Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves: The Adventure Classic Makes Its Long-Awaited 4K Debut in the US (Limited Edition 4K)

The Film:

It would take quite a while to add up the number of times that the classic "Robin Hood" legend has been adapted for film & television, but it would probably be more than fair to say that the most highly-regarded has always been the beloved 1938 masterpiece "The Adventures of Robin Hood," starring Errol Flynn. Other notable versions also include the delightful Disney adaptation from 1973, "Robin and Marian" from 1976, and the 1991 film "Robin Hood" with Patrick Bergin.

However, one that's always stood out as a true fan-favorite is another iteration from 1991, "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," in which Kevin Costner takes on the role of the legendary outlaw. The film is a fascinating instance of a very sharp divide between critics and audiences, with the former being rather dismissive, but that hardly stopped the film from being a massive hit that pulled in nearly $400 million. Furthermore, as mentioned, it's gone on to become a go-to adaptation for many that enjoy its exciting telling of the tale, and now, at long last, it's finally getting a much-deserved 4K upgrade for its fans in the US (It's been available in the UK for a few years now, but due to licensing issues, the US release was delayed). As always, this gives us the perfect excuse to go back and revisit another classic to see why it's remained such a popular take on the oft-adapted legend.

Beginning in 1194, we find Robin of Locksley (Kevin Costner) in a prison in Jerusalem with his friend Peter (Liam Halligan), both of whom have been fighting in The Crusades with King Richard. They manage to escape, saving the life of a man named Aziz (Morgan Freeman) on the way. However, Peter is mortally wounded shortly after, making Robin swear to watch over his sister Marian (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) with his dying breath. Aziz, believing he owes a life debt to Robin, accompanies him to England where they find the land being ruled over by the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman), who plans to steal the throne for himself. With his father murdered by the Sheriff's men for his loyalty to King Richard, and the people being crushed under the weight of cruel, overbearing taxes, Robin takes up residence in Sherwood Forest with a band of Merry Men to fight back against the Sheriff's tyranny.

As "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" celebrates its 35th anniversary, it becomes an interesting question as to why people have continually come back to this particular adaptation over and over throughout that time. Besides having multiple positive elements in its favor, it would appear that the simplest explanation is also very likely the best one, that being that it's simply a rip-roaring, highly-entertaining, and downright fun adventure tale. Granted, it's told in a grittier fashion than the 1938 classic, but not so much so as to be a turnoff for your average viewer. Speaking from experience, this is one of those great adventure outings that I grew up watching repeatedly on VHS, and its few violent segments never stopped me from coming back.

But what of those other elements it has in its favor? The foremost of these would have to be its incredible cast, and yes, that includes Kevin Costner, whose performance is often maligned by those whose chief complaint is that he doesn't do an English accent. In regards to that complaint, the response by most is a simple "Who cares?". He portrays the part quite well, slipping into the role of a nobleman's son who returns home to fight for justice just fine. Backing him up is the always-dependable Morgan Freeman, whose supporting turn as Aziz is not spoken of nearly enough.

However, the performance that is spoken of quite a bit, and is often seen as being the very best in the film, is Alan Rickman's turn as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Rickman was typically great in any role he took on, but he filled the Sheriff with such delightful wickedness and made him such a fun character to watch, that he quickly became a favorite of the film's fans. In fact, he was so good in the part that he was even nominated for and won the BAFTA for Supporting Actor that year, an accolade that was sadly not repeated by the Oscars.

Aside from that, it's got fantastic production value with its excellent set design & costumes, as well as outstanding direction from Kevin Reynolds & wonderful cinematography from Douglas Milsome (who actually used to work with Kubrick's popular DP John Alcott). Put it all together and you have a marvelous adventure with a very high rewatchability factor. It's a shame that critics were so far off the mark 35 years ago, but luckily the public was able to step in and correct the error by not only making it a major hit, but also a popular pick that has and will continue to endure for the foreseeable future.

Video/Audio:

The Extended & Theatrical Cuts of "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" come to 4K in 1.85:1, 2160p Ultra High Definition transfers of outstanding quality, featuring beautiful restorations from the original camera negatives that perfectly highlight the film's various designs. Likewise, the original uncompressed stereo and 5.1 surround DTS-HD MA tracks are fantastic, giving you all of the dialogue, sound effects, and Michael Kamen's unforgettable score in excellent quality. Overall, Arrow Films has done a marvelous job in both departments for the film's US 4K debut.

Special Features:

Audio Commentary with Director Kevin Reynolds and Actor Kevin Costner

Audio Commentary with Actors Morgan Freeman and Christian Slater and Writers/Producers Pen Densham and John Watson

Here We Are Kings: Making Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (67 Minutes, 6 Chapters): A multi-part documentary featuring interviews with Densham, Watson, director of photography Douglas Milsome, editor Peter Boyle, costume designer John Bloomfield and many more members of the creative team.

Robin Hood: The Myth, the Man, the Movie (32 Minutes): An archival 1991 documentary hosted by Pierce Brosnan.

One-on-One with the Cast (19 Minutes): Archival 1991 interviews with Costner, Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Slater and Alan Rickman.

Bryan Adams "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" performance at Slane Castle, Ireland (4 Minutes)

Music Soundtrack Cues (50 Minutes, 8 Tracks)

Conclusion:

Even after 35 years, Kevin Reynolds' "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" remains a fantastic, highly-entertaining adaptation of the classic legend that utilizes a remarkable ensemble & marvelous production value to deliver a fun, rip-roaring adventure, one that continues to be a popular pick for those looking for a slightly grittier take on the beloved tale. Arrow Films' new 4K release makes for a stunning upgrade, and is an easy recommendation for fans or for those simply looking for a great "Robin Hood" flick to indulge in.

Score: 4/5

Available on Limited Edition 4K starting tomorrow.

Follow me on Twitter @BeckFilmCritic.