The Death of Robin Hood
The Death of Robin Hood is a bold and refreshing reimagining that flips everything you think you know about the legend on its head, anchored by a riveting Hugh Jackman performance. However, a jarring shift from a gritty first act to a slow, reflective second act bleeds the momentum dry and struggles to fully recover.
The Death of Robin Hood
Written by Anthony “Ant” Johnson
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when someone says “Robin Hood”? For me, it’s steal from the rich and give to the poor. The storybook idea of stealing from the evil king to give to the paupers of his neglected kingdom. I’m not sure of your answer, but I can tell you I’m 99.9% sure whatever came to your mind is not The Death of Robin Hood. Was I surprised? Yes. Disappointed? No.
The Death of Robin Hood is a retelling of the story we’ve all grown up knowing. There have been many adapted films of Robin Hood, and this one literally flips the story on its head. In this version, Robin is — shall I say — not so noble. He’s done some terrible things in his lifetime, and they’ve somehow packed themselves into his quiver alongside the deadly arrows we’ve come to associate him with.
Hugh Jackman delivers a riveting performance as an aged, weathered, and battle-weary Robin still on a mission. The overall cast delivers on their respective assignments. The Death of Robin Hood has two very distinct acts. In the first, we witness Robin surrounded by chaos and violence. The action is swift, and there’s a dark treatment to the film that places a raw grit into everything Robin does. In the second, we sit with Robin as life forces him to reflect on a lifetime of debauchery. Its treatment is cold, damp, and the antithesis of the first act. I’ll summarize Act Two in one word: atonement.
This version is refreshing and I never imagined seeing Robin in this light — I can appreciate the approach. The main issue is that the climax gets lost between the two acts. Great message, but as an audience, this is still a ride of escapism. Part of the reason may be the stark divide between the two acts, or it could be that as powerful as atonement can be in one’s transformation, portraying that on screen and capturing the audience’s attention through that process is a very delicate and difficult thing. Act Two fades too quickly and allowed my mind to drift — wondering when we were going to wrap this up and wish Robin a good life.
My Verdict: A round of applause for an original approach to the telling of Robin Hood. It loses too much momentum from the first to the second act and struggles to recover. How long can we watch a man battle the toughest opponent he’s ever faced when it involves no weapons? While thoughtful and powerful, it is not the most interesting thing to witness on screen for the better part of an hour or more. The Death of Robin Hood is stream worthy and a solid 6/10. That is my honest recommendation. I stand by it.
Ant’s Score: 6/10
The Final Verdict
My Verdict: A round of applause for an original approach to the telling of Robin Hood. It loses too much momentum from the first to the second act and struggles to recover. How long can we watch a man battle the toughest opponent he's ever faced when it involves no weapons? While thoughtful and powerful, it is not the most interesting thing to witness on screen for the better part of an hour or more. The Death of Robin Hood is stream worthy and a solid 6/10. That is my honest recommendation. I stand by it.
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