Flaming Arrows, Blue Sea

Ridley Scott‘s Robin Hood (Universal, 5.14) will open the 63rd Cannes Film Festival with screenings on Wednesday, May 12th. Non-competitive, strictly hoopla. The period actioner costars Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Max Von Sydow, Lea Seydoux and William Hurt. Robin Hood will open commercially in France on the same day, and in the US two days hence.

30 thoughts on “Flaming Arrows, Blue Sea

  1. What is the appeal of this one? Looks about as much fun as a sack of potatoes. Crowe and especially Blanchett are too old for this – if I can get all LexG for a minute here, nobody wants to see a 40+ year old Maid Marian. Great actress? Yeah. Sexy love interest in a summer blockbuster? Not so much.

  2. There was a time when this film was being discussed as focusing on the Sheriff of Nottingham, with Crowe playing the Sheriff. During this there was a brief, possibly completely bs rumor that Christian Bale was being considered for Robin Hood. Whatever the quality of the actual film is, it will never live up to how kick-ass and fun I imagine that almost film would have been. Unfair? Sure, but c’mon, Crowe as Nottingham and Bale as Robin Hood, how did that NOT happen?! (if for no other reason there would have been the fun of all those headlines; “Batman readying to do Robin.”)

  3. @BurmaShave: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull got a great write-up from most critics at Cannes. It was only the AICN crowd (and Jeff) that pissed and moaned about it.

  4. YEP YEP. SCOTT POWER. One of the two GREATEST FILMMAKERS OF ALL TIME, the other being his even more awesome brother.

    (Sorry to go briefly OT, I’d have posted this in the more appropriate BISKIND THREAD downpage, but worried that maybe JW wouldn’t see it…)

    LEX back in action, so hope no one legitimately worried otherwise… Couldn’t get on the net all damn day, but in a thread down below Jeff was completely awesome, gentlemanly and classy to offer some VERY kind, complimentary, moving and encouraging words to yours truly; The idea that Wells even remotely acknowledges my goofball digressions is flattering. And he even said to feel free to hit him up via email, which I’ve seen him say to other posters…

    But just me, or is there no email link anywhere on this site as to how to mail JW directly? No biggie, I’m a little too intimidated to do so just now, but having Wells of all supposed misanthropes say something so genuinely supportive was just great… hell, it might almost spoil his reputation as some Eloi-hating curmudgeon, all singing the praises of an admitted Michael Bay/Twilight fan who’s not exactly svelte.

    Anyway, indulgence aside, I totally get the detractors on ROBIN HOOD — Crowe and Ridley need to work with others, stat, definitely looks lugubrious and bronzed and brown and like 90% of Ridley’s movies ever to a T, and you KNOW it’s not gonna clock in at a minute under 144… But, eh, don’t care, still gotta admire the now-patented Crowe-Scott stylized “integrity” vibe of utter mirthlessness (A Good Year somewhat excepted, though not exactly light on its feet as picaresque goofs go.) Sure there’s still gonna be enough BOMBASTIC MUSIC and dusty brown DUELIST-INTERIORS and skip-frame arrow battles and Crowe glumness to give it that weird, ever-so-Ridley 1492/Black Rain “protracted” vibe where the villains get center stage in a humorless 5th reel that grinds it all to dull roar before rallying at the end.

  5. LexG: damn glad to see you posting again. Damn glad, okay?

    Email direct to Jeff? Use the Contact tab. (Is how I sent him a lengthy transcript rom Go Tell the Spartans.)

    Agree with very word of yours describing the inherent jazz Ridley Scott can bring to the screen, but…Robin Hood? Dull roar indeed.

  6. I just don’t see the point of this movie other than a big payday for all concerned. Ridley should do a 3D remake of “Them!” That I’d pay to see.

  7. markj: “It was only the AICN crowd (and Jeff) that pissed and moaned about it.”

    Read again Jeff’s comment above that ROBIN HOOD is being shown for “non-competitive, strictly hoopla” reasons and I think you’ll get the point of Burma’s suggestion there. CRYSTAL SKULL may have splashed with a lot of hype, but a boatload of intelligent writers and critics – far more than the two outlets you’re suggesting – rightfully had big problems with it once it opened for the masses.

  8. Has there been some sort of ultimate internet hack this morning? Every single major search engine/networking site seems to be down for me. While HE is running like a dream. Google, Bing, Yahoo, Facebook, etc. All down. Weird.

  9. Lex – Glad to see/read you turned the corner. My only suggestion to your post yesterday would be for you to get out of the gig you have ASAP and change your scenery. It does not seem healthy for you mind at all. I know it is easier said then done, but you gotta start somewhere. And do not be intimidated. The man offered a heart-felt reach out. Take it.

    Gladiator II – Men in Tights will make 250M in the US and will be forgotten by July. I hope I am wrong, but this summer is shaping up to be Inception or bust.

  10. @BurmaShave: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull got a great write-up from most critics at Cannes. It was only the AICN crowd (and Jeff) that pissed and moaned about it.

  11. LexG rocks. Crazy finger energy a mile a minute. Maybe post less, script more? Dunno, just sayin’ Seems like ya got the chops, dude.

  12. Be strong, LexG. I lived lonely and rotten in LA for quite a while, too. I’m not saying I HAD to move away in order to marry a great girl and find fulfillment with fantastically gifted, healthy and intelligent kids, but I did move. And all of that other stuff happened, too.

    The path is out there. Apply that brainload of talent you’ve got and find it.

  13. Internets works again.

    LEXG POWER. BOW. I can totally see him having a semi-regular column on HE. Or an At The Movies-style video podcast, with Wells and Lex sitting around a table getting drunk, like Wells suggested yesterday, reviewing the latest releases. The enthusiasm of LexG for b-grade pulp contrasted with the world-weary cynicism of Wells. Internet gold.

  14. Does anyone know if Universal is planning a franchise with Robin Hood? Does it end with him dying gloriously like Maximus, or does it hint at future battles ahead with the Sheriff of Nottingham or King John or whatever? I read somewhere that it was something of a “prequel” to the usual Robin Hood story that we normally see, focusing more on what he was doing before he became the outlaw.

  15. Like I said yesterday, give Lex a side bar column. It is the natural evolution of the HE talk-back. I know I was the contrarian saying last month that Jeff should shut down the Comments for a bit, but that little episode and the dialog around it, has made the dialog better. I was wrong and proud I was.

  16. Mo’Nique: the crux of it is Comments #1 and #2 at the ND/NF Soiree post. IMO, two of the most heartfelt missives I’ve ever read on HE, and certainly Jeff Wells at his finest.

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