Robin Hood

Every ten or so years Hollywood picks up one of the classics and repackages it so they can retell it to the current generation. Personally I can't wait for the Harry Potter series to be remade.

But back to the focus of this post. Robin Hood.

No matter how many times it's retold, whichever actor they place in his shoes and whatever little tweaks they make to the tale, one thing remains the same. At the heart of it all, Robin Hood is about bravery, justice and love. He steals from the rich to feed the poor, he leads those who are lost, but most of all he fights for those who cannot fight for themselves. Seriously, this story always makes me wish I could fight with a sword.

This newest version takes a more realistic tone to the legend. Showing us not only the man behind the hero but also giving us a more rounded view of all the other characters as well. King Richard the Lion Heart (Danny Huston) for example, is not completely hero-worshiped, we also get to see the repercussions of the crusades and his decisions. It's definitely a more serious film than the 1991 Kevin Costner adventure (I love that version, definitely worth watching if you're interested in the Robin hood legend).

The story looks at Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe), the man before he becomes Robin Hood, the Hero. It takes a much more human look at how it all comes together; how the state of the country, the attitude of Prince John (Oscar Isaac) and the need of the people push Robin into taking the steps that eventually make him an out-law and a hero to the masses.

I could go on about how a Ridley Scott movie is always worth watching, how the cast fit into their roles (it is worth mentioning that Cate Blanchett made Marion Loxley a much stronger woman and therefor a much more admirable character) and how the swash buckling thrilled me as always.

But the best thing about this movie, was that its story, though different, was true in its tone to the legend of Robin Hood. It had heart and bravery, grit and gallantry, and although it's not as magical as previous versions, or as fun, it makes a good effort.




Rating: 7.5/10. It pulled at the heart strings and there were a couple of laughs, plus the slow-mo archery is awesome.

IRONMAN 2

ahhhhh, the much awaited sequel! You tell yourself it's going to be amazing, yet you don't want to psyche yourself up too much because you don't want to be disappointed.

well, if you haven't yet seen Ironman 2 (why???), let me tell you now that it's worth it.

The sequel continues where the first Ironman ended, showing how Tony Stark deals with the world knowing that he is Ironman. As Tony handles the media, the government and his own personal demons, a new villain is introduced; Ivan Vanko, son of soviet physicist Anton Vanko, Ivan has a vendetta against the Stark legacy and wants to avenge his family's honor.

The mood of the movie is much like the last, witty, charming and narcissistic just like it's main character. This tone is prevalent throughout the film, pushing the story along and bringing the audience along for the ride.

The brilliance of Robert Downey Jr. is impeccable as he juggles the ups and downs of being Tony Stark. His performance is all the more enhanced by the firm support of the rest of the cast. Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts is the perfect foil to Tony's personality and the two make the perfect non-couple.

Those who had doubts about Don Cheadle taking up the role of Lt. Col. Rhodes/War Machine, can be rest assured that he gives a good performance, slipping seamlessly into the persona and the relationship the character has with Tony. Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow also deserves applause, though she pretty much has the same expression throughout the movie, she also gives us a majorly kick-ass action sequence. One of the best by a female lead by far.

Rounding out the cast is Mickey Rourke as Ivan Vanko/Whiplash. Though the character's origins and name differ from the original Marvel version, Rourke makes it work. He almost outshines Downey Jr, with his calm yet sinister portrayal of a villain that at times seem almost as intelligent as Tony.

From start to finnish, the action sequences keep the audiences' rapt attention, the many gadgets, weapons and cool moves have become a staple of the Marvel franchise. These are all the more shown off in Ironman, especially now that S.H.I.E.L.D is involved. Though the special effects are not as breath taking as in the first movie (seeing as how we've seen most of it before), some off the newer introductions are still satisfyingly gasp invoking.

It's also interesting to note that now that the Marvel universes are converging and the impending Avengers movie is slowly yet surely becoming a reality, the producer's are letting in little allusions to other Marvel character's that we've not yet seen. Make sure you stay on after the credits role to catch one of these hints.

On the whole, Ironman 2 is a worthy sequel and though it's not as fresh as it's predecessor was, the solid performances and awesome action sequences make up for a story that's only almost as-good-as the first one.

Rating : 7.7/10...minus 0.3 for not being as good as the first, which might be unavoidable but, so what. If you're a Marvel fan, you can't not watch this. If you've seen Ironman, you can't not watch the sequel. If you haven't seen either movie, where HAVE you been?