Characters/Actors: Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe), Marion Loxley (Cate Blanchett), William Hurt, Max Von Sydow, etc.
In this prequel to the "Robin Hood" we all know, in the 11th century, King Richard the Lionhearted has been off fighting in the Crusades for at least a decade. He is gradually making his way home while his ruthless but weak brother is serving as interim king, and is fighting the French en route. Richard is looking for an "honest Englishman", and the monarch said he found one in the intrepid archer Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe) [the future Robin Hood]; but when Longstride is encouraged to speak his mind, he and several of his cohorts wind up in the stocks awaiting punishment. Something happens, which I won't give away; so Robin and his men go free.
After making a promise to a dying man, Robin and his men don knight's armor and head to Nottingham, England to deliver the fallen soldier's sword to his widow, Marian Loxley (later maid Marian). The sword has an inscription, which paraphrased means: Nover give up "until the lamb becomes a lion". Robin pretends to be a knight and lives under the roof of Marian and her father or father-in-law (Max Von Sydow). Meanwhile, arrogant King John demands even the poor pay tribute taxes to him.
With the help of Robin and some largely disgruntled subjects, King John manages to foil an invasion by the French King, orchestrated by a treacherous friend of the arrogant king . In spite of this, John reneges on a promise to treat his subjects fairer and declares Robin "an outlaw" for the rest of his days. This movie was like an amalgam of "Braveheart" and "Gladiator". If you've seen either of those two movies, you know what's going to happen in this one. However, due to a strong cast, in my opinion, this movie was well worth spending close to two and a half hours seeing.
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