Robin Hood

2010  PG-13  ACTION  2h 20min

CAST— Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt, Mark Strong, Mark Addy, Oscar Isaac, Danny Huston, Eileen Atkins, Max Von Sydow

MUSIC— Marc Streitenfeld  DIRECTOR— Ridley Scott

     Director Ridley Scott and star Russell Crowe join forces yet again to bring you a tale of adventure predating the familiar legend. Crowe plays Robin Longstride, an archer fighting King Richard’s crusade. When the king is killed in battle Robin and his crew split for home. En route they stumble upon an ambush in progress (French raiders attacking English soldiers) and Robin promises to grant a dying knight his final wish, that of visiting the house of his father in Nottingham and informing him of the knight’s demise. Upon arrival in Nottingham Robin delivers the news to the house of Loxley and meets the Lady Marian. Meanwhile, the king’s snotty brother John is made king and begins to tax the people to finance his whims. His realm faces devastation when his best friend turns traitor and strikes a deal with the French, leading an invasion army onto English shores. Robin and his partners in crime must join the cause and lead an army of their own against the French so that peace may reign. Heavy handed storytelling is offset by terrific action sequences that are sure to please. A superior addition to the legend. Unrated version also available.

OUR RATING— ***

Trailer Unavailable

     Robin Hood

1973  G  ANIMATED  1h 23min

CAST— Brian Bedford, Phil Harris, Monica Evans, Peter Ustinov, Terry-Thomas, Andy Devine, Roger Miller, Pat Buttram, George Lindsay, Carole Shelley

MUSIC— Roger Miller  DIRECTOR— Wolfgang Reitherman

     Walt Disney Pictures presents yet another tale of the Robin Hood legend, this time employing a fox as the titular hero. Join Robin as he and Little John the bear out-fox the wily Prince John and his cohort, the Sheriff of Nottingham. Prince John keeps tax rates so high that the peasants can no longer afford to pay them; therefore, imprisonment is imminent. Enter Robin Hood, as he steals the money from the prince so as to return it to the poor. Meanwhile, love is in the air for Robin and the “foxy” Maid Marian, even amidst chaotic battle sequences. Fine characters, fine action, but the songs are a waste. The kiddies are sure to enjoy.

OUR RATING— ** ½

     Robin and Marian

1976  PG  DRAMA  1h 46min

CAST— Sean Connery, Audrey Hepburn, Robert Shaw, Richard Harris, Nicol Williamson, Denholm Elliot, Kenneth Haigh, Ian Holm, Ronnie Barker, Victoria Abril

MUSIC— John Barry  DIRECTOR— Richard Lester

     How the mighty have fallen. This dreary and depressing film chronicling the middle-age reunion of Robin Hood and Maid Marian should have been planned better. After returning home from the Crusades Robin discovers that Nottingham is still under oppression by the nasty Sheriff. What’s more, England is now permanently ruled by King John. Perhaps the most shocking of all is the fact that Robin’s lady love is now a nun, tending to the sick and poor. When they reunite dull sparks fly yet again between them, but it all seems artificial. The idea of seeing an over-the-hill Robin Hood may pique your curiosity but you’re better off not knowing.

OUR RATING— * ½

     Road to Singapore

1940  NR  COMEDY  1h 25min

CAST— Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, Bob Hope, Charles Coburn, Judith Barrett, Anthony Quinn, Jerry Colonna, Monte Blue, Arthur Q. Bryan

MUSIC— Victor Young  DIRECTOR— Victor Schertzinger

     The first of the popular Road to… films, with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby teaming up and let loose to do their thing. Crosby is heir to a massive fleet of profitable ocean liners; but instead of sit behind a desk in an administrative position he would rather experience life aboard one of his father’s ships, lazing about from port to port without a care in the world. So would his best friend, a penniless Hope who looks for nothing but a good time, anything but real work. But when the time comes for Crosby to face the music and shoulder some responsibility off he and Hope head for a distant island nation where they inevitably meet up with native dancer Dorothy Lamour. Though both men have solemnly sworn off women (too much trouble, or so they say) will Lamour’s charms break through the gruff exteriors the boys have set around themselves? Though a much touted series this first entry seems a bit of a dud, coming off as nothing more than an excuse for Bing to croon a few and Bob to quip a few. Not exactly compelling stuff.

OUR RATING— **

FOLLOWED BY— Road to Zanzibar (1941), Road to Morocco (1942), Road to Utopia (1946), Road to Rio (1947), Road to Bali (1952), The Road to Hong Kong (1962)

     A River Runs Through It

1992  PG  DRAMA  2h 3min

CAST— Craig Sheffer, Brad Pitt, Tom Skerritt, Emily Lloyd, Brenda Blethyn, Edie McClurg, Stephen Shellen, Vann Gravage, Nicole Burdette, Susan Traylor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

MUSIC— Mark Isham  DIRECTOR— Robert Redford  BASED ON— A River Runs Through It (book), by Norman Maclean

     Brad Pitt gives a shining performance in this otherwise dull film adaptation of Norman Maclean’s memoirs on life, love, and angling. A Presbyterian minister raises two boys to love religion and fly fishing. But the boys grow up in two differing directions: one grows into a level-headed young man, the other into a rebellious gambler. But the one thing that continues to bond them is a love of fly fishing. The other elements of the film involve Craig Sheffer wooing his sweetheart and Pitt drinking away his money, all set against gorgeous Montana backdrops. Great feel for the period; the mood and the flavor are right on the money, yet the pacing is heavy and tiring. It has as many negative qualities as it does the positive. Take it or leave it. Oscar-winner for Best Cinematography.

OUR RATING— **

     River of No Return

1954  NR  WESTERN  1h 31min

CAST— Robert Mitchum, Marilyn Monroe, Rory Calhoun, Tommy Rettig, Murvyn Vye, Douglas Spencer

MUSIC— Cyril J. Mockridge  DIRECTOR— Otto Preminger

     The unlikely pair of Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe join forces in this wet and wild adventure. Slimey Rory Calhoun leaves Mitchum and son stranded just as murderous Indians raze their homestead. Mitchum has no choice but to commandeer Calhoun’s raft (not to mention his abandoned girlfriend Monroe) in order to escape. From there our adventurers go with the flow towards safety and revenge. A thrill ride it isn’t but the always solid Mitchum and a few glimpses of Monroe’s legs make it passable entertainment. If only she would let up with the generic sing songs…

OUR RATING— **

     Rise of the Planet of the Apes

2011  PG-13  SCIENCE FICTION  1h 50min

CAST— James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, Andy Serkis

MUSIC— Patrick Doyle  DIRECTOR— Rupert Wyatt

     Ever wonder how those damn dirty apes got their stinking paws on our planet, thus turning it into the madhouse presented in Planet of the Apes (1968)? Let’s begin at the beginning. A young doctor has his sights set on a cure for Alzheimer’s. Using apes as test subjects for his formula the future of the project looks bright. Enter Caesar, a newborn chimp who had unknowingly been administered the drug in utero. Though Caesar grows normally physically he exhibits unusually high cognitive function (in other words, this is one smart primate). But Caesar isn’t a baby anymore; his instincts begin to take over and his guardians can no longer care for him. By court order they remand Caesar to a less than reputable retirement home. Though Caesar thinks like a human he most definitely is not. Here Caesar stages an uprising that will soon turn Earth into a planet of the… well, you know. Terrific (Oscar-nominated) visuals throughout, a captivating, psychological edge and a dynamite performance by motion capture maestro Andy Serkis all add up to a home run, despite the potential for a foul. Check it out, bright eyes.

OUR RATING— ***

FOLLOWED BY— Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)