Rating: PG
Star Rating: 4 out of 5
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I have to say that I was pleasantly suprised when I watched this last night. This 1938 rendition of the classic tale of Robin Hood was actually pretty well done for its time and stayed primarily true to the story. It did help, though, to have had Mom read Howard Pyle's version to us, for it was rather neat to watch a scene and remember it from the actual book.
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There are several moments of inappropriate romance (that is, if you're courtship-minded) between Robin Hood and Maid Marian, but besides this, there isn't any objectionable content.~ ~ ~
The movie mainly focuses on the exploits of Robin Hood against his Norman rival, Sir Guy of Gisbourne. Robin, made an outlaw by his enemies, gathers about his person a band of followers who aid him him in his endeavors to "steal from the rich to give to the poor".~ ~ ~
The scenes of swordplay, though not very realistic, were fun to watch (what do you expect? I'm a young man!). The movie is rated PG, but really the fighting is no more graphic or violent than in a movie like Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier.~ ~ ~
Another thing that might be noted is that Maid Marian, like all the other women in the film, actually wears something modest, unlike in so many of today's films, where the women decide to wear their bathing suits on set!~ ~ ~
One thing we might consider, though, is the godliness of Robin Hood's tactics as the hero of the poor. Is it right to steal from someone, even if they did take the wealth they have wrongfully? Is it right to repay evil with evil? God tells us that vengence belongs to Him, and to Him alone, and that we are not to take revenge into our own hands (Rom. 12:19). I think that it is an interesting topic to discuss, because it seems that Robin Hood is no longer thought of as as being wrong in his actions. Is he to be excused from obeying the seventh commandment? We need to call sin by its true name: SIN. It is wrong to excuse or glorify it. There is no getting around it, and so, whether we like it or not, we must recognize Robin and his merry men for what they were: thieves, plain and simple. Even if the Normans extorted money wrongfully from the poor, was it Robin's duty to take vengence and reccompence into his own hands? I'd really like to hear your thoughts on this. There's much more to discuss than is possible in this review.Persevero,
Scribe
Good Job, Corey. Considering I'm a
ReplyDelete"female" I don't believe I've ever
read the book and I haven't seen the movie. I do know, without a doubt, sin is sin and we can't excuse it. I'm proud of you. Your memaw is learning from you, dear
grandson.
Love you,
Memaw
Scribe,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I always liked Robin Hood when I was younger, but as I grew up, I started to realize that what he was doing to "help the poor" is actually very wrong!!
It is so sad that people don't realize that although Robin may be a hero in the movie, what he is doing is wrong.
I don't know how accurate I am on this, but I think that Robin should have consulted the king (but I don't know if he was the one that was taxing the poor people so much. I don't think so because at the end-at least in our version- they are cheering 'long live the king'.)instead of taking matters into his own hands! :)
Hope that makes sense and that I am correct on some of it at least!! Please let me know if I am or not!! :)
Thanks for posting that!
Sarah Heckendorn
Hi,Sarah! Thanks for the comment!
ReplyDeleteDuring the era of Robin Hood, King Richard the Lionhearted was the true king of England. He went off, however, to join in the Crusades, and so, gradually, his evil brother, Prince John, seized power and arranged for Richard to be kidnapped and held prisoner by Duke Leopold of Austria. Later, Richard escaped, and came back to claim the throne. Like you said, I don't think Richard was the one who was taxing the poor so much. That was Prince John's doing.
In the story, Robin Hood is fighting against King John and his wicked nobles (like Sir Guy of Gisbourne). As Richard was captured, and in a foreign land, I don't know if Robin could have consulted him. And it definitely wouldn't have done any good to talk to evil Prince John.
Nevertheless, like you said, Robin Hood was wrong. He should have left things in God's hands, and not returned evil for evil.
Really, though, on this subject I could fill up another post!
Thank you very much for the comment! It's great to hear from you.
-Scribe