What the outlaw was like before he became a legend

Film review: Robin Hood

MANILA, Philippines - The legend of Robin Hood has fascinated and continues to fascinate people of all ages, all over the world. When my son Jon (now 22) was between two and three years of age, it was his daily ritual to play a Betamax (yes Betamax!) tape of the Disney animated adaptation of Robin Hood as soon as he got home from pre-school. It took only a few months until he actually thought he was Robin Hood himself, wearing a hooded cape and walking with a cane around the house reciting, “Alms, alms for the poor,” over and over (At which point I decided, “Stop! Time to introduce you to Pinocchio.” Hahaha). I myself have watched about three other versions of the classic tale, which include one where Kevin Costner blandly plays the lead role and another comedy version where Robin and his cohorts looked like gays in tights. With about 100 screen adaptations of this legend, I am sure that all of us moviegoers have seen at least one version and memorized the storyline of an outlaw stealing from the rich to help the poor. Yet, with each new adaptation, we march to the cinemas again, expecting to see something new.

The latest movie adaptation starring Russell Crowe (as Robin Hood) and Cate Blanchett (as Lady Marion) is far different from the others as it deals mostly with the life before the legend, or who Robin Hood was before he became such an outlaw. It tells us of Robin Longstride who was one of the best archers of King Richard the Lionhearted who joined him in the Crusades during the 12^th century. On their way back to England from a victorious journey, King Richard the Lionhearted unfortunately gets killed and Robin Hood and his cohorts leave for home only to find along the way a dying trusted assistant of King Richard, Sir Robin Loxley of Nottingham, who was supposed to bring home King Richard’s crown to his family. By sheer fate, Robin Hood was tasked to bring the crown back to England, and the sword to Loxley’s blind father. So as not to be accused of theft and for other practical reasons, he had to take on the identity of Robin Loxley, even acting as husband to Loxley’s beautiful wife, Lady Marion, to her initial chagrin and disbelief.

The bad guy is an Englishman but French collaborator named Godfrey who through wily machinations enables himself to be the most trusted adviser of the very irresponsible Prince John, brother of King Richard the Lionhearted. The villain comes up with the extremely unpopular idea of taxation to ignite civil war in England, so that by the time the French invade, England would be a divided country. He thinks that everything is finally in place, except that he needs to silence Robin Hood, whom he believes knows too much. Providing humor and entertainment on rare occasions are Robin’s merry men who I thought should have been given more merry scenes, considering the movie’s length.

Russell’s Robin Hood is much older and wiser than what we have come to expect. For this role, Russell actually studied and mastered the art of archery. Cate, on the other hand, as Lady Marion, would make any feminist proud as she shows strength, independence, bravery and even skill in the art of war. Her different facial expressions at the reception of unfortunate news about her loved ones were my favorite acting scenes. Russell and Cate may be middle-aged, but they prove that in love, age never matters. They had chemistry, and certainly created some sexy scenes together, such as when one helps the other undress for a much-needed bath. Another pair worth mentioning is the on-screen tandem of Oscar Isaac and Lea Seydoux, who were effective as the spoiled Prince John and the beautiful Isabella of Angouleme (Every time she appeared, I kept wondering what brand of nude makeup she wore!).

The movie has fabulous scenic shots, as well as plenty of violence and action which makes it attractive to fathers and sons. Speaking of which, the father-son relationship was given much importance and weight in the storyline, through Robin Hood’s longing to understand his long-deceased father and Robin Loxley’s unfinished business with his own father, Sir Walter Loxley.

In spite of the movie’s length of almost two and a half hours and the deviation from the typical Robin Hood storyline we have come to be so familiar with, I highly recommend this movie especially to all fathers for special bonding time with your sons. After watching the film, it would probably also be a good idea to go to a nearby bookstore and buy a book on European Medieval History, which you can read together at night. Hopefully, your own children will experience the joy of having real loving fathers, which is something the two Robins in this movie never seemed to have.

(E-mail me at [email protected] or text 0927-5000833. Help build houses for the poor through the Gawad Kalinga by calling 718-1738 to 41 or text 0917-5239777.)