Robin Hood Discussion

[Wonderlicious]

In 1973, Robin Hood got a Disneyfication in this animated film, which is in my opinion, the best animated film in the "dark period" (1970-1988). It's the first animated Disney movie with a full animal cast (one could say that Bambi got that title, but did Bambi's mother commit suicide?). It may have a hammy structure, but I say it's a fun family film! Watch it!


Robin Hood as a Disneyland character!

[Barty]

It's not among my most favourite disneys that's for sure

[rodis]

Hate that movie LOL I still remember how excited I was when my dad bought me the VHS and how disappointed I was with the animation in the film and the music. A lot of things are missing in this film, mostly the Disney magic that's so evident in classics such as "Cinderella" or "Beauty and the Beast".

[Cogsworth]

Robin Hood is one of my favourite Disney movies, along with BATB and Alice.

[disneywb]

If I actually buy enough DVDs to get the free offer, this is the one I'll be sending off for. I really look forward to seeing it again, as I recall liking the music. Are there any worthwhile extras on the dvd (ha-it's a gold collection. what am I thinking?)

[BrandonH]

The extras on the Gold Collection are minimal, as usual.

I find it's best to think of this movie as a folk tale, something that would go well with the Frontierland attitude. If you're from the Midwest of the U.S., you can just think of home, and the movie will be a lot more entertaining.

[Ciaobelli]

Loved this movie!

The opening tune has been stuck in my brain for the past 10 years, its never gonna leave, I find myself humming it or whistling it randomly.

[MickeyMousePal]

Well, Robin Hood was much better then those live version of the story.
I believe that Disney did a wonderful job with Robin Hood I know it's a Dark Age film but I still consider it a classic film.
It's has it all action, adventure, comedy and romance.
Robin Hood should get a 2 Disc DVD Masterpiece Edition treatment.

[Chris]

Robin Hood may not be a "Cinderella" or "Bambi", but it's a charming film that is so enjoyable. The characters are great and I really love the music. The voice talents on that film did a heck of a job. I agree that it deserves a Special Edition.

[AwallaceUNC]

I just watched Robin Hood again- it's always been one of my favorites-but-not-classics. Unfortunately, it's really underappreciated.

Let's jump on its biggest weakness first- the animation. While something about it is fitting for the feel of the story, it's still really lacking in polish. I think that this one factor- if the animation looked as rich as those from the 50s- would result in most Disney fans embracing it as a classic. Of course the retracing from Snow White is a little hard to excuse.

The story is great. This seems like a film that dark age Disney would have been tempted to make episodic- but they didn't. It's fast paced and adventuresome. I love that it takes true events of history (one of my favorite areas in the history of the western world) and waves them wonderfully into the legend. The bit about the Crusades being the result of Sir Hiss hypnotizing King Richard. I'm also impressed by how much they assume the viewer knows in telling the story. It's not dumbed down, yet, if you don't know the backstory, it doesn't really inhibit your enjoyment and understanding of the film.

There's romance here, but it's very funny too. The same voice actors who delivered classic Disney's funniest moments are serving them up in witty gags here, as well. One thing that surprises me is the abundance of cleavage gags!! Robin Hood even pushes up Little John's stuffed chest at one point.

The characters are memorable, perhaps that's why they get so much coverage in the Disney parks (almost all the characters are regulars there). Making them British was a good move, too. At times they look a bit too similar to prior Disney characters, most notably Sir Hiss and Kaa. Prince John presents a pleasant blend of humor and wickedness. I always like Clucky, Friar Tuck, and the Sheriff of Nottingham as well (ah, Nottingham- I love the names in this story).

Oo-De-Lally is one of my favorite Disney songs to sing along with. Love is a nice mini-ballad and the other songs aren't half bad, either. The score is a little bland, but the songs are probably the best from the first Disney dark age.

It's a moving film that envokes a lot of sympathy for the minor characters (the Rabbit family, Friar Tuck, the church mice...). I don't like the rob from the rich and give to the poor message for modern times, but it works for that setting. Disney does a very good job in adapting this very well known legend.

DVD: The DVD treatment is really abismal. Sure, it looks better than VHS, but I really want more. My biggest complaint is sound. I have to put my TV on max volume for this one, which results in appropriate volume for some scenes and way-too-loud volume for others. I never have to put my TV anywhere close to max volume on other movies. The video quality and bonus features leave much to be desired as well. As MMP said, hopefully this will get 2-Disc Masterpiece Edition treatment. It deserves it.

Does anyone know how this was received at the box office?

