"Robin Hood" - in theaters

I saw this movie quite a while ago, so some of the details may be fuzzy. (And the reason I didn't write a review is sheer laziness. I've got two more to do after this one!)

First off, I'll say that this movie COULD have been spectacular had it been rated R. But it wasn't, and I'm guessing it's because Hollywood finds that PG-13 movies are more widely attended than R-rated ones. Needless to say that this "Robin Hood" was a watered-down version of what it could have been but I still found it more than enjoyable. It was also extremely long, but Ridley Scott (the director) does a fairly good job at intertwining action sequences with dialogue and other filler scenes.

Russell Crowe takes the mantle as Robin Longstride, an archer in King Richard's army, butchering their way back across France in attempt to get home after 10 years fighting a Crusade. In a series of circumstances, Robin and his motley crew end up carrying the King's crown home (because apparently, King Richard dies in this version of Robin Hood), and carrying a dead knight's sword home to his father. And wouldn't you know it, but the dead knight's name is Loxley, and his wife is Marianne (played by the fabulous Cate Blanchett).

The motley crew is composed of Will Scarlett, Little John, and some other bloke that I can't remember the name of. Little John is played by Kevin Duran, whose characters are usually more threatening so it was refreshing to see him play a good guy. Friar Tuck also makes an appearance, and yes, he's as drunk as ever. Mathew McFayden plays the Sheriff of Nottingham, who is DISGUSTING, but not overly evil or threatening. Considering this movie acts as a prequel, I'm sure there's plenty of room for him to grow in his vileness. It's a shame too, because I love Mathew McFayden, and this movie kind of ruined him for me.

Anyway, after Robin delivers the crown, effectively making Prince John KING John, he goes to Loxley's place where he's given a warm welcome by Loxley's dad, and a not so warm welcome by Loxley's wife. Sir Loxley decides that Robin better pretend that he's his son, otherwise Marianne will lose the land, and Robin slips into the character with great ease.

There were many plot points to this film, including how all the orphan boys of Nottingham live in the forest, running wild because their dads are all gone, and then there's the threat of a French invasion, and then there's civil unrest in the north of England, all of which culminates in a final battle on the beach.

Oh, and Robin and Lady Marianne fall in love (duh). And they're named outlaws because King John is pissed that the people like Robin better than they like him. Seriously. That is his reasoning.

Ah, the twelfth century. Good times.

So, on the CWeave scale, I give this a 6.5. Points off for the non-R rating (I really would have loved more gore, you know?) and the length of the film, but bonus points to Russell Crowe, who still looks good without his shirt on. Bravo sir. Bravo.