In Theaters: ***Robin Hood (2018)

*** Robin Hood (2018)  Here is a very good version of the Robin Hood (Tara Egerton) story, with a mining operation outside of town; and the Sheriff of Nottingham (Ben Mendelsohn) is exploiting the people at the request of the cardinal who is using the money to keep the war going (financing the Moors) in the hopes King Richard will perish.  Moorish Little John (Jamie Fox) figures he has to travel to America to get to the end of the war.  He trains Robin, as he lost a son and a hand in the war.  Miriam (Eve Hewson) has moved on from Robin since Robin left to the war some years before, and was reported killed.  She is now with Will Scarlet (Jamie Dornan) This movie has a good start, and a terrible finish.  The new sheriff is just a contrived ending to make for sequels, which I don’t think should be made.  The question is what more does this version offer.  The only thing is the mining community outside of Nottingham.  But that is just putting gothic scenery into the film and really doesn't work. 

Movie Review: ****Robin Hood (1991)

This movie starts with Robin of Locksley, (Kevin Costner), returning to England after the crusades, grateful to have escaped with his live, and bringing with him a Moorish friend, Azeem (Morgan Freeman), who has a debt to pay to Locksley, and has vowed to save his life in return for his life having been saved.  However England has changed, with the absence of King Richard (Sean Connery).  The Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman) is plotting to become king.  He is helped by a witch, who is actually his mother (Geraldine McEwan).  After finding his own lands in ruin, and his father executed, he seeks refuge at the home of Marian Dubois (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), who of course greets him poorly.  Robin eventually falls in with the thieves of the forest, and takes them on a mission of revenge against Nottingham.  However he has bit off more than he can chew, and with the Celts as hired mercenaries they are overwhelmed and many taken prisoner and scheduled to be hung.  That is what sets up the doom of the sheriff, as Robin will not let this happen.  Seven men take on his forces, and with the people rising up, win the day.  Great adventure, and terrific scene with Robin and Azeem being catapulted over the wall.  Perhaps the best thing about this movie, is the song sung with the credits, with several lines slipping in during the show:

"(Everything I Do) I Do It For You"

Look into my eyes – you will see
What you mean to me.
Search your heart, search your soul
And when you find me there you'll search no more.

Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for.
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for.
You know it's true:
Everything I do, I do it for you.

Look into your heart – you will find
There's nothin' there to hide.
Take me as I am, take my life.
I would give it all, I would sacrifice.

Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for
I can't help it, there's nothin' I want more
You know it's true:
Everything I do, I do it for you, oh, yeah.

There's no love like your love
And no other could give more love.
There's nowhere unless you're there
All the time, all the way, yeah.

Look into your heart, baby...
Oh, you can't tell me it's not worth tryin' for.
I can't help it, there's nothin' I want more.

Yeah, I would fight for you, I'd lie for you,
Walk the wire for you, yeah, I'd die for you.

You know it's true:
Everything I do, oh, I do it for you.

Movie Review: ****Robin Hood (2010)

This Robin Hood was not what I was expecting.  I am use to the story of Robin Hood stealing from the rich to feed the poor.  Instead this movie is a prequel to these events.  It shows Robin Hood coming to the defense of King John, and because he was liked of the people, he was declared outlaw.
This movie is very entertaining.  There are plenty of sparks between Robin (Russell Crowe) and maid Marion (Cate Blanchett) even though they are only pretending to be husband and wife, rather than actually being so.  So in this version, Robin Hood is Robin Longstride, whose father was executed for seeking freedom.  This movie is then a political movie, and the search for freedom.
Godfrey (Mark Strong) gives us the evil we need in this movie. He gains King John's confidence, but in reality is scheming with King Phillip of France to create unrest and weaken King John's support in England.  This almost works, but England is united when people realize what is going on.
This movie has a good battle scene, and it ends with King John's betrayal setting up sequels if they choose.