First "Robin Hood" Photo Gives Us What We All Want: Ridley Scott Kicking Some Historical Ass

By: Garrett Thomas Posted: April 21, 2009 Filed under: Pics / Vids

Spring time nine years ago Ridley Scott introduced us to the fantastical yet historical looking world of Rome and its empire. It was larger than life and had some pretty impressive CGI in regards to not only the transformation to a land many centuries old but the up close and personal kind like ferocious Colosseum tigers hungry for a piece of anything. Yes, Gladiator instantly become one of my all-time favorite movies and not just for my affinity towards a good revenge story, but it had a fantasy appeal to it that lured me in as well. It was the perfect blend of action and politics, of revenge and justice, of love and hate. It's something history teachers will often show their students to get them more interested in the times. I'm sure there's plenty of history buffs who might scoff at an incorrect fact or a gross exaggeration but for the rest of us it's a trip to a world long ago courtesy of Russell Crowe's vengeance.

Click image to check out the high res version.

This is what all came crashing back to the forefront of my mind when I saw the First photo for the next Ridley Scott period action film Robin Hood pop up this past Sunday night. I know I'm not alone in looking forward to this movie either. The director and the star from one of my favorite movies team up again for one of my favorite stories and you know it's just going to work out beautifully. It's not a photo jam packed with little tidbits to be dissected and poured over. It's a serene, almost stalking (Hood hunting some Nottingham baddies perhaps) scene where we see Crowe garbed in some simple woodsman attire with an arrow knocked in his bow. It's simple yet it just gets me excited. Producer Brian Grazer explains to USA Today the updated look for Robin Hood:

He doesn’t have the old Robin Hood tights. He’s got armor. He’s very medieval.

I'm sure the aesthetics don't stop there either.

If Gladiator was any indication on polished yet authentic looking environment and wardrobe I'm sure the same will hold true for Robin Hood. One area I'm really looking forward to is the castle(s). So few films have the opportunities to showcase some incredible and iconic pieces medieval culture and landscape and have simply fallen flat on the visual sense. I really find it unfair that the Harry Potter films have managed to do this the best and that story takes place in modern times. I want a castle that rivals the Colosseum in terms of wonderment and I'm really hoping I don't have to be disappointed. With today's advancements in film making I'm sure there's plenty they can accomplish along those lines that just wasn't possible in earlier films. Ultimately what I'm hoping for and I think what many others are as well is that this film does to other Robin Hood films what Gladiator did to Spartacus. I don't mean to replace it because those movies are great but more along the lines of passing the torch and ushering in new century of film making. Where not only is the story excellent but now it has the capabilities of looking fucking spectacular and is able to hold up well over time as well.