Russell Hood

 The Verdict:
 GO SEE!

REVIEW:
Even given a great director (Ridley Scott, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven) and a strong lead actor as the legendary archer Robin Hood (Russell Crowe, Gladiator, 3:10 to Yuma), "Boring" was the first thought that popped into my head. Was I wrong.
I envisioned someone younger as Robin Hood--- Orlando Bloom came to mind especially--- not someone as rugged as Crowe. Crowe was perfect however. He played Robin Hood as a tough guy with tenderness too. Bloom would have aced the soft parts of Hood's character but not his warrior moments. Crowe's big moment near the end, displaying Hood's perfection in his archery skills on his nemesis takes the cake.
Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth, Notes on a Scandal) was wonderful as the hard working, stubborn and sometimes amusing Lady Marion. She and Crowe shared great chemistry together as a pair thrown together involuntary as husband and wife, who eventually fall in love.
Max von Sydow (Minority Report, Shutter Island) providing comedic relief as a blind old man, William Hurt (A History of Violence, Mr. Brooks) the sympathetic character, Mark Strong (Body of Lies, Sherlock Holmes) making an excellent villian and sorta newcomer Oscar Isaac (Body of Lies) as the heartless new king, help make the cast outstanding.
With a beautiful, powerful score (Marc Streitenfeld, American Gangster, Body of Lies) to complete things, Robin Hood is a great action filled epic worth seeing.

Trailer:

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810077954/video

*The Stars:
Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Max von Sydow, William Hurt, Mark Strong

~Director:
Ridley Scott

~Music:
Marc Streitenfeld

~Rating:
PG-13

~How Long:
2 hrs. 11 mins.

~Opening:
5/12/10