Morgan Freeman Movie:

				Salesrank: 177396
		Used Price: $18.86
		MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Media: DVD

Editorial Review:
Kevin Costner's lousy English accent is a small obstacle in this often exciting version of the Robin Hood fable. That aside, it's refreshing to have a preface to the old story in which we meet the robber hero of Sherwood Forest as a soldier in King Richard's Crusades, coming home to find his people under siege from the cruelties of the Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman). After Robin and his community of outcasts and fighters take to the trees, director Kevin Reynolds (Fandango, 187) is on more familiar narrative ground, and he goes for the gusto with lots of original action (Robin shoots two arrows simultaneously from his bow in two directions). Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, as Marion, makes a convincing damsel in distress, and Morgan Freeman brings dignity to his role as Robin's Moor friend. Alan Rickman, however, gets the most attention for his scene-chewing role as the rotten sheriff, an almost campy performance that is highly entertaining but perhaps a little out of sorts with the rest of the film. --Tom Keogh

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves [Region 2] Reviews:
Still love it!
2009-10-24 - I remember when this movie came out. I went to watch it three times and that is really saying something coming from me. Well when I found this, I was like "Yea!!!!!!!!" Bought it and watched and LOVED all the new scenes that were originally deleted. It is the best Robin Hood even if several actors do not have English accents ;)

This Robin Hood Misses The Target
2009-10-07 - Were Alan Rickman, Morgan Freeman and Sean Connery not in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, I would have passed on both the original and extended DVDs. Despite the fine production design, great location cinematography and some now-classic lines, the film is at best a fun but forgettable two-star effort.

An uneven screenplay with jerrymandered plot devices (was 13th century England really that PC?), inconsistent direction, careless editing, and an American actor who plays Robin Hood like a Huntington Beach surfer visiting a medieval theme park, are the reasons I downgraded this version of the outlaw legend. IMO Errol Flynn's 1938 vigorous swashbuckler is superior to Kevin Costner's 1991 reluctant-hero epic in every way.

With one notable exception.

The third star is for Alan Rickman (better known nowadays as Hogwarts teacher Professor Snape). I understand the English actor was given carte-blanche to do what he wanted with his villain's role. Thank God, for he saved this picture by stealing it outright. His performance as the demented, manic and lecherous Sheriff of Nottingham is a comedic tour de force. Rickman schemes, roars, slithers and hisses -- and delivers some of the best lines in the script like a vulture picking over entrails to devour. To wit:

Sheriff of Nottingham: Wait a minute. Robin Hood steals money from my pocket, forcing me to hurt the public, and they love him for it?
[Scribe nods]
Sheriff of Nottingham: That's it then. Cancel the kitchen scraps for lepers and orphans, no more merciful beheadings. And call off Christmas.

Sheriff of Nottingham: [to a wench] You. My room. 10:30 tonight.
Sheriff of Nottingham: [to another wench] You. 10:45... And bring a friend.

I can guess why many of Rickman's scenes were cut from the theatrical release. It wasn't just for time or relevance; when he's on screen you don't see anyone else. He's that good.

Other actors deserve praise for breathing life into their stock characters. Morgan Freeman as Robin's loyal Islamic friend Azeem, the fierce yet dignified "painted man", is wonderful to watch and listen to -- but when isn't he? IMO Freeman is incapable of giving a bad performance. The same is true of several veteran British actors in the cast: Brian Blessed (Lord Locksley), Nick Brimble (Little John), Michael McShane (Friar Tuck) and Geraldine McEwan (the twisted Mortianna). I also bend my knee to the always majestic Sean Connery for an uncredited cameo.

I like Mary Elizabeth Mastroantonio's acting, but IMO her Lady Marian was undermined by the director's lack of focus. She is introduced as a knife-wielding Norman maid in men's clothing who is running her family's estate, but in the climactic fight scene she's running around and screaming like a helpless twit. Wha'? I also feel that Christian Slater was miscast as Will Scarlett. He comes off as a charmless whiner whose act you never quite buy. And while Slater vaguely resembles Costner, the two actors lack the requisite chemistry to be familial colleagues.

The bottom line: Pass on this one unless you're a hardcore Kevin Costner fan. (I like KC but not in this film.) Choose Errol Flynn's The Adventures of Robin Hood instead as the gem of this genre. But consider RHPOF for Alan Rickman's over-the-top performance as the evil sheriff. He will not disappoint.


Above average film - below average sound
2009-09-26 - I enjoyed this movie when it was current and thought I would memorialize with purchase of Bluray. Picture is superb, story engaging, extra minutes adding to the story, but the sound, specifically dialogue, is too low. Had to continually turn up volume, often to near max level to hear/understand what was being said. Not had this issue with any other normal dvd or Bluray. Disappointed.

Prince of Thieves DVD
2009-09-23 - GREAT copy of a GREAT movie. There aren't many movies that I think are worth watching over and over again, but this one is, and the copy I received through Amazon is excellent and should last forever. Thanks, Amazon, for your wonderful products!

