Nobleman crusader Robin of Locksley breaks out of a Jerusalem prison with the help of Moorish fellow prisoner Azeem and travels back home to England. But upon arrival he discovers his dead father in the ruins of his family estate, killed by the vicious sheriff of Nottingham, Robin and Azeem join forces with outlaws Little John and Will Scarlett to save the kingdom from the sheriff's villainy.
Kevin Costner
Robin of Locksley / Robin Hood
Morgan Freeman
Azeem
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Marian
Christian Slater
Will Scarlett
Alan Rickman
Sheriff of Nottingham
Geraldine McEwan
Mortianna
Michael McShane
Friar Tuck
Brian Blessed
Lord Locksley
Michael Wincott
Guy of Gisborne
Nick Brimble
Little John
Soo Drouet
Fanny
Daniel Newman
Wulf
Daniel Peacock
Bull
Walter Sparrow
Duncan
Harold Innocent
Bishop of Hereford
Jack Wild
Much
Michael Goldie
Kenneth of Cowfall
Liam Halligan
Peter Dubois
Marc Zuber
Interrogator
Merelina Kendall
Old Woman
Imogen Bain
Sarah
Jimmy Gardner
Farmer
Bobby Parr
Villager
John H. Francis
Courier
John Hallam
Red Headed Baron
Douglas Blackwell
Grey Bearded Baron
Pat Roach
Celtic Chieftain
Andy Hockley
Ox
John Dallimore
Broth
Derek Deadman
Kneelock
Howard Lew Lewis
Hal
John Tordoff
Scribe
Andrew Lawden
Sergeant
Susannah Corbett
Lady in Coach
Sarah Alexandra
Small Girl
Christopher Adamson
Soldier
Richard Strange
Executioner
Sean Connery
King Richard (uncredited)
Bryan Adams
The Balladeer (uncredited)
Director
Kevin Reynolds
Screenplay
John Watson
Screenplay, Story
Pen Densham
December 15, 2018
7
***Iconic Medieval adventure of the early 90s***
Released in 1991, "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" stars Kevin Costner in the title role. While some have argued that Costner was too humorless and brooding for the part, this is a cinematic myth. There are quite a few places in the film where he can be seen smiling and having a good time, like when he makes it back to England after the Crusades or when he's spending time with Marian in Sherwood Forest. Thankfully, he's more three-dimensional than this and so you also see him desperate, angry, grieving, vengeful, strategizing, contemplative, etc.
To be honest with you, Costner was in his prime at the time and towers in the role; whether or not you like him is a matter of opinion. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Marian is memorable with her unique facial features and odd hairstyle even though she doesn't trip my trigger. Morgan Freeman as the Moor Azeem is an excellent partner for Robin Hood while Alan Rickman and Michael Wincott are effective villains as the Sheriff of Nottingham and Guy of Gisborne respectively. Christian Slater, Nick Brimble and Michael McShane are also on hand as Robin's sometimes merry men, the latter two being Little John and Friar Tuck.
I've always had mixed feelings about this movie due to its mixed tone and the fact that it loses its mojo in the last 45 minutes. Concerning the first, the flick is often serious and brutal, but it's also sometimes cartoonish and over-the-top. Rickman particularly hams it up, entertaining though he is. Another good example is Geraldine McEwan as the ee-vil witch Mortianna. Her portrayal is spooky and Gothic in a comic book horror kind of way, but it detracts from the many parts that establish the story as believable quasi-history. Still, she's excellent as the hideous witch. Another example is the semi-goofy, overly heroic action scenes, like Robin & Azeem being catapulted over the castle wall. Why sure!
Concerning the second criticism, the movie is overlong by about 25 minutes. When the Celts attack the camp at the 95-minute mark I always start to lose interest and the rest of the movie is a tedious blur. But there’s a lot of medieval action, if that’s your thang.
As far as medieval films of the British Isles go, I prefer the more serious and consistent tone of "Tristan + Isolde" (2006) and "First Knight" (1995). Nevertheless, “Prince of Thieves” is an entertaining Robin Hood adventure and is iconic of early 90's cinema. The entire first act is the best part followed by the many Sherwood Forest sequences. And the climatic cameo by a certain famous actor is a nice touch. I enjoy seeing “Prince of Thieves” every five years or so.
The film runs 143 minutes and was shot mostly in England, but also France. My wife loves the end credits’ song “(Everything I Do) I Do it for You” by Bryan Adams.
GRADE: B/B-