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The legendary story of Robin Hood gets new life in this year's film adaptation which stars Russel Crowe in the title role. Directed by the renowned Ridley Scott, Robin Hood reintroduces the beloved character of a warrior fighting against a corrupt leadership, who ultimately tips the scales in the quest for freedom.

Set in thirteenth-century England, the story follows the expert archer as he serves King Richard against French enemies. Upon the king's death, Robin Hood travels to Nottingham where he meets the Lady Marian. In his quest to win over the fair maiden, he is motivated to fight the injustice of corruption by preying on the upperclass citizens of the town. With his merry band of thieves, he sets off to take back what the greedy sheriff takes away from the people. As England is devastated by war, Robin and his men heed the call of duty to serve and protect their country.

The legend continues

The story of Robin Hood traces it roots back as early as the thirteenth century and has been told and retold countless times. In popular tradition, the tale is set in Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, an English county in the east midlands.

The characters of Robin and his fair maiden have been popular figures in the different adaptations of the medieval story since the 1900’s. Screenplays have included silent movies, animated series, and even satires such as the 1993 Mel Brooks film Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Disney produced an animated feature film where Robin and Marian were foxes.

Robin Hood was shot on location in England and Wales but encountered a lot of obstacles along the way. Initially, filming was set to begin in August of 2008 but was halted due to the Screen Actors Guild strike. It was also said that the director was initially unhappy with the script which caused delays in production. Filming finally began on March 2009 and the film opened at the Cannes Film Festival on 26 March 2010.

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The knight and the maiden

Giving Robin Hood a face in this newest version of the story is Australian Russell Crowe. He is an award-winning and critically-acclaimed actor. A Beautiful Mind, another film he starred in, is ranked among the American Film Institute’s most inspiring movies of all time.

Robin Hood also features Cate Blanchett in the role of Lady Marian. She exudes grace and style and has even been dubbed as “the most glamorous Maid Marian.” People.com said that playing the role earned the actress “cool points from her three young sons.” Blanchett was last seen in the 2009 Oscar nominee for Best Picture The Curious Case of Benjamin Button opposite Brad Pitt.

When asked about what it was like collaborating with fellow Australian Crowe, Blanchett replied in an interview that they were “playfully combative.” She added, "I've followed Russell’s career with great interest. He is a force of nature... But I found him incredibly generous and absolutely dedicated."

Joining Crowe and Blanchett is Mark Strong, who has been crowned “Hollywood’s go-to villain”. The actor won praise for another excellent portrayal of the movie’s bad guy. Prior to his role as Godfrey in Robin Hood, Strong appeared in Sherlock Holmes as Lord Blackwood and as mafia don Frank D’Amico in Kick Ass. In an article, he was quoted as saying "I do love these characters and as an actor you've got a hell of a lot to get hold of, and the challenge is not to make them two-dimensional and to find something in there".

Also in the film are Max von Sydow as Sir Walter Loxley, William Hurt as William Marshall, Ocsar Isaac as Prince John, Mark Addy as Friar Tuck, Danny Huston as King Richard the Lionheart and Matthew Macfayden as the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Stamped for posterity

In his home country, Crowe has also been immortalized in a series of stamps featuring him as Robin Hood. This was reportedly done in recognition of his contributions to the film industry. This was not the first time the actor’s likeness graced Australian postage stamps. In the past, he had been featured alongside other Aussie actors such as his costar Blanchett and Nicole Kidman.

Bullseye?

The early feedback about the movie was mixed. Empire’s Don Jolin described it as “Grown-up but not too serious; action-packed but not juvenile… Not only is this the mullet-free Robin Hood movie we’ve been waiting decades for, it’s also Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe at their most entertaining since Gladiator.” But others felt that the movie was “solid but nothing really special”. The review in this website said there were "some fine acting and a few gripping action sequences, but it's missing the thrill of adventure that made Robin Hood a legend in the first place."

Robin Hood opens in theaters on 14 May 2010 and is distributed by Universal Pictures.

Photo screencap from hollywoodstreams.