Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
(A- or 3.5/4 stars)
Kevin Costner stars in Kevin Reynolds' ambitious, wildly popular, rollicking adventure from 1991, 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves'. The narrative retools the exploits of the legendary hero and, Reynolds + scriptwriters Pen Densham & John Watson come up with a somewhat silly, somewhat bloated, yet rousing display of action, humor, romance, & good 'ole movie magic. Having escaped from a dank dungeon after being captured by the Turks during the Crusades, the valiant & principled Robin (Costner), son of Lord Locksley, & a warrior Moor friend, Azeem (Morgan Freeman) return to England to find Robin's father has been murdered & the land is being ravaged by the malevolent, corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman, deliciously wicked).
The Sheriff is so sinful that he also helps put in place King Richard the Lionheart's treacherous brother, Prince John, as King while Richard is off fighting the Crusades. Meanwhile, Azeem pledges to remain until he repays Robin for having saved his life. Vowing to avenge his nobleman father {who was loyal to King Richard} & restore Richard to the throne, Robin heads-off to the haunted Sherwood Forest where he connects with a motley crew of exiled outlaws led by Little John (Nick Brimble) & Will Scarlett (Christian Slater). Even Maid Marian Dubois (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), sister of Robin's deceased pal Peter, can't help Robin as she, herself, is manipulated by the Sheriff. Excitement, witchcraft, thrills & romance ensues as Robin & all innocent parties attempt to defeat the Sheriff's henchmen & rid the countryside of the insidious evil that the Sheriff has spread.
Love this movie. Really enjoyed Kevin Costner's Robin & cheer him on during his quest. Costner was at the height of his popularity, here; ensuring the film's booming success. I dug Morgan Freeman's Azeem. I admire Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's spunk & really felt the palpable chemistry bwn. she & Costner. I like Christian Slater, Nick Brimble, Michael McShane {as Friar Tuck}, & the rest of the rowdy, but cheery gang of Merry Men who are hell bent on ending the Sheriff's malfeasance. I got a real kick out of Geraldine McEwan, who plays the deranged witch, Mortianna. Brian Blessed makes an impact early as Robin's father. There is a shocker of a cameo during the climax that will make many audience members gasp. And Die Hard's Alan Rickman is hilariously over-the-top as the despicable Sheriff of Nottingham. It's just a perfect portrayal - and one which won Rickman a BAFTA award.
The budget for this British-based production was large, but because the movie was such a mega-hit, the price didn't matter. Every aspect of this film looks handsome, indeed; with well-executed cinematography, John Graysmark's lovely set designs, & John Bloomfield's BAFTA-nominated costumes. Also fantastic are the explosive fight sequences & swordplay. Alan Rickman aside, this film is probably most memorable for Michael Kamen's thoroughly rousing music score + he & Bryan Adams' record-breaking chart-topper "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" theme song. 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves' does have its flaws {too many subplots, absurdities} & an over-extended run time, but on the whole, I found it to be a high-spirited, swoony, & sharp-witted adventure that's chock full of flash, dash & verve.
The Sheriff is so sinful that he also helps put in place King Richard the Lionheart's treacherous brother, Prince John, as King while Richard is off fighting the Crusades. Meanwhile, Azeem pledges to remain until he repays Robin for having saved his life. Vowing to avenge his nobleman father {who was loyal to King Richard} & restore Richard to the throne, Robin heads-off to the haunted Sherwood Forest where he connects with a motley crew of exiled outlaws led by Little John (Nick Brimble) & Will Scarlett (Christian Slater). Even Maid Marian Dubois (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), sister of Robin's deceased pal Peter, can't help Robin as she, herself, is manipulated by the Sheriff. Excitement, witchcraft, thrills & romance ensues as Robin & all innocent parties attempt to defeat the Sheriff's henchmen & rid the countryside of the insidious evil that the Sheriff has spread.
Love this movie. Really enjoyed Kevin Costner's Robin & cheer him on during his quest. Costner was at the height of his popularity, here; ensuring the film's booming success. I dug Morgan Freeman's Azeem. I admire Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's spunk & really felt the palpable chemistry bwn. she & Costner. I like Christian Slater, Nick Brimble, Michael McShane {as Friar Tuck}, & the rest of the rowdy, but cheery gang of Merry Men who are hell bent on ending the Sheriff's malfeasance. I got a real kick out of Geraldine McEwan, who plays the deranged witch, Mortianna. Brian Blessed makes an impact early as Robin's father. There is a shocker of a cameo during the climax that will make many audience members gasp. And Die Hard's Alan Rickman is hilariously over-the-top as the despicable Sheriff of Nottingham. It's just a perfect portrayal - and one which won Rickman a BAFTA award.
The budget for this British-based production was large, but because the movie was such a mega-hit, the price didn't matter. Every aspect of this film looks handsome, indeed; with well-executed cinematography, John Graysmark's lovely set designs, & John Bloomfield's BAFTA-nominated costumes. Also fantastic are the explosive fight sequences & swordplay. Alan Rickman aside, this film is probably most memorable for Michael Kamen's thoroughly rousing music score + he & Bryan Adams' record-breaking chart-topper "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" theme song. 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves' does have its flaws {too many subplots, absurdities} & an over-extended run time, but on the whole, I found it to be a high-spirited, swoony, & sharp-witted adventure that's chock full of flash, dash & verve.