Robin Hood stole 3 hours of my life!!
2009-09-15 - I have heard this movie bantered around so much that I finally broke down and decided to watch it.
Robin Hood (Kevin Costner) returns to England from the Crusades with Azeem (Morgan Freeman), a Moor whom he saved in his escape from prison. Upon their arrival, they learn that the Sherriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman) has killed Robin's father and keeper of the lands (Brian Blessed) in the absence of King Richard (Sean Connery!). Now, Robin wishes vengeance for his father's death, to rid the lands of the horrid Sherriff, and to woo the lovely Maid Marian (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio).
I know very little about the Robin Hood legend or myth (other than multiple childhood viewings of the Disney version of Robin Hood, which I am sure is less than accurate), so I can't really say much on the accuracy of the movie from a historical standpoint. What I can say is how terrible it was from a viewer's standpoint.
But, first the good. Then the bad.
The two highlights of this film were hands-down Morgan Freeman as the Moor, Azeem, and Alan Rickman as the Sherriff of Nottingham. Both lit up the screen whenever they appeared and were a pure joy to watch. Morgan Freeman, I felt, really captured his character (though, as others have said, the likelihood that a Moor would be so "welcomed" in England in this era is rather suspect). I love his independence, yet devotion to Robin Hood. In some ways, I feel he was a better sidekick than Little John (which is kinda sad, as I thought Little John was Robin Hood's sidekick, but alas, Hollywood changes history as it sees fit). Too bad he wasn't in Moor of it (har har). Alan Rickman seemed to be having marvelous fun and was positively delicious in this film. He, hands down, gets the best lines from the riotous "I'll cut your heart out with a spoon" to his wonderful pickup lines "You. My room. 10:30 tonight. You. 10:45... And bring a friend". Somehow, he is able to balance being wicked and laugh out loud funny and most definitely makes the other characters look like they are taking themselves WAY too seriously.
However, for the rest of the movie, I can't be so kind. Kevin Costner as Robin Hood was cringe-worthy. He was overdramatic, had no English accent (yeah, yeah, so there was a fight with the director, I get it), and was all around a pain to watch (and yes, I found him rather unattractive, which doesn't usually matter, but when all you're doing is staring at him and listening to him overact, it would be nice to have something nice to look at). I found myself talking with my sister, my viewer in crime, during his scenes (aka most of the movie).
Speaking of Marian, Maid Marian was terribly done (Probably not all Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio's fault, though I wasn't much fond of the actor). As per Hollywood standards, we HAVE to have her introduced as a kick butt girl (in disguise as a man no less!), but then, in the end, she must be rescued from attempted rape by Robin?? Where is the ninja from the first part? Why must the action girl always disappear so her "True Love" must rescue her? Get a grip girlfriend!
And that was just the two man characters! We haven't gotten to the plot yet!
I felt the story started way too early. We have to watch Robin escape jail in the Holy Lands (agonizing), roll around in the sand on England (ridiculous), and parade across the land, saving the requisite child who gets chased into the tree by the Bad GuysTM (I am beginning to think I could write a script!).
But there is hope! A shred of excitement begins, watching Robin take charge of the Merry Men (a little odd that he just usurps power from Little John, and I would LOVE to find out how they can melt iron and steel in the open air without blowers), his men ambushing caravans, and in general robbing from the rich to save the poor. Great, perhaps this will make the movie worth it! But then it is destroyed miserably when two "Merry Men" (actually the two stupidest of the bunch) attempt to ambush Marian and her requisite unattractive maid. Of COURSE the two are escorted to the camp, of COURSE, they are blindfolded (so they can leave), and of COURSE, they get to see Robin Hood (Costner's body double) in the buff. And why, must I ask, does he have a nude scene? It makes absolutely zero sense and reduces what relationship he and Marian have to pure lust. Gross. As if that wasn't disgusting enough, Robin has to give Marian a tour (yawn), coo over her (wince), snuggle next to a campfire (groan), and leap to the aid of Little John's wife as she delivers a baby via Caesarean, thanks to the sudden midwife, Azeem. What the heck is a childbirth scene doing in an action/adventure movie like Robin Hood? Are we trying to draw the ER crowds or something? Not to mention, Caesarean? In this age (okay, so maybe I have a better feel for historical accuracy than I thought), I can't believe it would be doable and that the woman would survive! At this point, I was completely outraged and screaming at the TV.
So besides two great, under-used actors (oh, the Friar was a kick, but unfortunately, he was underused too as was the maaaaaaaaaahvelous Sean Connery), the movie is drivel. It reeks so bad of Hollywoodization, if you watch, you may want to bring a clothespin. Easily over-powered women, predictable plot, horrid romance, and overdone acting. I would suggest watching Freeman's and Rickman's performances only and skipping through the rest. 2 stars I feel is being more than generous.

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