From Pat:

Every seat was taken at the Metreon theater in downtown San Francisco last night for the Advanced Preview.  Several rows were reserved for the Press, but we managed to get into such a row for a good view of the wide screen presentation.  I recognized a reviewer for one of our local TV stations sitting on the aisle.

Ridley Scott has produced a film of epic proportions.  The story is well-told, and the various delays in script rewrites resulted in an interesting and gripping interpretation of history.   Make no mistake, this is an ‘action film’ every step of the way.  Battle after battle is portrayed realistically, in a time where fighting was done on a man-to-man basis.  Swords, knives, axes, and of course, the archers dominated scene after scene.  Our hero was in his element, looking wonderful while fighting the enemy, galloping on his white steed, or working through personal relationships with Marion, and Sir Walter Loxley.  This is another solid acting performance by Russell Crowe.

No expense is spared to make the viewer feel part of the French landing on the English beachheads.  It was an astonishing re-enactment, but my credibility was strained on two counts:  1) could archers standing on the white cliffs ½ mile away really hit the arriving Frenchmen struggling to exit the medieval version of wooden troop landing carriers?; and 2) how did Marion get into the fray?  

The theme of brutality is omnipresent and comparisons between RH and Gladiator will be undoubtedly discussed by reviewers.
There is not a weak link in the actors; all are superb.  I was surprised at how good Kevin Durand was as Little John.  The effort to be authentic on so many levels is evident; there is no question each movie-goer is catapulted back to 1199.  The genius and vision of Ridley Scott as reflected in the final cut of Robin Hood is the real star of this film.

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From Liz: 4.30pm Hull England

I have just returned from watching the first showing in Hull of Robin Hood.

I haven't been so excited about seeing a film since Master and Commander. History does seem to be Russell's forte.

After enduring the adverts and trailers IT WAS TIME................

Most will have read previous reviews and know what the story and it's aims are.

The story scanned nicely, the action sequences were breathtaking and Russell WAS Robin Hood, 

I'm afraid it will draw comparisons with Gladiator, but that is because of the the action sequences, the nasty King and the fact it is a historical tale.

Russell looked really fit and honed in the short scene without his shirt. Cate Blanchett was just right as Marion. Her accent was excellent.

The Merry men were great, I had hoped we would see more of them but the film seemed keen to set the scene and time,  rather than all the characters.

A couple of 'downsides' Russell didn't quite nail the accent, he tended to sound slightly Scottish at times.

Also some of the dialogue was muffled (to hide the accents??)

Oscar Isaac was very good as King John, naturally going to be compared to Joaquin Phoenix.  I wasn't a fan of Matthew MacFadyen before but he aquitted himself well in the little screen time he had. Mark Strong as ever was  wonderful and is surely destined to be a 'baddie' in more films. A shame he was killed off in this one.

Knowing that the action scenes were real made it more impressive  not 'looking for the joins in the CGI'

I'm going for 9.75 out of 10. The sound let it down. Some of the scenes were a little short, not allowing us to settle and get a feel for the characters.

It's begging (as am I) for a sequel, there HAS to be one, so we can get to see more of the Merry Men and give us a chance to wipe away the memory of 'Prince Of Thieves' forever !!!!!

There has got to be a sequel,

Anyway it was amazing.................. I'm going again tomorrow.

From Robyn: I'm going to have to stop saying that I never win anything after scoring a pass to the May 11th advanced showing of Robin Hood.  Happily, a two hour, 15 minute stand in line paid off handsomely.  A stroke of luck had me "leapfrogging" into a center seat as people circulated asking, "Is that seat saved?"  I didn't realize that a good "chunk" of seating would be taken by reviewers and movie theater staff.  The hunt for seating delayed the movie by twenty minutes.

Anyone jaded enough to claim that Robin Hood is really "Gladiator II: Sherwood Forest" is going to be surprised.  Different time, different battles.  You have to keep your head on a swivel to see who's doing what to whom.  Not as good as Gladiator or Braveheart, but well done. 

Beautiful photography, especially of King Richard's ship arriving with the news of his fate.  And as a horsewoman, I also get a "charge" (no pun intended) out of seeing horses running full tilt.  And excellent horsemanship, which was abundant in the movie.

I didn't think the "merry men" were going to be half as good as they were.  The only thing that was a puzzle was the boys from the forest, who appeared to be Marian's antagonists, then came to her aid and joined the battle against the French.

This was a "manly man" role that shows Russell back in form.  I suspect that "Ask me nicely" may become a new catchword.

I'm glad, and kind of relieved, that this movie was as good as it was.  A sequel should be a given.

From Steph: Ok , I won’t lie. As a teenager, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves made such an impression on me that I suspect Kevin Reynolds version to be responsible for  starting my education as a movie-goer  ( Keep your bows down mates , I do not own  the very best of  Bon Jovi ). Nevertheless , I think that things slightly changed after this bloody afternoon. Nevermind  Kevin , you can ask me nicely as much as you want , but I  am seriously more keen to dance with you and your wolves than falling in love with you after witnessing you taking a bath naked under a waterfall ( Sorry Mary Elizabeth )

I digress , go back to the present  version. Seen it in Paris ,  in a movie theater near the Opera Garnier  where there was hardly a free seat at the beginning of the showing . The  “smart “ people who thought that this whole affair would look like “ Gladiator 2 “  were all wrong .  This is what I like with Ridley and Russell , they made five movies together , and each time you feel like they’re starting from scratch and offer the viewer a whole new experience .

So yes , This was above my expectations . During  2 hours and a half,  I was completely immersed in a gripping  storyline , written and directed with smartness and efficiency . Thanks a lot Ridley , because even if they have small scenes ,  you gave the opportunity to Denis Menochet  and Jonathan Zaccai  to show  that they could easily cope with Hollywood heavyweights in a superproduction . Lea Seydoux  is no way  Sophie Marceau in Braveheart , but that  wasn’t the aim , and she manages to get noticed in all the scenes she appears .  What can I say about Matthew Macfadyen ‘s sheriff of Nottingham ? Too bad , no direct confrontation with Russell ( saving arrows for the next installment ? ) , but his kiss to Cate Blanchett in his first appearance , His hallucinated look  and the line “   I am half French by my mother ! “  make  me thinks he really “ nailed “ it  :) . Alan Rickman can keep on polish  his small spoons  , he’s always the scariest one ( after all he was raised by a witch hey ! ) . Not that  Mark Strong not frightenned me , but that became a routine since  Sherlock Holmes

Saved the best for the end of my review .  In Gladiator , Russell impressed me by the sense of equity and the respect his general inspired to his men then the wild beast side given to his gladiator . Here , you begin the journey with an arrant knave only interested by saving his skin, you end (?) with a Man rooted to his land and his people by Love . I enjoyed the fact that this wasn’t “ Love at first sight “ between him and Marian ( haughty Cate Blanchett , as always ) . Good thing their chemistry grows up through the movie , so that when they share their real first kiss  , you find it  natural ( not to mention the vision they give at the end of the D-Day  revisted battle on the beach ) . Don’t know why , some visions of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy crossed my mind during their scenes together . Max Von Sydow  , real Lion in Winter , moved me a lot , Eileen Atkins often made me crack a smile and the Merry Men definitely are better singer than Boys 2 men ( and worthier opponents in battle and drinkings sessions )

Sorry , this was clearly a LONG review , but it deserved it . I’ll ask nicely  a Sequel please !

Steph , always lost in the Sherwood forest . Is it coconuts striking I’m hearing ? Ho well , I have  ended in Spamalot .