Robin des Bois

This lush realistic retelling of the popular legend is a pleasure to watch. The historical setting, the costumes, the armor, the attitudes of the people, are all in keeping with the time the events (supposedly) took place. Bergin's Robin is a believable portrait of a nobleman struggling with the assimilation of his culture by foreigners (the Normans) and what he sees as the betrayal of a friend (Sir Miles). Thurman's Mariam is a joy to those of us who have always wanted to see her character with as much spirit as Robin's, and she has it in bushels. She is a woman who knows what she wants and is not afraid to take a risk to get it. Go Mariam! I've seen numerous versions of the tale since it is one of my favorites, but this is the one I own.

This has just been run on British TV. What a pleasure to see something from Hollywood that feels realistic when referring to something over here (no US cavalry riding to the rescue at the critical moment!!). Apart from that it is also well made, enjoyable and I'm just sorry I didn't start the recorder at the beginning. Uma Thurman is not the most gorgeous Marion I have seen (not too bad either though), but she was believable and that counts for a lot. The action scenes had a touch of authenticity about them that is all too often missing (for example when Robin was handed a staff by Will to battle with John Little it was a thick branch, forked at one end and obviously from a tree, not a martial arts supplier - just the sort of thing that might have been picked up in a real situation <accepting that something like that might well not have been lying around unless it was rotten>). All round, a film I will watch next time it is screened and I hope I manage to get the DVD recorder going in time next time.

Revisionist as well as dark version of the medieval tale . Modern recounting in which some Hood aficionados will appreciate the painstaking effort taken to adapt the vintage story to recent times ; including great action scenes with some fun images about the Merry Men . This time in the Sherwood forest , the adventurers inhabitants are amusingly portrayed by agreeable actors . In 13th century England , Robin is a noble Xaxon , he escapes from a nasty baron , the powerful Normand called Roger Daguerre (Jeroen Krabbé who had previously worked with John Irvin in Turtle Diary ,1985) , and the extremely villain Sir Miles Folcanet (Jürgen Prochnow) . Stalwart Robin goes to Sherwood forest where forms his brave band of marauders and confront corruption in the local villages and lead an uprising against Prince John (Edward Fox) and his underlings that will forever alter the balance of world power . Meanwhile , tax collectors brutally invade villages under the pretext of collecting Royal taxes . The legendary Sherwood forest's hero Robin Locksly and again the graceful Lady Marian (Uma Thurman) along with his Merrie Men , Will Scarlett (Owen Teale) , Friar Tuck (Jeff Nuttal) and Little John (David Morrissey), facing off the really malicious Daguerre and Sir Miles , two extremely crazed , wicked Normands . Later on , they save two kiddies from hanging .

This well developed movie has great action sequences stunningly staged with stylish and vitality , adventure , romance , poke fun and results to be pretty entertaining . Although is a little revisionist about characters , history , townsfolk , and time when is developed the action in a dirty , gritty Middle Age , as spectators generally disapproved the changes of Robin Hood's classic canon . Three studios announced plans to remake ¨Robin Hood¨ in 1990 and two were completed , including this one which was scaled down for Cable TV . Nice performances abound , as the politically correct rebel with a cause who battles the bullies , being rightly played by Patrick Bergin . Patrick is very fine as well as Uma Thurman who is memorable and attractive , she comes up the film as a valiant and obstinate heroine . Special mention to treacherous Sir Miles , magnetically performed by Jurgen Prochnow and Edward Fox as evil and crazed king in a sensationalistic interpretation as Prince John . Despite some critics' complete and utter distaste for the film , I found it fun , well-acted , and fast-paced . There are great action sequences including the battle into an impressive fortress and the final confrontation at the climax of the film . Impeccable but dark cinematography by Jason Lehel . Although a little shading and foggy , as the sun does not fully shine until the end of the film . Movie is shot on natural sets and English woods , and interior scenarios with impressive production design . Being shot on location in Peckforton Castle , Peckforton , Cheshire , England, UK . Lively and vivid musical score by Geoffrey Burgon . The motion picture was well directed by John Irvin who managed to stage some excellent action scenes , stunning scenarios and clever edition . However , being a flop , though the critics considered one of the best adaptations . John Irvin would later cast Uma Thurman and Edward Fox in another film of his prestigious career , A month by the lake (1995).

Other versions about this famous personage are the followings : ¨Robin Hood¨ (1922) an extravagant silent production by Allan Dawn with Douglas Fairbanks ; the classic rendition is ¨The adventures of Robin Hood¨ by Michael Curtiz with Errol Flynn and Olivia De Havilland. Furthermore , ¨Robin Hood price of thieves (1991)¨ by Kevin Reynolds with Kevin Costner , Alan Rickman , Michael Wincott and Morgan Freeman , the same year was exhibited this ¨Robin Hood¨ by John Irvin and thus did not receive a theatrical release in the United States . And a hilarious retelling : ¨Robin Hood , men in tights¨(1993) by Mel Brooks with Gary Elwes, Richard Lewis, Roger Rees Amy Yasbeck . Besides , ¨Robin of Locksley¨(1995) by Michael Kennedy with Devon Sawa , Joshua Jackson . Plus , ¨Princess of Thieves¨ by Peter Hewitt with Keira Knightley , Malcolm McDowell and Stuart Wilson . And TV series as ¨Robin Hood¨ produced by Hammer Films with Richard Greene , Peter Cushing , directed by Terence Fisher and ¨Robin Hood , the legend¨ (1995) with Jason Connery , Oliver Cotton , Nickolas Grace and directed by Ian Sharp and Robert M. Young .

Only thing I liked about Costner's RH was Alan Rickman as the Sheriff. But this take was a "stylistic" departure from the old story. The "theives village" was fascinating! And Bergen was a much more convincing Robin. If you like this one check out the BBC TV production, "Robin of Sherwood" (1984) [TV-Series 1984-1986] starring Jason Connery (son of Sean.) It's the most intersting and "magical" of all Robin versions!!

Inspired by my re-watch of Kevin Costner's take on the tale, I decided to seek out a selection of other RH movies. First up is this little remembered RH flick from the same year. Debuting on Fox TV here in the U.S. a full month before 'Prince of Thieves', it tried to capitalize on the latter's growing hype. But featuring neither Kevin Costner nor a hit pop ballad, it has since fallen into obscurity, occasionally championed by a small minority of people who claim that it's superior to the far more popular film.

There are recognizable faces here. Patrick Bergin ('Sleeping with the Enemy', 'Patriot Games') stars as the titular character, but he lacks the chops both physically and charismatically to pull it off. There is no Sheriff of Nottingham in this version, no Guy of Gisbourne, and Prince John makes only a brief appearance. With the focus here on Norman/Saxon tensions, two other antagonists are introduced, one played by Jürgen Prochnow, who is no Alan Rickman, but then again who is? But the biggest name here is Uma Thurman as Marion. Barely 20 years old at the time, she's downright ethereal here.

This is the TV cut of the film (I've read a German cut runs twenty or so minutes longer) and clocks in at about an hour and forty five minutes. It certainly moves along more briskly than the bloated 'Prince of Thieves', but it feels chopped up, with Robin falling in with his Merry Men and becoming their leader and renowned outlaw in all of about ten minutes. The action-- such as it is--is painfully dull, the film is bleakly shot and many of the performances fall flat. Though it has a few moments here and there, this version of the classic tale is one best left forgotten.