In between getting everything ready for my blog tour for Web of Lies, I managed to sneak off with Wheezley and watch Robin Hood this weekend.

The movie stars Russell Crowe as Robin Longstride, a common soldier in King Richard’s army. When the king is killed sacking a castle in France, Robin and a few of his friends slip away from the army, determined to get back to England. On the way there, they come across Robert of Locksley, one of the king’s trusted men. Robert has been ambushed taking the king’s crown back to England. Before he dies, he asks Robin to take his sword back to his father.

What follows from there is an interesting tale as Robin journeys to Nottingham and eventually assumes the identity of Robert of Locksley. There’s lots of fight scenes, lots of political maneuvering, and lots of longing glances between Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett, who plays Marion of Locksley, Robert’s wife. Basically, the story boils down to Robin/Robert saving England from a French invasion.

I’m a sucker for Robin Hood stories, and overall, this was a pretty decent interpretation. Having Robin become Robert was a nice twist on the old legend, and there were several clever lines in the movie, with Cate Blanchett and the guy playing Prince John getting most of those.

The fight scenes were as big and bombastic as you’d expect, since this is a Ridley Scott film. It’s not as good as Gladiator, though, and there are a couple of subplots that fall flat, like one about Robin/Robert’s father and the lost boys of Sherwood Forest.

I still like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves better, if only for the absolute awesomeness that is Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham. But if you’re looking for an action flick to see, Robin Hood is an entertaining enough way to spend an afternoon.

My grade: C+.

What about you guys? Anyone seen any good movies yet this summer? Share in the comments.