Alan Rickman turned in a fantastic performance as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Way back in the olden days when I was in middle school, a little movie came out in the theaters called Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. As per usual at the time, I went to see it with my friend E. I saw a lot of movies with her back then.
We loved it. We obsessed over it. We went a couple times, bought it when it came out on video, watched it over and over and over on the VCR, listened to the theme song by Bryan Adams, watched the video for the theme song over and over and over and constantly called people “twits” a la the Sheriff of Nottingham (oh, how I love you, Alan Rickman!).
Find the man who ruined the film. He's in this picture.
I retained fond memories of that movie, although I went many years as an adult without watching it because my VHS tape was packed away and I hadn’t gotten around to buying it on DVD. Finally, though, I did. And I watched it again fairly recently. And it’s still an amazing movie. Except …
Oy. Kevin Costner. Love him in Field of Dreams, but he was not meant to be Robin Hood. It was a mistake. He doesn’t even make an attempt at a British accent … or, for that matter, a facial expression. His scenes are beyond painful to watch, and the incredible amount of talent surrounding him highlights his lack of acting skill, making it all that much worse.
A childhood belief shattered, watching this movie again left me with the devastating realization that a poor casting choice (how could Costner possibly hold his own in scenes with Morgan Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Christian Slater — or the aforementioned Professor Severus Snape?) ruined what should have been one of the best movies ever made.
Some things should be left in the past. I loved “2001: A Space Odyssey” . It came out in 1967 (yes, I’m THAT old) and was a special effects marvel. Fast forward to the mid 90′s. I sit my daughter down to introduce her to this “amazing” film. OMG I turned it off after half an hour. We were both bored. The special effects now looked clumsy and obvious.
I was so disappointed.
BTW — Alan Rickman totally rocks. Have you seen him in “Galaxy Quest” ?
Honestly, I still love the movie. I just wish someone other than Costner was Robin Hood. He just isn’t a great actor. I’m not sure he’s even good. And surrounding him with such talent just highlights that fact.
I don’t think I’ve seen Rickman in anything but HP and Robin Hood. I should check out some of his other movies. He’s incredible.
I felt the same way about Speedracer. That was hands-down my favorite cartoon when I was a kid. A few years ago it made an appearance on Cartoon Network and I watched it with DD. It was horrible. Fond memories ruined! No wonder our parents told us TV would rot our brains.
Ususally, “years later eyes” have a way of tearing down the perfect memory of a not so perfect reality. It is child like dispoointment for sure, but the adult can’t help but find humor in it, right?
The only movie that I have found that is still as good, if not better now is The Outsiders. (take it with a grain of salt…this is coming from someone who could watch Pee Wee’s Big Adventure and/or Teen Wolf everyday for the rest of her life!)
I still love most of the movies I loved back then. I just watched Willow the other day. I still love it! And Grease, the Brat Pack movies … So many I still love as much!
I don’t know…Part of the reason I LOVE Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is because of Kevin Costner’s bad acting.
I’m weird like that.
If you watch it from the comic perspective, that is a reason to love it.
I was wondering where you were headed in this post. I unfortunately was already an adult when this movie came out and even though I too loved the movie, I always thought Kevin Costner was a really bad choice. But the rest of the movie is great so it is still worth watching. Good review:)
It was on the SyFy channel last night. I have the DVD, but haven’t watched in a while. I caught the end last night, where there’s a lot of fighting and Costner doesn’t speak much. Perfect!
I really like the movie Robin Hood: Men in Tights and I have to be honest, I didn’t understand 90% of the jokes in it UNTIL I saw Prince of Thieves. I agree that Mr. Costner should have been replaced, by, oh… anyone else (Richard Gere anyone?) but anyway. I like the movie overall, LOVE the soundtrack, and love the insight it gave to one of my favorite goof movies of all time.