Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves

Director: Kevin Reynolds
Star(s): Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman,
Alan Rickman, Christian Slater,
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Sean Connery
Date: 1991
Themes: Action, romance and medieval adventure.

Review:

There have been various films made about the heroic Robin Hood, all set on theme that he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. From the Disney to the comedy (Men In Tights) Robin Hood has been depicted as a good guy but in the Prince of Thieves a slightly darker side of the heroic character is shown. In this film Robin Hood isn't the geek wearing the green tights but more of a criminal. It seems that this Robin Hood is not so much of a hero as a man doing what he has to do.

The story begins in Jerusalem at the time of the crusades. Robin of Loxley (Costner) is captured along with an old friend who happens to be the cousin of Maid Marian (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio). Unfortunately Maid Marian's cousin dies and make Robin promise to look after his cousin. While still in Jerusalem Robin befriends a strange muslim man (Freeman) and they go back to England together.

Back in England the country is in havoc as Richard the king of England (Sean Connery) is in the crusades and has left his country to the devious Prince John (Alan Rickman) who has his eye on the throne. When Robin returns home he discovers his father dead and his servant blinded because of a rumour about his father being a devil worshipper. Robin then travels to the maid marian's home who is hostile at first but discover that Robin isn't as nasty as he used to be and consequently they fall in love.

After saving a boy from Prince John's guards, he has now become an oulaw and escaping from arrest he ends up in Sherwood forest where he discovers a large group of outlaws headed by Little John and he takes over. The outlaws begin to steal things from the rich and give to the poor as the fable goes until they end up in a small war against the Celts organised by the English and many of the children are kidnapped. The outlaws plan how to save the children from being hanged as an unwanted present for Maid Marian's forced wedding to Prince John. Robin Hood and his outlaws save the day and the marriage is stopped.

I believe this is an important film in the long list of Robin Hood's in the past and due to its success I believe it will be a long time before another serious Robin Hood film is made which is equal to this one. The film cleverly mixes the themes of adventure, love and comedy. There are also some extra things not found in other Robn Hood movies such as Robin Hood is really Will Scarlet's (Slater)older brother and Prince John's witch.

Morgan Freeman does an excellent job of the muslim man who is first hated and eventually admired by the outlaws as this character in unusual to his other more darker roles. The credit's theme Everything I Do by Bryan Adam's stayed at number 1 for many weeks and gave the film the majority of its fame although some would argue that the case was vice versa.This film is a must see for any Kevin Costner fans as he is at his prime and this is a grateful sight after his recent flops such as The Postman and Waterworld