The reviews were lackluster, so we weren't expecting much, but we were pleasantly surprised at this new take on the Robin Hood legend. Maybe it's because we watched the director's cut. Robin's not much of an outlaw in this version, and there's much more politicking at the national level -- I'm used to it just being John usurping the throne from Richard, and everything being okay once Richard returns from crusade. Here, we get Eleanor of Aquitaine, William Marshal**, Isabella of Angoulême, and a First Barons' War-inspired conflict that plays hell with the historical timeline and makes the origins of the Magna Carta more noble sounding than the reality, but definitely worth it for art's sake. Aside from the introductory scrollwork text, which really should have been cut, this was fun to watch. Frankly, I liked this (and the Kingdom of Heaven director's cut, for that matter, looking through the list of Ridley Scott historical epics) better than Gladiator.
** and William Hurt is amazing. I definitely preferred his performance here to Mark Ruffalo in The Kids Are All Right.
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