Robin Hood Fresh Take on Old Classic for New Generation

Who is not familiar with the roguish, young, handsome rich lad Robin Hood, who steals from the rich and gives to the poor? Well, he’s been given a fresh take thanks to producer Leonardo DiCaprio and director Otto Bathurst.  What makes this one different from its predecessors?  First of all, the diverse casting  of Jaime Foxx as Little John is genius.  He’s fast, fierce, smart and the “Mr. Miyagi’ to Taron Egerton’s Robin Hood. His bow and arrow skills made me want to run out to take a class…LOL

Ben Mendolsohn is devilishly and deliciously evil as the Sheriff of Nottingham.  It is truly the scene with him and the actions packed sequences with bow and arrow fights that are the highlights of the film. Scene Stealer Tim Minchin as Friar Tuck is a sheer delight as is an unexpected cameo from F. Murray Abraham as Cardinal.

Ben Chandler and David James Kelly does a great job of taking a tale that is familiar and making it relevant for an audience of this generation. The costumes are grainy, smokey and beautiful for this re-imagined tale of Robin from Locksley thanks to Julian Day.

In this incarnation, we are privy to how Robin becomes the legendary medieval ‘Santa Claus’ by watching him meet Marian only to be drafted, sent to war and presumed dead.  When he unexpectedly returns, he finds his home has been ravaged among other things.  The tale is really quite similar to our current world governmental world affairs as we struggle to maintain a sense of order with our healthcare, tax reform and immigration laws.

Although, the action is jam-packed and non-stop, it could stand being trimmed by a good 30 minutes.  Produced by Lionsgate and Appian Way, Robin Hood is in theatres now and totally worth the revisit through time.