Product Description

People's hero war hero romantic hero and leader of the world's most famous resistance group...Robin Hood is known and loved by millions around the world. His fight against a corrupt government and greedy officials is something we all can connect with. Fun modern and intelligent the BBC's Robin Hood is guaranteed to appeal to today's sophisticated viewers and is set to be as popular as the new Doctor Who. Sharp witty scripts by Dominic Minghella and a striking new look set the tone as the BBC updates this popular legend for all the family.Running Time: 585 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 794051400222 Manufacturer No: E4002

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #699 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2007-06-05
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
• Formats: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 5
• Dimensions: .60 pounds
• Running time: 578 minutes

Amazon.com
Every generation gets the Robin Hood it deserves. After a dashing adventure (The Adventures of Robin Hood), a ponderous retelling (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves), spoofs (Mel Brooks' When Things Were Rotten and Robin Hood: Men in Tights), and even a cartoon (Disney's Robin Hood), this thoroughly modern 2006 BBC series brings cheeky wit, exuberant action, and fierce fencing and special effects-enhanced archery to the party. Scruffy Robin (Jonas Armstrong) returns home from the Crusades war-weary and "changed." But when he finds the countryside under the taxing grip of the brutal (he crushes birds with his bare hands!) Sheriff (Keith Allen) and his glowering lieutenant, Guy of Gisbourne (Richard Armitage), he takes up his bow and arrow against the injustice.

Series 1 depicts how Robin of Locksley becomes "Robin of the Wood" and then "Robin Hood," robbing from the rich and, well, you know the drill. "The peasants' hero," this Robin is a tad vainer than previous screen incarnations. As his former servant and wisecracking sidekick Much (Sam Troughton, who can be a bit much himself), observes, Robin likes to linger after his good deeds to see the looks of gratitude. Marian (Lucy Griffiths) is another revelation. The daughter of Nottingham's former sheriff, she doesn't exactly welcome Robin back with open arms. "Five years and you're still peddling the same drivel," she says after he spouts some romantic tripe. A formidable fighter and champion of justice herself, she has a surprising moonlighting gig best not revealed here. We also see the gathering of Robin's men (none call them "merry"), including hulking Little John (Gordon Kennedy), Allan-a-Dale (Joe Armstrong), and Will Scarlett (Harry Lloyd). Beautifully filmed in Hungary (what; England was booked?), Robin Hood is mostly grand escapist adventure, but there are unnerving scenes of violence that raise the stakes. In one episode, a peasant who won't reveal Robin's whereabouts has his tongue cut out, (mercifully offscreen). In another, a child is the victim of a sniper's arrow. . Robin Hood takes liberties with the oft-told story of the legendary folk hero, but it's so well played and rousingly entertaining, few should mind. --Donald Liebenson

Customer Reviews

There has been one excellent TV show of Robin Hood--This isn't it
Here are my biases. To do Robin Hood, you face two specters of the past. Either you will film a movie and it has to be different and better (or at least as good as) Robin Hood with Errol Flynn; or you will make a television show and have to compete with the visionary Robin of Sherwood (and compete with both Michael Praed and then Jason Connery's Robins). Having gone the TV show route, the question is, what can you say about this show compare to its predecessor?

This show is bad. I have no other word for it. The creators may be looking to make a hip, relevant and "updated" Robin Hood show, but, they created a mess. A post traumatic stress disordered Robin who can't stand to kill anyone after his time on the Crusades returns to merry old England with a predictable sidekick and finds out that the Sheriff of Nottingham is using the Global War on Terror, I mean the Crusades, as just one excuse of many to oppress the peasants.

If there was on fire creativity available in the writing, characterization and acting, they might just pull it off. However, it is a dull dud. It is a pity, because there is some obvious talent in the production, but it is just not utilized. I cringed at every episode I was able to get through, and then wished I had the time back.

This show is bad. Get the Robin of Sherwood series or watch Errol Flynn and hope that someday someone else will have an original take on the tale that won't be as poorly thought out and ham handedly executed as the really bad original ideas in this show.

Gotta love the baddies...
This series is fantastic! It's well developed and the filming style is fun and engaging. I have to admit that even though Robin Hood is obviously the character the series revolves around (gee, go figure!) I fell completely in love with Sir Guy of Gisborne. He's the second bad guy of the series, with only The Sheriff in front of him, but I think he really adds that little extra omph! that the series needs to make it a hit. Not to mention Richard Armitage is beautiful, but still. The series gets just a tid bit campy at times but I think it only adds to the feel of the show. I recommend it highly and the second season is even better!

Good family fun!
We first saw this last year on BBC America and enjoyed them as a family (I have five boys!). The characters were developed well and though Maid Marion is more modernistic and feministic than the period of the 12th century would ever allow,(she looks more and dresses like a modern Brit than a 12th century lady) its all in good fun if they dont get carried away into political correctness. Can't wait to get the second season!!