Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, written by Pen Densham and John Watson - 8.6 out of 10

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, written by Pen Densham and John Watson

8.6 out of 10

This is one of the films that cause some to raise their hands in despair – Variety states that ‘Kevin Costner’s Robin hood is a Robin of wood. Murky and uninspired…” and The New York Times has been just as critical – while others find that the ‘medieval romp still has some magic’ – The Guardian

Perhaps the Golden mean rule of Aristotle applies here, which indicates that we should look for the desirable middle between two extremes, which would make this motion picture average, not outstanding and not magical.

It is not Kevin Costner’s best performance, but the verdict of this cinephile would be that he is rather charming and solid in the feature that also benefits from the towering presence of Morgan Freeman as the Moorish companion of the hero, Azeem.

Robin of Locksley has traveled with Richard the Lionheart to Jerusalem, on the third Crusade, during which he becomes a prisoner and he offers to have his hand cut off, to save a compatriot and also to show the English courage and eventually cunning, for just as the torturer is about to strike, he pulls the one who kept his hand on the trajectory and then in the manner of cape and spade films he manages a superb escape.

As Robin had just saved the life of Azeem, the Moor wants to travel along, in spite of the fact that the English thinks that they do not share the same route, ideas, but the grateful ex- prisoner declares that he would come with his savior, for his religion indicates that he has to save him back.

It would be the occasion for some laughs, for the first occasion is on the lands pf Locksley, where they meet with the men of the loathsome Sheriff of Nottingham aka the regretted, excellent Alan Rickman, who are chasing a boy of about eight, pursued with Irish hounds and forced to find refuge in a tree, where Robin comes to help him and faces six men and then complains to Azeem…when would you save me, if not now when I have to fight six people…’when I feel like it’ or words to that effect represent the answer.

The Sheriff of Nottingham had killed the father of Robin, Lord Locksley aka the impressive Brian Blessed, and not satisfied with this monstrous deed, he had placed the corpse in a cage and then hanged it on the walls of his mansion, where his grieving son finds it.

Robin is now forced to run from the henchmen of the disgusting Sheriff, led by the equally repellent Guy of Gisborne, his cousin, and he stops to see Marian aka Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, where the followers catch up with Locksley and Azeem and they reach the forest of Nottingham, which according to local superstition is the abode of the ghosts and spirits.

Since there is no alternative, with two men riding a horse and the posse right behind, they enter the forest and Robin is soon caught in a trap set up by Little John and his followers, who think that since Locksley is a rich man, he must pay for his passing and be punished as the class enemy one would think, especially for Will Scarlett, who would remain hostile to the intruder.

The hero fights with Little John and gradually wins the men of the forest over, becoming the legendary Robin Hood and their commander, even if this is not easy and he has people that contest his authority, but with time see that he is more than a capable leader, a military strategist, with experience fighting in the East and perhaps the only one to win in battle.

There are some easy victories, as they stop travelers and take their possessions, jewelry, they even manage to convince a monk to become an important member of the outlaw army, which faces tough opposition from the cruel, savage Sheriff and his employees, who attack and punish civilians for the help they may or may not offer to the rebels.

The Sheriff of Nottingham offers a reward for the one who would give information about Robin Hood or catch him, but he is surprised to find that the villagers love him, perhaps especially since he shares whatever he gets from the rich people with them…becoming popular and famous as the one who ‘takes from the rich and gives to the poor’.

A great challenge would come when the antihero sees that there is not much if anything more he can do with the men he has – he kills his cousin, Guy of Gisborne, when this one is again defeated and an important loot falls in the hands of the outlaws – and he brings in some savage brutes, Celts that fight with extraordinary élan and zest.

Overall, the film is entertaining, although this is not Dancing with Wolves, Driving Miss Daisy, or some other award winning, acclaimed film.