Blessed yell: “Gawd, and King Richard!”. This film is fun, engaging, serious and entertaining.
What say you (Friar)?
Costner!?!? Robin Hood?!?! C'mon this is one of the worst. Other than Alan Rickman there is nothing good about this movie. Historical accuracy -none. Pandering to PC audience with Morgan Freeman's character - evident. Wooden Costner suckage - evident (has he done anything good other than bull durham and dances with wolves??-no...I like Waterworld and JFK, but only because they're so bad they're funny.) To put this atop the Flynn version silly...The BBC series Robin Hood is better than this - I'll take the Disney version with the Foxes as more dramatic and compelling.
ReplyDeleteI give THIEVES high marks for pure entertainment and a fun watch. I acknowledged Costner's shaky performance, but it's certainly not enough to derail Freeman, Rickman, and even a tolerable Slater.
ReplyDeleteAnd the historical accuracy arguement holds no water: Robin Hood is a fictional character.
Check It! -- While "Robehood" could have been anybody, all the early tales are fairly consistent.
ReplyDeleteThere is little scholarly support for the view that tales of Robin Hood have stemmed from mythology or folklore; from fairies (such as Puck under the alias Robin Goodfellow) or other mythological origins.
When Robin Hood has been connected to such folklore, it is apparently a later development.[38] Maurice Keen[39] provides a brief summary and useful critique of the once-popular view that Robin Hood had mythological origins, while (unlike some)[40] refraining from utterly and finally dismissing it.[41] While Robin Hood and his men often show superb skill in archery, swordplay, and disguise, they are no more exaggerated than those characters in other ballads, such as Kinmont Willie, which were based on historical events.[42]