Riding through the Glen … OK, Romford … !

OK, I’ve got to confess, here’s where I tell you what I was up to, last night.

Or I should say, Allison, I, and Allison’s niece, Squeaky Sophie, were up to, last night …

Which sounds odd, now I put it that way, doesn’t it … ?

What we actually did was head into Romford to see a movie.

And, as you’ve possibly guessed, we actually ended up in Romford’s Vue cinema, to see the latest offering from director, Ridley Scott, and actor, Russell Crowe.

Robin Hood.

°°°°°

Actually, just as a side point, here, one of the nightclubs owned and operated by Ronnie and Reggie Kray was called The Double R.

LORD knows why that’s springs to mind … !!

°°°°°

Now, I’ve got admit, I’m something of a long time fan of Ridley’s.

You’d possibly not think so, would you … ?

So, when Allison told me she was planning to take Squeaky to see Robin Hood, and asked if I’d like to totter along, I happily said yes.

After all, the last Scott/Crowe collaboration was a bit of a biggy.

Now, Gladiator was an impressive piece of work.

Not my favourite of his, but nonetheless, still impressive*.

Robin Hood, on the other hand …

Hmmm …

Hmmm …

I’m thinking that Robin Hood, isn’t in quite the same league as Gladiator.

But then very few things are.

On the other hand …

Robin Hood sees Crowe as the eponymous hero returning from the Crusades quite literally at the head of Richard Cœur de Leon’s army.

And, as a result of Richard’s death, and an attempt to help Robert Locksley, who was ambushed by the traitorous Godfrey — Mark Strong, at his villainous best — Russell Crowe, as Robin Longstride, has to take Sir Robin Loxley’s ancestral sword home to his father, Sir Walter Loxleyº.

Which is where thing’s get …

Interesting …

To say the least … !!

Now, I’ll leave the plot summery to IMDb, they tend to do these things a touch better than I do.

But as a movie … ?

Robin Hood’s a good film. It’s not necessarily Ridley Scott or Russell Crowe’s best movie.

But it is entertainingª.

And as an attempt to try to do a historical retake on the story, it’s a better attempt than the Antoine Fuqua cut of King Arthur.

Cast List

Actor    Character

Russell Crowe Robin Longstride

Cate Blanchett Marion Loxley

Max von Sydow Sir Walter Loxley

William Hurt William Marshal

Mark Strong Godfrey

Oscar Isaac Prince John

Danny Huston King Richard The Lionheart

Eileen Atkins Eleanor of Aquitaine

Mark Addy Friar Tuck

Matthew Macfadyen Sheriff of Nottingham

Kevin Durand Little John

Scott Grimes Will Scarlet

Alan Doyle Allan A’Dayle

Douglas Hodge Sir Robert Loxley

Léa Seydoux Isabella of Angoulême

* I actually personally believe that Bladerunner was the better of the three movies. But there you go: Gladiator was the one that bagged the Oscars …

º Ably and sympathetically played by Max Von Sydow.

ª You know, I’ve also got to add that, while I’ve not seen the Kevin Costner film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, I know that both Allison and Squeaky Sophie have. Both felt that, while the Scott/Crowe version wasn’t bad, they both preferred — action and feel-wise — the former.