A genuine denizen of Nottingham reviews Ridley Scott's take on the English legend...

Pull out the bow and arrows, and swing from the treetops - Robin Hood is back. This time he's ditched the tights, beefed up on protein shakes and is not quite as merry as he once was.

His latest reincarnation, a prequel to the traditional story, finds our hero, known as Robin Longstride, returning from the Crusades as an archer in King Richard's army. However, after ransacking one fortified dwelling too many in order to refill his coffers, Richard is killed and Robin, impersonating the erstwhile and deceased Knight, Robin of Loxsley, returns to a bankrupt England. There, he finds his country under threat from Phillip of France as well as from the new, self-destructive King John who ascends to the throne and wishes to tax everyone in sight (politicians take note...).

Unsurprisingly, given the immense size of the budget, one of the greatest strengths of the film is its authenticity, from rough accents to wattle and daubed lodgings. This comes, as usual, at the cost of some seriously clichéd moments, and, due to the size of the plot, there is a great deal of backstory missing. All this combines to create a sizeable departure from Costner's American-twanged equivalent from 1991.

In fact, it is clear right from the start that Director Ridley Scott's vision is more in line with his Gladiator days - a film he will never be able to shake off - and which he seems to embrace here with an epic opening battle sequence and a typical power-hungry filial antagonist in King John. At the same time all the usual suspects, Friar Tuck, Little John, and of course Maid Marion, are present, which does grate at times with the memories of their Prince of Thieves personae.

Overall, it's a fine balance between old and new which does work on screen regardless of the occasional déjà-vu moments. Yet, despite typically excellent performances from Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, and the rest of the Hood, this film somehow still feels less memorable and with less heart than its predecessor. This is in part to do with a major subplot concerning the threat from France which takes much needed screen time from Crowe and his developing relationship with Blanchett - who for the record knows how to wield a sword or two. The change from Action-Romance to Action-Adventure means that this picture is likely to appeal to a predominantly male audience.

"It is clear right from the start that Director Ridley Scott's vision is more in line with his Gladiator days"

Robin Hood, then, is an enjoyable popcorn movie with an excellent script and great dialogue, which has all the elements of a box-office success.

Perhaps coming from Nottingham I am harder to please when it comes to the legendary outlaw. However, I'm afraid to say that despite many strengths, the fifth Scott-Crowe partnership never quite reaches the pinnacle set by Gladiator, but it does come the closest yet.

Robin Hood goes on general release tomorrow (12th May 2010)

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