On the first real night off I've had in longer than I can remember, I have decided to spend my incredibly limited free time by watching DVD's of Robin of Sherwood.
You probably don't remember this, but this 80's series can probably be considered the definitive Robin Hood show. Forget Kevin Costner, forget Russell Crowe, forget the recent God-awful BBC show, Michael Praed (and later maybe Jason Connery) is where it's at. OK, the fight scenes can't really compare to those of a Hollywood film (or indeed later TV shows) but it was the story which makes it so special. This show is primarily responsible for my love of Robin Hood.
The show is a strange mix of historical and mythical backgrounds, thrown together with a touch of gritty realism. The Church is here, but the people still believe in the old gods and ways (strangely closer to what people actually believed than you might imagine) and they exist in an uneasy harmony. The Sheriff of Nottingham (played wonderfully by Nickolas Grace) deserves special mention. He has a strange humanist quality about him (really, just check him out whenever God is mentioned) and gives the the impression that, although he's a reprehensible human being, he realises just how crappy the world is and is just doing what gets him along and gives him a bit of a laugh along the way. He also has the best lines in the show. I will not have Jews in my city! Whip them to the city gates! said in a wonderful pantomime way. Nasir the Saracen is solely responsible for introducing a Muslim into the Robin Hood myth and is possible the coolest character amounts the merry men. Also I have a feeling that Bob Salvatore really liked him. I mean, 2 scimitars anyone? And we should of course mention a young Ray Winston playing the hardest version of Will Scarlet ever committed to celluloid.
Before I fall asleep, I just have one piece of advice. If you can, watch this show. Enjoy it. In will become the benchmark against which you measure all future Robin Hood films.
You probably don't remember this, but this 80's series can probably be considered the definitive Robin Hood show. Forget Kevin Costner, forget Russell Crowe, forget the recent God-awful BBC show, Michael Praed (and later maybe Jason Connery) is where it's at. OK, the fight scenes can't really compare to those of a Hollywood film (or indeed later TV shows) but it was the story which makes it so special. This show is primarily responsible for my love of Robin Hood.
The show is a strange mix of historical and mythical backgrounds, thrown together with a touch of gritty realism. The Church is here, but the people still believe in the old gods and ways (strangely closer to what people actually believed than you might imagine) and they exist in an uneasy harmony. The Sheriff of Nottingham (played wonderfully by Nickolas Grace) deserves special mention. He has a strange humanist quality about him (really, just check him out whenever God is mentioned) and gives the the impression that, although he's a reprehensible human being, he realises just how crappy the world is and is just doing what gets him along and gives him a bit of a laugh along the way. He also has the best lines in the show. I will not have Jews in my city! Whip them to the city gates! said in a wonderful pantomime way. Nasir the Saracen is solely responsible for introducing a Muslim into the Robin Hood myth and is possible the coolest character amounts the merry men. Also I have a feeling that Bob Salvatore really liked him. I mean, 2 scimitars anyone? And we should of course mention a young Ray Winston playing the hardest version of Will Scarlet ever committed to celluloid.
Before I fall asleep, I just have one piece of advice. If you can, watch this show. Enjoy it. In will become the benchmark against which you measure all future Robin Hood films.
I can't think of anything to write that you haven't covered already.
Now tell me where you got it so I can go find it!!!!