The 'Robin Hood' you will see on your movie screens will be much changed from the one initially intended. Several versions of the film were mooted, with Russell Crowe and Ridley Scott initially keen on 'Nottingham', the traditional story told from the perspective of the Sheriff. Several changes later (at one point Crowe was thought to be playing both Robin and The Sheriff) we have this, the 5th collaboration between Scott and Crowe ten years after a certain Roman epic made them both untouchable.
 
Robin Longstride (Crowe) is an archer in King Richard's army, fighting the crusades abroad. However, when the king is slain, Robin poses as a dead Knight of Nottingham in order to gain passage to England. Once in England, the knight's widow Marion (Cate Blanchett) reluctantly agrees to maintain the ruse in order to keep the land from the clutches of the newly crowned King John (Oscar Isaac). However, with the French army planning to attack a weakened England, Robin must join with his enemies to fight a greater foe.
 
As you would imagine given those involved, 'Robin Hood' is epic in every sense- sweeping landscapes, rousing score and a bum-numbing 2 hour 20 minute running time. There are things that stop it from being a true classic- it can be slow in places, and it's more than slightly inspired by 'Braveheart' and the 'other' Scott/Crowe epic. However, for everything that makes you roll your eyes there's another that makes you go 'wow'. The look is fantastic, and although there are long breaks between battle scenes they are definitely worth the wait, especially the awesome climax on the beach. Credit also to the writers for not making this a typical story of the outlaw, more an origin piece dealing with his time in the army and the aftermath of King John's ascension.
 
As soon as the pictures of the movie started leaking on the WWW, people immediately thought 'oh, here we go, Gladiator 2!' Rightly so, as he bears more than a passing resemblance both in look and voice, but this is a different Crowe to the one that vowed vengeance (in this life or the next) ten years ago. Whereas Maximus was more brooding and serious, Crowe's Hood has a bit more charm about him, although without turning into a Errol Flynn cliche. Blanchett is great as Marion- many attempts have been made to make her less of a 'damsel in distress' in the past, and although her involvement in the climax is a bit unbelievable on the whole she is a great character for Crowe to bounce off of. The support varies- Danny Huston is, as always, great as a less-than-lionhearted King Richard, and Oscar Isaac is brilliant as the cocky-but-cowardly John. You wonder why William Hurt is even in the film at times, and Mark Addy's Friar Tuck is hit and miss. Max Von Sydow is entertaining as Marion's father, but it feels too much like Richard Harris' role in 'Gladiator', while Mark Strong does his 'bad guy' thing yet again as the English traitor to the French army (although he does get the coolest lines).
 
Overall a film that maybe had too high a standard to meet given the duo's past work. There's flaws, certainly, but there's also a lot to like about this film. Reliable leads, a decent script and a cracking final sequence means that while you may not be quoting it for years to come, it will certainly give you a memorable evening.