Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Kevin Reynolds

Writers (WGA):

Pen Densham (story)
Pen Densham (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 June 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

For the good of all men, and the love of one woman, he fought to uphold justice by breaking the law

Plot:

When Robin and his Moorish companion come to England and the tyranny of the Sheriff of Nottingham, he decides to fight back as an outlaw.

Plot Keywords:

England | Outlaw | Crusades | Forest | Moors

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 13 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Kevin Costner	...	Robin Hood
Morgan Freeman	...	Azeem
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio	...	Marian Dubois
Christian Slater	...	Will Scarlett
Alan Rickman	...	Sheriff of Nottingham
Michael McShane	...	Friar Tuck (as Micheal McShane)
Brian Blessed	...	Lord Locksley
Michael Wincott	...	Guy of Gisborne
Nick Brimble	...	Little John
Soo Drouet	...	Fanny
Daniel Newman	...	Wulf
Daniel Peacock	...	Bull
Walter Sparrow	...	Duncan
Harold Innocent	...	Bishop of Hereford
Jack Wild	...	Much the Miller's Son

Runtime:

143 min | 155 min (extended edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

New Zealand:PG | Iceland:10 (theatrical rating) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Canada:PA (Ontario - 2006) | South Korea:12 | Germany:12 (f) | South Africa:PG | UK:12 (re-rating) (2009) (uncut) | Sweden:11 (heavily cut) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (extended version) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-14 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (cut) | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Alnwick Castle, Alnwick, Northumberland, England, UK

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Kevin Costner had originally hired a coach to help him learn to speak English with an "English" accent. He had too much trouble learning it though, fired the coach, and decided not to do it.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the Sheriff is on top of Marian during their wedding ceremony, he is wearing a black, silver and white striped coat. But in the very next shot, he only has a black shirt on, without showing the coat was removed.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Prisoner: Show them the courage of Allah!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Kattan (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

(EVERYTHING I DO) I DO IT FOR YOU

Exhilarating Adventure

I have seen Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves so many times and yet it still thrills me the 100th time as much as it did the first. I just can't ever get enough of this near perfect adventure film.

I've always cherished films set in medieval times. There's just something about the plights of the oppressed class and the simple heroics of the man who steps forward to fight for honor and better lives for the dismal. Then there are the luxuriant castles, the dashing sword fights, the extravagant costumes, the tragically beautiful princess he's destined to fall in love with, and the evil power-hungry villain who will stop at nothing to be King.

OK, it's a bit of a cliché, but this formula makes for the perfect escapist film and one thrilling and emotional ride. No, it isn't original, but it's just got everything you'd ever want from a film.

The story of Robin Hood has been done so many times, and (unlike most of his other roles) Kevin Costner is not only believable, but actually quite good this time (well, except for the accent, but nobody's perfect).

Alan Rickman is just flawlessly devious as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Nobody could have done it better, and he also had the best lines ("Because it's dull, it'll hurt more!")

This was sadly Kevin Costner's last great film, as he went on to star in such duds as Waterworld and the dismal The Postman. Christian Slater, Morgan Freeman, Sean Connery, and especially Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio give their all, creating a truly emotional and powerful film. I don't understand why the ratings are so low.

The ending is just beautiful. I boo at the sheriff, cheer for Robin, and cry during Robin and Marian's post-sword fight embrace every time, and you will too if you ignore the cynics and give this adventure a chance.

9/10