After escaping from prison in the Holy Land in the 12th-century, Robin of Locksley (Kevin Costner) and his Moorish friend Azeem (Morgan Freeman) return to England, where they discover Robin’s father murdered and King Richard (Sean Connery) exiled.
When they meet a band of thieves in the woods – who keep shouting words like “tosspot” and “bollocks” (expressions that were not in recorded use until the 16th and 18th century respectively) – they join forces to try to oust the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman).
They build a sort of Ewok village in a glade in Sherwood Forest, complete with rope ladders, engineered lifts, mood lighting, canopy-level walkways and a mosque for Azeem.
Buckles are subsequently swashed and derring-do is derringly-done in an adventure which simply sets out to entertain handsomely and does so with a great deal of dash, flash and panache.
The Sheriff calls in the Scottish Celts to fight Robin and a load of big, hairy, dirty, woady savages turn up, looking like they’ve just arrived from the second century, and setting bits of themselves on fire for kicks.
Costner is more “Indiana Hood” than the Locksley lad of yore and the late Alan Rickman is a joy to behold as the panto-styled Sheriff of Nottingham, while Morgan Freeman’s cultured Moor – Robin’s early saviour – is a commanding, though unlikely, medieval presence.
But it’s director Kevin Reynolds who deserves the most praise for disguising such overfamiliar events with imaginative staging and a constantly roving camera and turning in such an enjoyable popcorn epic.
Robin of Locksley/Robin Hood
Kevin Costner Maid Marian
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio Sheriff of Nottingham
Alan Rickman Azeem
Morgan Freeman Will Scarlett
Christian Slater Mortianna
Geraldine McEwan Friar Tuck
Micheal McShane Lord Locksley
Brian Blessed Guy of Gisborne
Michael Wincott Little John
Nick Brimble Fanny
Soo Drouet King Richard
Sean Connery Wulf
Daniel Newman Bull
Daniel Peacock Duncan
Walter Sparrow Bishop
Harold Innocent Much
Jack Wild Kenneth
Michael Goldie Peter Dubois
Liam Halligan Sarah
Imogen Bain
Director
Kevin Reynolds
Video
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When they meet a band of thieves in the woods – who keep shouting words like “tosspot” and “bollocks” (expressions that were not in recorded use until the 16th and 18th century respectively) – they join forces to try to oust the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman).
Costner is more “Indiana Hood” than the Locksley lad of yore and the late Alan Rickman is a joy to behold as the panto-styled Sheriff of Nottingham, while Morgan Freeman’s cultured Moor – Robin’s early saviour – is a commanding, though unlikely, medieval presence.
