Robin Hood

[osprey_archer]

We have reached Robin Hood, a.k.a. one of the most perfect movies of all time. Robin Hood and Little John running through the forest! The "alms, alms for the poor" scene! The perfidious sheriff, taking away Skippy's birthday present ("A whole farthing!" Skippy cries, overjoyed, before the horrible sheriff takes it), but then he gets Robin Hood's hat and a bow and arrow instead, and accidentally shoots over the wall into the garden where Maid Marian and Lady Cluck are playing badminton, and the whole argument where the children are discussing whether Skippy should sneak into the garden to retrieve the arrow is just a perfect childhood argument, and Lady Cluck pretending to be Prince John...!

I see that I'm just listing all the scenes in the movie. But honestly, so many of them are great! The entire archery tournament is A++ (again an able assist by Lady Cluck, charging Prince John's rhinos like a linebacker!). And the whole scene where the Sheriff has locked away most of the inhabitants of Nottingham, including the little mice who are all attached to the same gigantic ball and chain... and poor Skippy and his friends are sitting beneath the leak in the wall, in such despair that they don't even try to move away as the water drips down...

That was absolutely my preferred brand of angst when I was a wee munchkin, and it remains just as delightful today. The tragedy! The despair. And then, of course, the glorious rescue, and Robin Hood sneaking into Prince John's own bedroom to steal away the bags and bags of money, because of course Prince John surrounds himself with all his money at all times.

(Also, I am fairly sure that Prince John's scenes with Sir Hiss - particularly the one where Sir Hiss lards on the flattery, and then Prince John knocks him on the head - are just verbatim descriptions from the White House right now.)

Not only is the movie as a whole delightful, but there are so many delightful little touches, like the bit at the end where the mice are throwing rice that is of course very large in their little mouse hands (for some reason this always enchanted me), or Robin and Marian's moonlit walk. Generally as a child I did not have much patience with romance, but I had patience for Robin and Marian - they're both so amazing, obviously they love each other - and the glowing lights in the forest are just so lovely.

And then, of course, the wonderful raucous dance, with Little John and Lady Cluck dancing together. In general, Lady Cluck was my great new discovery on this rewatch. When I was a child I never really paid attention to her - my heart was given to Robin Hood and Marian and also Skippy and friends, particularly his little sister in purple, does she ever get a name? - but this time, man. She's an unsung hero! Alan-a-Dale the rooster minstrel should get on that.

Comments

[eglantiere]

when i was a young teenager, i broke my ribs and had to spend several weeks flat on my back in a tape corset, and for most of those days i rewatched, over and over, robin hood. it was perfection and i still remember it more or less frame by frame... the scene with robin's capture, and later his 'death' sure awakened ~feelings in me :D

[osprey_archer]

Robin's capture! And his jump into the moat! And the last bubbles coming up, and Little John and Skippy think he's dead, and just when it seems all hope is lost... we see the reed bobbing in near the bank! You have no idea how many of the heroes in my childhood stories hid from their enemies by slipping underwater and breathing through a hollow reed.

[alby_mangroves]

verbatim descriptions from the White House right now this made me snort tea and I can't stop laughing. I can absolutely see this. Also hi! I've always liked this movie, so wholesome and good <3

[osprey_archer]

I mean HONESTLY. I feel like a few years ago I might have complained that they seemed like caricatures? But if I've learned anything since 2016, it's that evil often is a caricature of itself.

[asakiyume]

Okay, I need to rewatch this; your enthusiasm is *very contagious*! (I recall watching it and enjoying it--but I think as an adult, not as a kid--but I want to see it riding on the wave of your review!)

[osprey_archer]

I hope you enjoy it! I've found Disney movies very soothing during these trying times. Not sure how much of it is the Disney factor, or if rewatching *any* movie would have that same effect... maybe any movie that I associate with childhood? Anyway, you can't go wrong with Robin Hood.

[lokifan]

Heeeee oh I came across this very elderly tab again and IT'S ALL SO TRUE. I love that movie to pieces. At around the same age I especially loved this film, I was reading Myths of the Norsemen and falling in love with trickster gods :)

Robin Hood and Little John running through the forest!

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyy lmao that's SUCH an earworm!!!! A friend of mine earwormed me with it once and I called him in the wee hours, very drunk, to sing the whole song into his voicemail in slightly-confused revenge.

[osprey_archer]

It's impossible to read the words "Robin Hood and Little John running through the forest" and NOT hear the song. Why must Disney make their songs so catchy! It's cruel and unusual, that's what it is.