2010: The Year in Film: Robin Hood Review

Rise and Rise Again, Until Lambs become Lions
So I know, I know, for my supposed #3 most anticipated summer film of 2010, it took me a while to see this one. In my defense, I was out of town on weekend #1, busy last week and decided to see Iron Man 2 again on weekend #2, so I just got around to it, ok? That being said, here we are, Robin Hood.. one of the truly legendary characters in the Anglo-American tradition and a character that has appeared time and time again in film, books and popular media. This is not your grandma's Robin Hood, the swaggering prankster prancing about in green tights and shooting at people with arrows but never actually killing anyone, instead using the arrows to perform tricks and spark laughter among the townspeople. This is a badass epic Robin Hood who performs epic feats, leads armies and racks up ridiculous kill numbers while serving as an inspiration to his followers and the population of Nottingham. Count me in. There's some serious talent involved in this one: Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator, Blade Runner, Kingdom of Heaven, American Gangster, Black Hawk Down) has some of the most legit action/epic credentials in Hollywood, and has had several successful collaborations with star Russell Crowe, who after years of running from being type-cast at what he's best at, returns to his epic badass roots. No one makes cleaving someone's skull as believable and awesome as our boy Russ, that drunken bastard of an Australian. Cate Blanchette comes in as a Maid Marian for our own time - she's no damsel in distress, and our brave Robin Longstride needs her just as much and more than she needs him. So we've got legit directing and acting chops from the leads - how many huge summer pictures feature two stars with Best Actor/Actress Oscars? The Supporting cast more than holds their own as well, featuring William Hurt as a leading English noble, Max von Sydow as Sir Walter Loxley and Mark Strong as the treacherous Godfrey, who secretly serves the French king.

This is a Robin Hood origin story - Robin Hood's Batman Begins, so to speak. Don't come here expecting pranks, prancing, and noble robbery (at least too much of it). Come here expecting a complicated and layered quasi-historical tale that seeks to explain how a legendary figure first achieved his legendary status during one of the darkest and most convoluted times in English history.

The story opens with King Richard the Lionheart sacking his way through France on his way back to England after being gone on Crusade for 10 years. His brother, the weak, womanizing and cowardly Prince John, has fallen under French influence and knows little of what truly makes a King. While the French plot on the English crown, the Lion falls victim to a stray arrow. Robin Longstride, accompanied by his loyal companions Will Scarlett, Alan A'Dayle and Little John, common soldiers in Richard's army, concoct a plan to return to England. A fateful decision to return a fallen Knight's family sword shapes all of their fates. While England is bankrupted as a result of Richard's endless warmaking, John decides a tax must be levied on his citizens, while France seeks to capitalize on England's weakness. Robin shows his mettle as a leader, saving his town, speaking in favor of liberty and leading the charge against the French. Robin Hood's status is expanded greatly here.. he becomes a figure of English national importance, not merely a minor annoyance to the King's taxmen.



This film is immensely rewarding. It's fun, action-packed, relatively true to history, epic, and features a plot geared towards people capable of following a complex series of characters and events, rather than being spoon-fed like so many big features. Some of the battle sequences are ridiculously epicAs a fan of Scott and Crowe's, I loved this movie - it's like a less epic gladiator, and it's like no Robin Hood movie you've ever seen. Is it an action flick? Is it an epic? Is it a history of the origins of the Magna Carta? Yes.
8/10

2010: The Year in Film - Iron Man 2 Review

One of the summer's biggest movies is upon us, and boy does it do exactly what it intends to do.. perfectly. As a self-professed Marvel nerd, I can say that this movie does exactly what it needs to do, and does it splendidly. It follows up to the hugely successful first installment of the Iron Man franchise while simultaneously expanding the growing Marvel Universe. (Thor comes out May 2011, followed by Captain America in July 2011 and the Avengers and Iron Man 3 in 2012) The goal of Marvel movie studios is to have these films work together to create a comprehensive universe where events impact across the board and characters interact and are aware of one another. This is an ambitious undertaking, and nothing quite like it has ever been done before. The undertaking is in capable hands. Robert Downey, Jr. is immaculate as Tony Stark, Marvel's resident genius, billionaire playboy and titular armored hero. Gwyneth Paltrow returns as Tony's assistant turned CEO of Stark Industries and sometimes love interest Pepper Potts. Mickey Rourke steps onto the scene as Ivan Vanko, the son of a disgraced Russian physicist and genius in his own right, who bears a serious grudge against our hero. Sam Rockwell is an arms manufacturing rival of Stark's, Justin Hammer, who will do anything to get the upper hand on Stark and get the desired Pentagon contract. Scarlett Johansson is added as a sexy new Stark employee who may have more going on than meets the eye... and Don Cheadle replaces Terrance Howard as Stark's loyal military liaison and friend, James "Rhodey" Rhodes. Director Jon Favreau plays Stark's loyal right-hand man, Hap "Happy" Hogan. Downey Jr. brings an irreverent sense of playful fun to the whole enterprise, and the rest of the cast just feeds off of him. Favreau smartly lets his star-studded cast have fun with material that could otherwise be stuffy or ridiculous. This film picks up where the last one left off - with the world (and Stark most of all) dealing with the ramifications of the events of the last film - with Tony Stark having made a quantum leap in technology, leaving the rest of the world scrambling to catch up. Everyone wants a piece of the Iron Man technology, from the U.S. government (primarily Senator Stern - portrayed by a very puffy Gary Shandling), to foreign nations, to his competitors. Iron Man has publicly stamped out conflict across the globe, and is serving as self-appointed protector of U.S. security and global peace, Stark is cheered everywhere he goes, and Iron Man draws adoring throngs of fans. Meanwhile, trouble awaits, as the technology he believes is 5-10 years away for anyone else to develop, the miniature "arc-reactor" that serves as the power source for the Iron Man suit, is developed independently by Vanko, and the reactor which keeps him alive is also poisoning him, a fact that is exacerbated by Stark's continued use of the Iron Man suit. While Stark's position spirals out of control due to causes both external and internal, causing those close to him to question Stark's sanity - Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. pop onto the scene with some much-needed guidance. Oh, and Jim Rhodes dons the armor and becomes War Machine - who is really awesome.


This is the perfect sequel - it does everything the original did, while expanding the story, enriching the characters and making everything just a little bigger and grander. The same sense of fun is there - and it really rewards extensive knowledge of the Marvel Universe - there is a sexy little Easter Egg post-credits that any Marvel fan won't want to miss. This is a slick little sequel - it's fast paced, fun, great to look at, well-acted and smart - and features some amazing action sequences. The re-watchability on this one is through the roof - just like the first one. Downey Jr. has created an incredibly charming and lovable Tony Stark - he needs to be the star of his own Entourage-type series. If there are any problems, it's merely that the film is too short and not everything is fully explained and expanded upon. The plot is lifted straight from the comics - and our characters grow along the way. What more could we ask for? This film is a lot of fun from start-to-finish, and is really what a comic-book movie should strive to be - there were three separate rounds of applause from Friday's sold-out crowd, and there's something to be said for that.

8.2/10 - if you liked the first one, this is an absolute must see. If you never saw the first one, go rent it, then see this one.