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Author Topic: The "real" Robin Hood on the History Channel  (Read 13081 times)

Sir Brian

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The "real" Robin Hood on the History Channel
« on: 2010-05-12, 15:31:07 »
Anyone catch the history channel last night when they showed Ridley Scott's in Search of the Real Robin Hood? It was a two hour show with lots of plugs for the movie of course but also had some sections with Mike Loades giving some presentations of the arms and armor of the times that was pretty good. I definately want to see the movie as well...Gladiator in the Forest!  :D
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Re: The "real" Robin Hood on the History Channel
« Reply #1 on: 2010-05-12, 15:51:46 »

No, I didn't know it was on. Sounds pretty cool.

I plan to see the movie for sure. I hope they did a good job with it. :)
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Sir Brian

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Re: The "real" Robin Hood on the History Channel
« Reply #2 on: 2010-05-12, 16:18:41 »
Although the Robin Hood literary character is suppose to be a folklore construct of several possibly real people, it looks like Ridley Scott made an earnest effort to portray Richard and John Plantagenet as historically accurate as possible. It looks like he got the arms and armor right for the period which of course is ALWAYS a good sign!  ;)
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Sir Wolf

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Re: The "real" Robin Hood on the History Channel
« Reply #3 on: 2010-05-12, 21:03:54 »
i have it on tivo. maybe i'll get to watch it tonight with Logan

Das Bill

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Re: The "real" Robin Hood on the History Channel
« Reply #4 on: 2010-05-13, 05:35:07 »
It looks like he got the arms and armor right for the period which of course is ALWAYS a good sign!  ;)

Well, except that 15th c. inspired sallet that Cate Blanchett wears... and the odd looking sword Robin carries... and the non hisorical boots people are wearing... and the pants... and... ;)

I'm just nitpicking. Honestly, the clothing looks better than most historical movies, so I don't really care that much. I just hope it isn't boring. :)
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Sir Brian

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Re: The "real" Robin Hood on the History Channel
« Reply #5 on: 2010-05-13, 11:17:30 »
Quote
I'm just nitpicking. Honestly, the clothing looks better than most historical movies, so I don't really care that much. I just hope it isn't boring.

lol, I guess I should revise that to state:
Quote
It looks like he got the arms and armor right for the period (according to Hollywood!)
:D
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Das Bill

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Re: The "real" Robin Hood on the History Channel
« Reply #6 on: 2010-05-15, 14:42:08 »
Saw the movie last night. Forget all the historical accuracy issues, and the fact that the arms and armor was from several different centuries, and forget the changes to the Robin Hood plot. I can get over that stuff.

I didn't care for the movie for a much worse reason: It was BORING.

That was my same issue with Kingdom of Heaven (though I'll say that one was worse than Robin Hood). I just didn't care about the vast majority of the characters, or their plight, or anything else. Its just very bland story telling.
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Sir Wolf

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Re: The "real" Robin Hood on the History Channel
« Reply #7 on: 2010-05-16, 03:02:09 »
i saw what appeared to be a D Day landing on Dover beach with Higgins boats with oars in 1 commercial. really?  i love the CNN/Wash Post/etc etc comparing Robin Hood with a Tea Party member of anti tax/ anti big government instead of their socialist taking from rich and giving to poor hehehe.  I'll prob see it on DVD.  though it does make me want to do a RH for faire.  can one carry a bow to any of the fairs?

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Re: The "real" Robin Hood on the History Channel
« Reply #8 on: 2010-05-16, 12:21:13 »
I know that a bow is permissable here at Carolina sir wolf. Usually the arrows have to be tied down in the quiver. I suppose they don't want it to be possible to draw one out and stick it through the forehead of some idiot who desperately needs it.... ;)

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Re: The "real" Robin Hood on the History Channel
« Reply #9 on: 2010-05-16, 12:47:05 »

From what I've seen, most faires will allow a bow if it's unstrung and you don't carry arrows.
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Sir Matthew

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Re: The "real" Robin Hood on the History Channel
« Reply #10 on: 2010-05-18, 03:04:39 »
I saw the movie yesterday, my freind Kyle and I both dressed up in our armor to go.  We got lots of strange looks and compliments.  The theater gave us a free small popcorn, no small expense today, and the manager took a picture of us after the movie and talked for a bit with us.  It was all very cool.  I thought that the movie was well done, considering it was a mainstream Hollywood project.  I did notice and overlooked several issues with non-period clothing, weapons and armor.  The most glaring one being the afore mentioned clat-visor helm that is worn by Maid Marion toward the end of the movie.  Most of the story seemed consistant with what I remember of that period of history with Richard and John.  I was also, in my opinion, a well done blending of several of the different Robin Hood stories that I am familiar with.  I will admit that this is not my strongest era of history though and I have not read any of the Robin Hood legends in many years, so my sometimes not too good memory are all I have to go on.

