Robin Hood Blu-ray Review

Ridley Scott’s 2010 interpretation of Robin Hood arrives on Blu-ray with a robust 1080p resolution in its original 2.40:1 aspect ratio. The transfer delivers admirable clarity and sharpness, maintaining a high level of detail without succumbing to unwelcome edge enhancement. The filmic grain is a noticeable yet intentional choice, adding a weighty authenticity to the visuals. Colors are suitably muted, harmonizing with the English period setting, dominated by greens, browns, and desaturated tones. Skin tones are accurate, enhancing the realistic depiction of the characters. CGI landscapes blend seamlessly with action set-pieces, while superior black levels and balanced contrast contribute to a refined overall presentation. Minor anomalies such as occasional shimmer, particularly evident in scenes involving chainmail and certain backgrounds, slightly mar an otherwise solid effort.

The Blu-ray offers an impressive AVC MPEG-4 encode that reaches near-reference quality in several scenes. Contrast is meticulously maintained, allowing viewers to see every pore and wrinkle in actors' faces and the minute details of costumes and architecture. Background foliage and architectural elements appear crisp and well-defined. While the palette is primarily composed of earth tones and rich secondary hues, it effectively captures the time period’s essence. However, black levels exhibit slight inconsistencies, with some scenes displaying rich, inky blacks, while others—particularly those illuminated by natural firelight—show less depth and vibrancy, affecting shadow delineation. This fluctuation appears intrinsic to the film’s original photography rather than the digital transfer process.

Despite these minor imperfections, this high-definition presentation of Robin Hood is a remarkable visual effort. The level of detail throughout is captivating, offering audiences an engaging and authentic cinematic experience that highlights Scott’s intricate portrayal of the legendary tale. Only a few minor anomalies prevent this from being a perfect showcase for home cinema enthusiasts.

The audio presentation of the "Robin Hood" Blu-ray is a tour-de-force, featuring an exceptionally immersive DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that complements Ridley Scott’s epic vision brilliantly. The dialogue is consistently clear and coherent, seamlessly integrated into the frontal array, allowing both bellowing cries and whispered words to stand out amidst the often thunderous proceedings. The sound effects are meticulously crafted, lighting up your soundstage with arrows whizzing overhead, swords clashing, flames crackling, and crowds roaring, effectively bringing your home theater environment to life. The bass is remarkably potent, with horse clomps, battering rams, and thunder all exhibiting a visceral thump.

Particularly noteworthy are the battle scenes where zinging arrows and bone-crunching collisions provide robust low-frequency effects (LFE) that elevate the film’s dynamic range. Even in quieter moments, the attention to subtle atmospherics—such as ambient noises in a carnival scene or delicate shell movements—ensures an enveloping auditory experience. The quasi-Celtic musical score spreads warmly across the soundstage, enhancing the overall atmosphere while maintaining impeccable balance with the dialogue and effects. The rear speakers are effectively utilized, offering rich and discrete sounds of wildlife and nature that deliver a seamless 360° soundfield.

The DTS-HD Master Audio track also excels in delivering an extensive dynamic range, with scenes transitioning from loud and frenetic to quiet and intimate with impressive fluidity. The distinction between mid and high frequencies is clear and precise, notably during action sequences where every sonic element plays a pivotal role. Overall, this Blu-ray edition boasts a superior audio mix perfect for showcasing high-end home theater systems, making it a must-listen for any fan of the Robin Hood legend.

The Blu-ray edition of "Robin Hood" presents an extensive array of extras, supplementing both the original theatrical version and the extended director's cut. The standout feature is the Director’s Notebook, an engaging Picture-in-Picture track available on the theatrical cut that provides a comprehensive, multi-faceted insight into the production process. In addition, there is an hour-long making-of documentary, "Rise and Rise Again," which is divided into pre-production, production, and post-production sections and offers detailed interviews with the cast and crew. The disc also includes 13 minutes of deleted scenes with commentary by editor Pietro Scalia, and an extensive Art of Nottingham gallery featuring concept art and costume designs. Lastly, a Marketing Archive includes two trailers and several TV spots.

Extras included in this disc:

• Director’s Notebook: Picture-in-Picture track with concept art, on-set photos, and commentary.
• Deleted Scenes: Assorted scenes introduced by Editor Pietro Scalia.
• Rise and Rise Again: Comprehensive making-of documentary split into three sections.
• Art of Nottingham: Interactive galleries with design insights.
• Marketing Archive: Theatrical trailers and TV spots.

