Review: `Robin Hood` is technologically sound yet mundane

With no top league Hindi film releasing this week, ‘Robin Hood’ stands a chance to do well at the Indian Box Office but the film cannot be considered outstanding. The age-old tale of ‘Robin Hood’ has been made gripping with visually rich photography, great technicalities and scintillating action sequences but the punch is missing. Hollywood is replete with several versions of ‘Robin Hood’ and this film is no different.

Spicezee Bureau

Mumbai: With no top league Hindi film releasing this week, ‘Robin Hood’ stands a chance to do well at the Indian Box Office but the film cannot be considered outstanding. The age-old tale of ‘Robin Hood’ has been made gripping with visually rich photography, great technicalities and scintillating action sequences but the punch is missing. Although the film boasts of an outstanding cast and crew – Director Ridley Scott, writer Brian Helgeland, Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett, yet it fails to leave a mark. Hollywood is replete with several versions of ‘Robin Hood’ and this film is no different. The film is set in the 13th century, where Robin Hood (Russell Crowe), is a revered figure known for his spirit of adventure and righteousness. Robin and his band of marauders confront corruption in a local village and lead an uprising against the crown. The film chronicles the life story of the expert archer, previously interested only in self-preservation, from his service in King Richards army against the French. But after the King’s death, he travels to Nottingham, where he falls for the beautiful widow Lady Marian (Cate Blanchett) – who is skeptical about his motives. In order to win Marian and salvage the villagers, Robin assembles a gang to attack the indulgent upper class to correct injustices under the sheriff. Gradually, Robin and his men set off to protect their country from slipping into bloody civil war and return glory to England once more. Several moments stand out for their imagery in the film, including vast aerial shots and the sight of hundreds of arrows zipping through the air and landing in a thunderous shower. But some of the scenes are chaotic and badly edited. Although Crowe and Blanchett have performed well but their romance lacks intensity, all thanks to the mundane plot. Also Crowe looks too morose in some scenes and Blanchett is too fierce. Some of the violent scenes are over-the-top and all in all, the film falls short of becoming a memorable epic. Rating: Two cheers