This movie is possibly the worst historical dramatic retelling of the Robin Hood legend that I've ever seen. Everything about the combat was wrong, everything about the geography and architecture was wrong, everything about the political and religious climate during the crusades was wrong, the accents, the demographics, the outfits, it was all wrong! The version where Little John was played by Baloo the Bear was more culturally accurate, and Men In Tights was more historically accurate. This movie, like, wasn't even trying to get any of that stuff right!
Oh, wait... wasn't even trying. Could it be that this movie was never intended to be accurate... at all?
Hmmmm, wonder how that might change the viewing experience.
If you've seen other Robin Hood movies, most notably Prince of Thieves, the opening narration of this movie telling you to "forget everything you think you know" is probably going to sit wrong with you before the end credits roll. Because in terms of plot, this version hits almost all of the same notes as Prince of Thieves. But I think that's because almost everyone misinterpreted that narration.
This is a retelling of the Robin Hood myth popular culture has settled on as the sort of "most interesting" version of the story. Plain and simple. Popular places you're likely to have seen this version of the story are Prince of Thieves, of course, but also the BBC Robin Hood series and to some extent the 2010 Russell Crowe Robin Hood. The 2018 remake isn't trying to change the story. In fact, it's locking down the story hard, taking the message from the 2010 attempt that "audiences don't actually want this story reinterpreted."
You may be wondering, given all that, what right the movie had to say "forget everything you think you know." Well, like your great-grandmother's oft-repeated advice on dating and her shockingly detailed accounts of her early married life, the story isn't being re-interpreted here, but the setting...
The setting is a different matter altogether.
2018's Robin Hood (somebody please come up with a different name next time) is a reinterpretation of the setting of the legend we're all familiar with. It's basically "what if Robin Hood, but like a steampunk alternate history version of Robin Hood?" So forget what you think you know of the crusades and medieval England. First because probably you don't actually know that much at all, and even if you did this movie wouldn't conform to any of it.
So, as a steampunk alternate history version of Robin Hood, how good is this movie? It's actually not bad! The acting and character development isn't terrible, and the story is all right for as familiar as it feels. The script is a little cringy at times, but by and large it's unoffensive. In fact, much like the sea of faceless people you pass by every time you go into a grocery store (can you bring to mind the actual features of literally anyone from your last visit to the grocery store? Be honest), the bulk of this movie is just that; unoffensive. It's sorta just... there. And if that were all that the movie was, it'd be pretty forgettable and worthless.
But then there's that steampunk alternate history stuff, which completely changes the sets and the action of the movie from what you're expecting, and that stuff is great fun. The archery is all very close-up stuff, swapping out Robin's legendary aim for legendary speed instead. Crossbows are semi-automatic, and archers are basically special-forces operatives. Robin's bow-handling actually seems to be heavily influenced by Legolas from The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and uh... well that's just fantastic. Made even better when you recognize that the vast majority of those stunts were done with actual people. Teron Egerton actually got that good with a bow, guys. It's super fun to watch.
The action is augmented by the sweet steampunk England surroundings and dress, and when there's no action happening that setting is crucial to keeping the movie interesting. It's not unlike The Lord of the Rings in that way, as well. The world that's built in Robin Hood is obviously nothing like Middle Earth, of course, but the way the worldbuilding details are all fed to you as background detail makes it feel very natural. You're given all the information you need to keep things interesting without any lengthy narration or info-dumps.
Of course, if you've failed to forget everything you think you know, you'll probably spend the entire run time of the movie being increasingly annoyed by how patently ridiculous absolutely everything about the action, construction, landscape, costumes, etc, actually is. Which, you know... that's fair. And that's why this movie kinda bombed in theaters, I'm pretty sure.
But personally I could tell from the trailers this wasn't going to be accurate... well at all, actually. And so I went into it expecting something completely different, and I was pleased with the package I was given. So Robin Hood (2018) gets a recommendation from me, with qualifications.
If you love actions movies in unusual settings, this'll be a good watch for you. If you're a joyless scarecrow, probably pass on this one.
Oh, wait... wasn't even trying. Could it be that this movie was never intended to be accurate... at all?
Hmmmm, wonder how that might change the viewing experience.
If you've seen other Robin Hood movies, most notably Prince of Thieves, the opening narration of this movie telling you to "forget everything you think you know" is probably going to sit wrong with you before the end credits roll. Because in terms of plot, this version hits almost all of the same notes as Prince of Thieves. But I think that's because almost everyone misinterpreted that narration.
This is a retelling of the Robin Hood myth popular culture has settled on as the sort of "most interesting" version of the story. Plain and simple. Popular places you're likely to have seen this version of the story are Prince of Thieves, of course, but also the BBC Robin Hood series and to some extent the 2010 Russell Crowe Robin Hood. The 2018 remake isn't trying to change the story. In fact, it's locking down the story hard, taking the message from the 2010 attempt that "audiences don't actually want this story reinterpreted."
You may be wondering, given all that, what right the movie had to say "forget everything you think you know." Well, like your great-grandmother's oft-repeated advice on dating and her shockingly detailed accounts of her early married life, the story isn't being re-interpreted here, but the setting...
The setting is a different matter altogether.
2018's Robin Hood (somebody please come up with a different name next time) is a reinterpretation of the setting of the legend we're all familiar with. It's basically "what if Robin Hood, but like a steampunk alternate history version of Robin Hood?" So forget what you think you know of the crusades and medieval England. First because probably you don't actually know that much at all, and even if you did this movie wouldn't conform to any of it.
So, as a steampunk alternate history version of Robin Hood, how good is this movie? It's actually not bad! The acting and character development isn't terrible, and the story is all right for as familiar as it feels. The script is a little cringy at times, but by and large it's unoffensive. In fact, much like the sea of faceless people you pass by every time you go into a grocery store (can you bring to mind the actual features of literally anyone from your last visit to the grocery store? Be honest), the bulk of this movie is just that; unoffensive. It's sorta just... there. And if that were all that the movie was, it'd be pretty forgettable and worthless.
But then there's that steampunk alternate history stuff, which completely changes the sets and the action of the movie from what you're expecting, and that stuff is great fun. The archery is all very close-up stuff, swapping out Robin's legendary aim for legendary speed instead. Crossbows are semi-automatic, and archers are basically special-forces operatives. Robin's bow-handling actually seems to be heavily influenced by Legolas from The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and uh... well that's just fantastic. Made even better when you recognize that the vast majority of those stunts were done with actual people. Teron Egerton actually got that good with a bow, guys. It's super fun to watch.
The action is augmented by the sweet steampunk England surroundings and dress, and when there's no action happening that setting is crucial to keeping the movie interesting. It's not unlike The Lord of the Rings in that way, as well. The world that's built in Robin Hood is obviously nothing like Middle Earth, of course, but the way the worldbuilding details are all fed to you as background detail makes it feel very natural. You're given all the information you need to keep things interesting without any lengthy narration or info-dumps.
Of course, if you've failed to forget everything you think you know, you'll probably spend the entire run time of the movie being increasingly annoyed by how patently ridiculous absolutely everything about the action, construction, landscape, costumes, etc, actually is. Which, you know... that's fair. And that's why this movie kinda bombed in theaters, I'm pretty sure.
But personally I could tell from the trailers this wasn't going to be accurate... well at all, actually. And so I went into it expecting something completely different, and I was pleased with the package I was given. So Robin Hood (2018) gets a recommendation from me, with qualifications.
If you love actions movies in unusual settings, this'll be a good watch for you. If you're a joyless scarecrow, probably pass on this one.
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