“Robin Hood” Is Going To Steal The Hearts Of Summer Audiences

I haven’t felt this excited about a historical epic film since watching trailers for 2000′s “Gladiator,” which I saw twice in theaters and dozens of times on DVD after that. And it’s no surprise the latest version of “Robin Hood” reminds me of “Gladiator” because it stars Russell Crowe and was directed by Ridley Scott. Although I really enjoy “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves” and have been known to say “Damned English oak” in my best Morgan Freeman Moorish accent, I know Scott’s version of this “rob from the rich to give to the poor” tale is going to be so much better. Robin’s love interest, the Lady Marian, is played by Cate Blanchett, and even she gets in on some of the action as Robin and his gang battle against the despotic sheriff and ineffective new king. Marian isn’t running around trying to keep the sheriff from raping her as in “Prince of Thieves,” and we don’t have to witness any hokey romance between Robin and her. Plus, special effects are way better than they were in the ’90s, and Scott is a master at capturing fight and battle scenes. “Robin Hood” hits theaters May 14.