Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
ROBIN HOOD: PRINCE OF THIEVES (PG)
D: Kevin Reynolds
Warner Bros./Morgan Creek (John Watson, Pen Densham
& Richard B. Lewis)
US 1991
143 mins
Adventure
W: Pen Densham & John Watson
DP: Douglas Milsome
Ed: Peter Boyle
Mus: Michael Kamen
PD: John Graysmark
Cos: John Bloomfield
Kevin Costner (Robin of Locksley), Morgan Freeman
(Azeem), Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Marian Dubois), Christian Slater (Will Scarlett), Alan Rickman (Sheriff of Nottingham), Geraldine McEwan (Mortianna), Nick Brimble
(Little John), Sean Connery (uncredited - King Richard)
If 1938's The Adventures of Robin Hood is the
definitive version of the legendary English bandit, then Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves must be considered the ultimate popcorn version of the story.
Focus is very much on entertainment value rather than
historical or even geographical accuracy, but it hits the right spots on the fun-o-meter.
Returning from the crusades to discover his father
murdered and his lands taken by the devilish Sheriff of Nottingham (deliciously played by Alan Rickman), Robin of Locksley becomes an outlaw and gets his revenge by robbing the rich to
give to the poor.
Criticism of Kevin Costner's performance around the
time of the film's release seems a little unfair. Though he keeps an American accent throughout, his charisma alone at least prevents the perfomance from being boring, although when
compared to Alan Rickman's scene-stealing turn, could anyone have done justice to the main character here?
It's far from perfect, but it's great
fun.
7/10