Ridley Scott's "Robin Hood," starring Russell Crowe, attempts a bold reimagining of the legendary tale but falters under the weight of its ambitions. Hoping to replicate the success of their previous collaboration, "Gladiator," Scott and Crowe offer a version of Robin Hood that emphasizes gritty realism and political intrigue over the swashbuckling charm traditionally associated with the character. Opening amid the Crusades with Robin Longstride (Crowe) as a mere archer, the narrative twists historical events and injects dramatic flair, such as Robin's impersonation of Sir Robert Loxley to secure Marian's (Cate Blanchett) estate. Despite high production values and an elaborate sets, the film suffers from a convoluted plot and extraneous subplots, resulting in a bloated runtime.

The film's tone veers towards serious dramatization, discarding whimsical elements that have long defined Robin Hood adaptations. While there's a commendable attempt at portraying period authenticity through Arthur Max's production design, and impressive cinematography by John Mathieson, the movie feels stilted due to its excessively dour atmosphere. Although Blanchett delivers a strong performance as Marian, bringing a modern feminist sensibility to her role, Crowe's portrayal of Robin lacks the charismatic energy needed to breathe life into the legend. Oscar Isaac’s Prince John and Max von Sydow’s Sir Walter bring depth to their characters, though their efforts are often undermined by the script’s misplaced priorities.

Ultimately, "Robin Hood" struggles with identity. It attempts to ground its myth in a pseudo-historical context, resulting in a prequel that doesn’t quite stand on its own and feels like extended exposition. Lacking the "magic" of previous adaptations like Errol Flynn's iconic 1938 classic, it leaves audiences yearning for a lighter, more engaging adventure. The film ends with a tease for a sequel, yet given its uneven execution, it remains uncertain if viewers would be eager for another round. While visually striking and occasionally engaging, Scott’s version misses the essential spirit of the beloved outlaw hero.

Ridley Scott's "Robin Hood" presents a fresh take on the iconic bandit, diverging significantly from traditional narratives to offer an original yet divisive interpretation. The film’s ambition is laudable, aiming to reimagine the legend with modern sensibilities. However, it suffers from an overstuffed screenplay that introduces numerous subplots that dilute the central story. Elements such as anti-Muslim sentiments, children with colds, and women's rights are introduced but not sufficiently developed, leading to a somewhat muddled cinematic experience. Despite this, the production design stands out as an impressive feat, translating well onto Blu-ray with remarkable visual fidelity.

The Blu-ray package itself, however, is exceptional. Viewers will appreciate the excellent picture quality, which brings the medieval setting to life with vibrant clarity. The reference-level audio presentation complements the visual experience perfectly, ensuring that action sequences are immersive and engaging. Additionally, the package is bolstered by a substantial selection of bonus features, making it an appealing purchase for enthusiasts of the era or the director. The inclusion of both the Theatrical Version and a marginally improved Director’s Cut adds value, though it may be prudent for newcomers to approach with lowered expectations.

For its Region A-locked US Blu-ray release, the package does not disappoint at all – it strikes high marks across the board with excellent video and benchmark audio, as well as a hefty selection of comprehensive, well-made extras. Honestly, if you’re a fan of the movie, this – coupled with the inclusion of both the Theatrical Version and the marginally better (but still overlong) Director’s Cut – is simply a must-have purchase. Newcomers, on the other hand, should tread quite cautiously. Unfortunately, as was the case for me personally, these words will likely fall on deaf ears, because – as fans of Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe (and of what they did with Gladiator) – it is easy to hope for the best and ignore the disappointing reality. When I heard about the Director’s Cut, even though I knew it would never be able to fix all of the movie’s ‘issues’, I still hoped that something magical would happen. Unfortunately, the reality is that Robin Hood –the untold story behind the legend– is one that nobody is particularly interested to find out about. Who knows though? With its success at the Box Office, and its open-ended obvious segue into sequel/franchise territory, maybe third time will be a charm for the Crowe/Russell epic period action-adventure. Fool that I am, I hope that Robin Hood 2 both actually happens and actually works, and gives us everything that we wanted from this sombre introduction.