Robin Hood (2010)

Robin Hood is a 2010 re-telling of the classic tale. It's directed by Ridley Scott and stars Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt, and Max von Sydow. I just don't think this story needs yet another re-telling, so I was not predisposed to look kindly on it. Watching it didn't change my mind. And it's not really Robin Hood.

trailer:

The Guardian gives it a positive review, calling it an "ambitious, serious and unashamedly populist epic work." The NYT closes with this:

As it crashes and bellows toward its sanguinary end, “Robin Hood” makes a hash of the historical record, and also of its own hero’s biography, the truth of which is revealed through a series of preposterous and unsatisfying flashbacks. Who was Robin Hood? After more than two hours of flaming arrows, loud music and defiant sloganeering, it’s oddly hard to tell.

Roger Ebert speaks kindly of the director but says, "“Robin Hood” is a high-tech and well made violent action picture using the name of Robin Hood for no better reason than that it's an established brand not protected by copyright." Rotten Tomatoes has a critics rating of 43% and an audience score of 58%. Empire Online loves it.