MovieChat Forums > Robin Hood (1991) Discussion > Hypocritical Robin

Hypocritical Robin

posted 12 years ago by Karl Aksel
7 replies | jump to latest

I saw this film first time when it was new, and I thought it vastly superior to the Kevin Costner one. Upon seeing it again, it was rather "meh" and I found the plot lacking. Robin Hood allegedly fights for equality between Saxons and Normans, but that's not really it, is it? He fights for Saxon supremacy, especially noble privileges. A Norman ruler irks him, but he has no problem with Saxon rule (the end, where Baron Daguerre swears fealty to him shows this in particular). And let's not forget that the whole reason for Robin's rebellion in the first place was that he was not willing to take even a single lash in legal punishment (a very reduced sentence), on account of his noble blood, as well as the fact that the judge descended from a common criminal. The very class distinctions Robin alleged to fight against for the main part of the film!

So yeah, that made Robin's motivation seem hollow to me.

[–] k-mann 12 years ago

When in the movie does Robin Hood say that he merely fight for the common man, and not for Saxon rule? If he doesn't, how does that make him a hypocrite? Do you know what hypocrisy is?

Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!

[–] Karl Aksel 12 years ago

If you read my post, you will see that I know perfectly well what hypocricy is. Is English hard for you?

[–] k-mann 12 years ago

Again, when in the movie does Robin Hood say that he fights for the common man, and not for Saxon rule? If he doesn't, he is not a hypocrite.

Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!

[–] Karl Aksel 11 years ago

It's been ages since I've seen the film, but when I made this thread it was fresh in memory. I don't actually own the film so I can't oblige you unless I can stream it somewhere. Anyway, your snide remark that I somehow do not know what "hypocritical" means is without logic, as clearly my OP was operating from the premise that said remarks were made. If they weren't made, then I was mistaken about the REMARKS, not about the meaning of hypocricy. If I didn't believe those remarks were made, I wouldn't have called Robin a hypocrite either, would I?

[–] k-mann 11 years ago

Since I do not have any intricate knowledge of your mind, I have to read your posts.

Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!Spoilers!

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

The story of Robin Hood is one of commoner vs corrupt nobles. In the movie as well, it comes off as Robin "joining" the commoners in their struggle, where he at one point saves a boy and a man from being hanged, but only after his spoiled ass broke the law and betrayed his fellow nobles all because he wouldn't take that one lash, which he so very much deserved.

The whole movie starts off with him whining about the Normans, as a noble at that (when actual history paints Robin as a yeoman, not a nobleman).

This movie should have been called Rebel Without a Cause, really.
Why? After their first big heist, they realize THEN that the gold stolen is taxes from mostly serfs. So even the one and only noble thing about Robin in this movie came as an afterthought, and from Will Scarlet at that.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

You are spot on. Robin is awful in this. Not only does he not stiff upper lip that one single pathetic lash for him actually obstructing the king's justice and protecting a criminal serf, but he betrays the confidence of the sheriff, his friend, afterwards by revealing the sheriff's less noble origins.

What did you think when that one outlaw challenges Robin to a duel because he doesn't trust him and then Robin suckerpunches him in the testicles and cackles: "I won!"