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Re: The "real" Robin Hood on the History Channel
« Reply #11 on: 2010-05-22, 12:50:02 »
Well Rosemary and I watched it last night and we enjoyed it. I think as Matt said it was a decent conglomeration in capturing the myriad versions of the Robin Hood legend. I applaud Ridley Scott’s attempt to interject some actual historic events (however liberally interpreted). The storyline did seemed a bit “disjointed” but I suspect like his other movies, Ridley had to make some painful cuts to appease the producers. I hope the director’s cut version will be more “complete” much like the KOH movie.

Rosemary and I both winced though during the scene with Robin and Marion when Robin was going to have a bath and asked Marion to help him remove his “CHAINMAIL” – That’s when I winced and Rosemary winced because she knows how smelly and dirty that particular job is! She also thought Cate Blanchett wasn’t convincing in that scene because she didn’t act repulsed by the smell enough to suite Rosemary!  :D
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Sir William

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Re: The "real" Robin Hood on the History Channel
« Reply #12 on: 2010-09-16, 20:41:11 »
I do not think it wise to look for historicity in any Hollywood construct- their primary goal is to sell tickets and in order to do that, it has to be entertaining, engaging- which is why the flashy swordplay gets so much more air time (LOTR anyone) rather than realistic or at least semi-realistic fighting (Centurion, or Rob Roy for example).  Those of us in the know, realize that an actual swordfight could be over with the landing of the first blow but that's hardly entertaining to the casual movie goer.  No offense to anyone here but I cringe every time I hear someone looking for historical accuracy in a big budget Hollywood movie- unless there's a sudden outcry for historically accurate whatever, its gonna go pretty much the same.

For my part, I loved KOH- it was an epic movie, much in the vein of Troy, and I  thoroughly enjoyed it; the Director's cut only made me like it more because a lot of the characters made little sense to me at first until I saw the underlying reasons for some of their actions.  To each their own; I'd love to see a fully historically accurate undertaking but I doubt it'll happen anytime soon unless they get a director and producer willing to go that extra mile to bring something like that to the big screen.  The question would then be- would it be accepted and appreciated by the masses?  I dunno.

I DO want to watch the new Robin Hood movie; a friend of mine who knows of my proclivity for movies of this nature told me I'd love it- normally I wouldn't trust his judgement in other areas maybe but he knows me well enough to know whether or not I'd like something like that.  Even he liked it, and he has no real love for anything medieval beyond video games.

Sir Brian, I wonder if (and here's what could be historical in aspect) if perhaps Maid Marion was not that unused to smelling a rank man coming out of his armor to be too put upon about it; after all, washing wasn't necessarily on the top of their daily list of things to do...just a thought.
« Last Edit: 2010-09-16, 20:42:21 by Paladin »
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Sir Wolf

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Re: The "real" Robin Hood on the History Channel
« Reply #13 on: 2010-09-17, 12:22:43 »
hahahah i love KOH: Hi I'm Odo.... aaaaaaaarggchhhhhhhhh I'm dead

Sir Brian

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Re: The "real" Robin Hood on the History Channel
« Reply #14 on: 2010-09-17, 19:23:33 »
Quote
Sir Brian, I wonder if (and here's what could be historical in aspect) if perhaps Maid Marion was not that unused to smelling a rank man coming out of his armor to be too put upon about it; after all, washing wasn't necessarily on the top of their daily list of things to do...just a thought.

Perhaps but unlikely and since you haven't seen the movie yet I will not expound upon why I think so, suffice to say be extra attentive when that scene comes around.  ;)

As to becoming accustomed to the rank smells of an old man basting for weeks or even months in his own sweat I serious doubts that is even humanly possible!  :D
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