Common Point of View Review

Medium:  BBC TV Series
Genre:  Action/Adventure
Production Year:  2006

I know this has been out for a long time, but thanks to the wonders of Netflix instant viewing, I am finally able to catch up on the series.

Synopsis:
Story loosely follows the exploits and adventures of the legendary mythical character of Robin Hood (Jonas Armstrong).  Robin Hood returns from the Crusades to find that his beloved home in the country of England is being ruled with an iron fist by the evil Sheriff of Nottingham (Keith Allen).  Together with his merry men Robin schemes and plots against the Sheriff by stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, all the while foiling the plots of the Sheriff and swooping the Maid Marian (Lucy Griffiths) off of her feet.

Overall average score:  5.5
This is a fun show.  There is nothing standout about it, and no awards will be won, but it is fun.  This is a great show that delivers what you would expect.  It is popcorn entertainment.  Nothing thought provoking or deep.  Nothing that will make you sit back and go wow.  It is fun, mindless entertainment.  Despite all of it’s short comings, you will find yourself tied to the characters and wanting to go back the Sherwood Forest for some more fun and action

Keep reading for the full extended review!

Writing:  6
The shows plot and general theme have already been defined by the original fable of Robin Hood.  The show has some pretty big shoes to fill with the story being a legend and one of the greatest and most widely known stories of all time.  It doesn’t help that the story has appeared man times on screen, everything from black and white in 1933, to Russell Crowe playing Mr. Hood in the upcoming movie coming out this summer, including Robin being played by a talking fox in Disney’s 1973 cartoon rendition.  With all that stacked up against it, the show’s writing is just ok.  Not bad, but not great either.  It seems to be very campy on the same general pranks and hijinks, jokes, one liners and general cheesiness.  That being said, if you look at the show as a whole, the story is engaging and you are left wondering what the characters will do next.  You connect with the characters and their plight, and wand to see them succeed.

Acting:  7
Jonas Armstrong is a very believable Robin Hood.  He isn’t this huge action star that will pull a sword out and cut down the opposition like Conan the Barbarian.  He is a short skinny guy that uses his brain to outwit his foe.  Jonas portrays this well.  All of the dialog, emotions, and action are very well done and he makes you believe he truly is Robin, and not just a guy playing him.  You feel his joy, and his sadness.  That being said, some of the other actors could use some work, starting with his right hand man Much (Sam Troughton).  He is way over the top.  Much is portrayed as the bumbling idiot friend that always seems to be getting into trouble.  Sam’s betrayal of Much though, leaves you more annoyed than amused.  It’s humorous for a little while, then you want to throw something at the television.  The other characters are good, but there are no Oscar winners in the group.

Directing:  3
This is where the show really takes a dive for me.  I think that the show is what it is, despite the directing (John McKay, Mathew Evans, Graeme Harper).  Each episode has something in it that you are just left going “huh?”  The show is supposed to be based in the middle ages, the times of swords and arrows.  Then why did the director choose to have a soldier from the Kings army wear modern military fatigues?  It just doesn’t fit!  And why, when a tattoo is the central focus of the episode, would you not want the tattoo itself to look good and as real as possible?  As opposed to having someone draw it onto the actor with a magic marker and then it fading and smearing through the action sequences.  Many little things like this are the things a director is supposed to see.  These are the minor details that a director is paid for. Yes the director has many other things to do, and they are done moderately well, but so many of these blaring omissions makes the rest of the show seem like an epic fail.

Photography/Special effects:  7
I realize that it is a BBC television show, and they don’t have a big motion picture budget, but can we please not use the same CG graphic of a flying arrow every time?  The arrows flying are really the only special effects needed in this show, however.  Sure there is the occasional explosion or fire, and those are done rather well.  The scenery is beautiful.  You don’t get to many wide panoramic shots of the landscape, but what you do see is green and lush.  The buildings and set design are very well done, even though the same hallway or room seems to be repeated from different angles and you are supposed to believe it is separate.  The homes, castles, and hideouts for the merry men are all very time period specific, and add to the show, rather than detract from it.

Soundtrack/sound effects:  4
I am reminded of Monty Python’s Holy Grail, the same song repeating over and over for every scene no matter what is going on.  Credits, action, drama, the same freaking song!  That and the arrows flying sound like they are patriot missiles somehow.  I didn’t know that arrows were self propelled.

Choreography (dancing/fighting):  6
The fight sequences are fun.  Pure fun.  Your not going to see any great martial arts or sword play.  The bow and arrow work is all CG, so I can’t even count that.  It’s fun to watch, even though there is nothing amazing or new happening on the screen.  I just like to see swords being swung around and people fighting.

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