Dork is me

[elaby]

Lately there has been a lot of Robin Hood falling onto my head, because I've been re-reading Sherwood by Parke Godwin (it's brilliant, guys) and I found out there's going to be a new Robin Hood movie this spring, and besides, I'm writing that Anglo-Saxon story and there might be 600-odd years between the two settings, but it gives me Robin Hood on the brain nonetheless. And so tonight I watched Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, because a goodly portion of my childhood was devoted utterly to that movie, bad badbadbad as it was. I have the damn thing memorized, still, I swear to you. And the dialogue really is awful. Kevin Costner, as much as I really did like him, delivers some of his lines so painfully badly that I burst out laughing. But there are at least three good things about it: the music, Azeem, and the Sheriff of Nottingham. It still gives me the filled-to-bursting feeling of joy when the music does things just when the filming needs it, and the humor catches you off-guard. And I think I adore Azeem more than I ever have before, because this time I really saw the subtlety of Morgan Freeman's performance, and the little shifts between wisdom, sarcasm, frustration, tenderness, uncertainty... GOD, he's awesome. And I also learned an Arabic word!

Most of the time, Azeem calls Robin "Christian," but once in a while - at really significant moments, like when they're burying Duncan, and after he saves Robin's life - he calls him sadiq, which (according to my lame google-fu and Google Translate) means "friend." B'AWWWWW.

Note: I am not slashing them XD The idea breaks my poor little brain.

[/ginormous dweeb]

Comments

[kathie-d.livejournal.com]

Aw, I love that film. California Robin Hood... you can't go wrong! As a teenager, I had a huge crush on the Sheriff of Notthingham too.

Tell me about this book Sherwood?

[elaby.livejournal.com]

I LOVE the Sheriff, holy cow XD He's hilarious and wonderfully evil, and delivers his lines with utter perfectin.

Ooh, Sherwood is awesome. It's set right after the Norman conquest, with Robin and everyone as Anglo-Saxons and the Sheriff as a Norman (he's quite sympathetic, himself... well, he's more like understandable than very sympathetic). And Will Scatloch, who is always my favorite, is a Welsh slave of Robin's and Robin's mentor in forestry. It's written beautifully, and does neat little things with the traditional Robin Hood story elements (Robin and the Bishop, the staff fight with Little John, the archery contest...) It's COOL XD

[storyfan.livejournal.com]

I always wondered how the movie would have turned out if Morgan Freeman had been Robin Hood. Morgan Freeman and Alan Rickman saved that movie.

The secondary actors were also quite good. I especially like the woman who played Little John's wife.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Ooh, Fanny! She was MARVELOUS. You're so right about Morgan Freeman and Alan Rickman XD They were the best parts. I was in love with Marian, too, when I first saw it. I still think she's kind of awesome.

[coastal-spirit.livejournal.com]

But ... but ... Kevin Costner just underacts! *rolls on floor* The last time I watched that movie, I burst out laughing almost every time he opened his mouth, and wondered what the HELL was going on in my head back then. Still, the movie itself drums up fond memories, no matter how 90's/ new-age/attempted politically-correct/surfer-dude culture it is. And I still love Morgan Freeman and I swear that the Sheriff made me an Alan Rickman fan for life.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

EVERY time I mention Kevin Costner, Caitirin goes "He's UNDERSTATED!" and laughs at me XD I think we liked him because he wasn't all "I AM MACHO." He was, like... wibbly and cute. And turned around and put his face in Azeem's neck when he found his dad's rotting body strung up in the castle.

Alan Rickman OWNED that role. Cancel Christmas. I swear, he must have been like "... what can I do with this? Make it as over the top as possible! Okay, go!"

[coastal-spirit.livejournal.com]

I think we liked him because he wasn't all "I AM MACHO." He was, like... wibbly and cute.

Quite. Give me wibbly and cute over macho any day. :)

Alan Rickman OWNED that role.

He certainly did.

Cancel Christmas.

Yes, indeedy. And OMFG, "I can't DO this with all that RACKET going on!" I still go into giggle fits when I think about that one.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

BAHAHAH, me too XD Even today, when I got an e-mail from Caitirin at work, I was like "That's my wife! ... CRONE." *giggles*

[jlcseaside.livejournal.com]

I love 'Prince of Thieves'! I know a lot of people slam Kevin Costner for his accent, but there were so many other great aspects of the movie, which you've already mentioned.

And Alan Rickman as the sheriff is probably one of his most well-remembered roles...he was just so darn good in that role!

And I agree with you completely about the music, it's very epic and medieval, and fits the film's mood pefectly.

I'm really excited to see the new Russell Crowe movie- Ridley Scott does good films and I'm really excited to see a more grave, serious Robin Hood film. Can't wait!

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Yay, another Prince of Thieves fan! It's got such great stuff in it, but some of the other stuff overshadows it in the eyes of critics. Which I can understand, but I still LOVE it XD

Now I'm looking forward to the new Russell Crowe movie too :3