When soldier Robin happens upon the dying Robert of Loxley, he promises to return the man's sword to his family in Nottingham. There, he assumes Robert's identity; romances his widow, Marion; and draws the ire of the town's sheriff and King John's henchman, Godfrey.
Robin and Marian are played by a scowling Russell Crowe and a grim Cate Blanchett, who has the face of a wooden squaw stained by decades of cigar smoke. I can't remember a more un-fun-looking couple.
– David Edelstein,
New York Magazine/Vulture,
17 May 2010
rotten:
"And so the legend begins," the new movie tells us at the end. But it's too late.
– Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
17 May 2010
fresh:
Yes, it's dour, but it's also gritty and not nearly as silly as most "Robin Hood" adaptations.
– Richard Roeper,
Richard Roeper.com,
21 May 2010
rotten:
The film is pretty, and there are a few solid moments every hour. But considered as a work of cinema, with paid professionals involved, it's an extremely lackluster story.
– Laremy Legel,
Film.com,
26 May 2010
rotten:
We never even get to see Robin steal from the rich and give to the poor. That's because the film is a prequel in search of a sequel. With any luck, we won't get one.