Robin Hood

As a birthday present to myself last Sunday, I went to see Russell Crowe's movie Robin Hood.

The story did start with the the story that we all know. This movie traces back the reason why Robin Hood became an outlaw and started dwelling in the deep forest of Nottingham. Robin Longstride(Russell Crowe) was an archer in King Richard the Lionheart's army. A tragic event happened when Richard was killed in battle and Robert Locskley, one of the king's knight, was task to bring back the crown to England and to bring the bad news. 

Meanwhile in England, John who is next in line is preparing himself to be the king of England and enjoying his life with a French girl. One of his men,Godfrey, was traitor working with Philip, King of France. Godfrey intercepted Robert in his mission to bring back the crown when Robin Longstride with his companions were on there way to go back home. Robert was killed by Godfrey and Robin and his men drove them away. Robert ask Robin to promise him to bring back his sword to his father in Nottingham. Upon knowing the mission of Robert, Robin dress themselves as knights and went to bring the king's crown and bring the good news. With that John becomes king of England.

The first problem John has to solve is England's rising financial problem and thus the need to enforce tax collection. John assigns the traitor Godfrey to do such work. But Godfrey on the other hand has a different mission. He went to the northern part of England acting in the name of the king forcing people and villages to pay up their taxes at the same time arrange the first batch of French soldiers to prepare for Philip's arrival.

Robin went to Nottingham to fulfill a dead man's wish. But in the process he learn of his true linage that his father was a mason who was killed because of his beliefs that the king of England needs its subject not the other way around. And the sword that he was to bring back to Robert's father was actually his father's own sword. A line was inscribed in the sword saying "Rise, rise again until lambs turn into lions" which means to never give up. John was finally informed of Godfrey's betrayal and the other barons are now working together to overthrow the king. In the end Robin ask if he could speak and brought the same philosophy his father was trying to ask years back, that is to every English man to have liberty by law. John agreed in order to defeat the French with a united England but right after the victory John did not keep his promise. 

Thus Robin Hood was declared an outlaw. Together with his comrades and the orphan children they retreated to the forest and as the legend says they rob the rich and gave it to the poor.