Comments on: Robin Hood Disgrace

By: Gavin

Gavin — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 19:25:32 +0000

I completely agree with all of the comments here. This recent BBC version was a very bad joke. A completely inaccurate and “modernised” take on Plantagenet England. The acting was dire, the fight scenes laughable, and the costumes were way beyond poor. I’m sure that a primary school play could have made a more realistic job? This was a totally shameless attempt to try and make the classic Robin Hood tale as politically correct as possible. There is no way on earth I would part with my cash to buy this series on DVD.

The best version that we are ever likely to see in our lifetime, is Robin of Sherwood with Michael Praed. I grew up watching this excellent series when it was first shown on ITV in 1984, and it remains the finest version ever made. Even with the pagan element to this series, it remains the most authentic treatment of this legend ever seen on film. Michael Praed is the definitive Robin, and all of the other actors played their parts extremely well. Richard Carpenter wrote this series very well indeed. As a very young lad back in the 80’s, I was totally gutted when Praed’s Robin died in the last episode “The Greatest Enemy”.

I also shoot English Longbows at various informal shoots throughout the country, and have done so for 26 years, but this recent load of BBC drivel didn’t cut it for me one bit!

By: Sachith

Sachith — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:24:16 +0000

BBC Robin hood like a Baby hood , I watched both series on Sri Lanka National Televition

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 23:32:03 +0000

Nice to see that so many of you also hate this trash. As an archer (English longbow) and medieval re-enactor I watched with trepidation then almost loosed a few arrows at my television. The Micheal Pread version is definately the best depiction to date and is unlikely to be bettered by any major producer. Shame about the dubious casting of Jason Connery for the latter series though! You truly got to hate the Normans and feel for the put upon Saxons. The use of Pagan symbolism was also a nice touch.
As a side note who is looking forward to this years entry into the fray with Russell Crowe in the title role of Robin Hood! From the released stills they appear to have put some effort into his outfit and the bow looks roughly right, let’s hope he doesn’t try any of this silly sideways holding of the bow or ripping off fletchings to make them go around corners or whatever!

By: Annabelle

Annabelle — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 22:25:11 +0000

Totally and utterly spot on.
Well said
Bravo

By: zahrans

zahrans — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:21:39 +0000

i’m a great admirer of bbc programming. their “being human”, “the office” and “top gear” are among my favourite t.v. programms so it was with high hopes that i tuned in to watch their (relatively) new “robin hood” t.v. series.

only one word for it…

SHITE!

the costumes are atrocious, the merry men look like some out of work boy band, the action scenes are laughable and (as mentioned here) the lead character is a pacifist, emo wimp who apparently doesn’t know how to use a traditional english longbow…

even the kevin costner version was far more believable (despite the rubbish storyline & his american twang)

and yet there are those who sing high praises for this bbc version. can’t figure out why. perhaps those are the same people who consider the sam raimi inspired xena & hercules, high entertainment….

i’m sorry but the bbc seems to have lost the plot here. the series have been dumbed down and (dare i say it?) americanized far too much for my liking. it may gather an instant fan base but i can assure you, in another 10-15 years time, it will most probably been forgotten unlike some of the older offerings…

me? i’ll stick to “robin of sherwood”, probably the greatest re-imagining of the robinhood legend until something equal or better comes along. certainly not this bbc tripe…

By: Mark Mitchell

Mark Mitchell — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:35:35 +0000

No excuse for armour apart from not setting Word language up correctly and being in a rush. Other Americanisms in my writing, I think, are appropriate considering the subject, maybe even ironic.

Our language will change over time as do all languages, a good story and good production values do not however. I am willing to accept the change in the English language as inevitable, it has constantly evolved since the early Britons, and I see no reason why it would stop now.

This is a blog by the way, and I am pretty busy so mistakes are going to happen. I don’t apologise for them, most people get the message.

BTW
“You go on to shout about our heritage being butchered”
I think your grammar could do with some polising.

By: Martin

Martin — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:14:49 +0000

While I agree with the thrust of your diatribe, the ironic thing is your Americanised use of English: armor, program, trash, dumb… only a few decades ago, those words were only heard on US-made programmes and films. You go on to shout about our heritage being butchered. One of the greatest parts of our heritage is our language. The number of misspellings and other errors in such a short piece is laughable for someone who purports to care about it.

By: Linda

Linda — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:29:05 +0000

I’m back after 7 months. I still haven’t seen the new BBC Robin Hood. I don’t think I want to for the mere reason (and probably not the ony one) that they picked the wrong actor to play the part. I did, however, buy the “Robin of Sherwood” series and watched them all. I loved the series and really loved Michael Praed. He fit the part perfectly with a kind of innocence and wood faerie quality about him. Shame it had to end.

By: Mark Mitchell

Mark Mitchell — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:26:20 +0000

Blimey! She is lovely

By: CH3OH + O2

CH3OH + O2 — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:25:19 +0000

Thank you very much friend. I love Judi. xD