-Aaron

[2099net]

Hi Aaron, you may want to read this, just for background info. It will either enhance your enjoyment of the film, or perhaps do the opposite.

Robin Hood and his Historical Context
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/state/mona ... n_01.shtml

[MickeyMousePal]

Here's the link Aaron: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070608/business

[AwallaceUNC]

Netty, thanks for that link- fascinating reading! It's the newest member of my browser bookmarks. That Fulk characters needs a movie made about him!!

MMP, thanks much for your link, as well.

-Aaron

[indrajit]

I think the animation of Robin Hood is not a weakness. Whenever I watch the movie I feel like I am watching drawings from old illustrated story book come to life (notice at the beginning of the movie we start off with an illustrated book opening and meeting the rooster!).

It gives a feeling of nostalgia and that one is watching an old folklore - which is just the kind of visual a story like Robin hood is and should have.

[Voiceroy]

Robin Hood should get a 2 Disc DVD Masterpiece Edition treatment.

I couldn't agree more. It's an underrated classic. It ranks up there in my top 5 favorite animated Disney comedies, and the voice performances are great -- especially Sir Peter Ustinov as Prince John. IMO, it's one of Ustinov's best performances ever. And I love the songs... well, except for that horribly awful "Love" song.

Disney just dumped the film onto DVD without bothering to improve the picture quality (it's *barely* better than VHS) or sound. And I don't like the Pan & Scan either -- surely this was originally a widescreen release?

And there's nothing actually "special" about the "special bonus features" as advertised on the DVD -- the bonus Mickey 'toon is okay, but there's nothing else for those of us who really love the movie and would like to see/hear supplemental materials like song demos, outtakes, character designs, behind-the-scenes featurettes, etc.

[Chris]

You think the song "Love" is horrible? I really love it. It brings a tear to my eye whenever I hear it. It's simple but very effective.

[2099net]

And there's nothing actually "special" about the "special bonus features" as advertised on the DVD -- the bonus Mickey 'toon is okay, but there's nothing else for those of us who really love the movie and would like to see/hear supplemental materials like song demos, outtakes, character designs, behind-the-scenes featurettes, etc.

Hey, you want to see Character Designs? Just watch The Jungle Book or Bedknobs and Broomsticks

[indrajit]

Voiceroy, mickeymousepal - Right on!!

Robin hood *is* awesome, and deserves to be treated better by Disney.

Peter Ustinov was Prince John?? never put that one together. mustve seen it a thousand times too.

2099net,you kiddin'? there's robin hood stuff on *other* dvds??? Maybe Disney need better dvd producers - like us (the people on this message)!!!
(hint! hint!, any Disney executives ( )reading this message. I work like Dumbo - for peanuts; and I actually care about the material. )

[2099net]

2099net,you kiddin'? there's robin hood stuff on *other* dvds??? Maybe Disney need better dvd producers - like us (the people on this message)!!!

Yes, I was kidding sorry.

I meant the character designs for most Robin Hood's main characters are very similar to those in the Jungle Book and Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

While I'm at it, I may as well give my opinion on Robin Hood. I don't actually like this movie much. I see no reason for making the characters animals, and like I say, the character designs are mostly lazy rehashes of those from previous movies with different clothes or minus a mane etc.

As for the story, it's a passable version of Robin Hood. I know that seems a downer, but I can't really find much enthusiasm for an action aventure story with animals. Perhaps if humans were the "actors" in the animation, I would have more of a connection to the plot.

PS. Hey Aaron, you should contact Mystique, she's from Nottingham!

[Udvarnoky]

Robin Hood is easily one of my favorite Disney animated films. To me it's disheartening and sometimes even a bit ridiculous to find such hostile comments aimed at the quality of animation or character designs. When I first saw it as a kid, I loved it, and I love it just as much, if not more, today. It's witty, charming, and fun.

I'm fine with the animation. Okay, so it didn't undergo the massive process of widescreen painted backgrounds a la Sleepy Beauty that took several years. Is that really a sufficient reason to dismiss the film? Oh yeah, they re-used character designs. If some people wouldn't be so quick to attribute this to laziness or ineptness on the part of the team, perhaps they would consider the possibility that it was planned and intentional. Heck, I remember watching the film as a kid and recognizing a certain Jungle Book character playing the role of Little John. I've always thought of it as sort of a "guest appearance."

Oh, and what's this about shoddy animation? Okay, it may be a bit simplistic compared to Disney's big budget films, but it gets the job done, and some nice, subtle touches made it into the end product. I'm actually impressed by the visuals of the film, but I can certainly see how I could enjoy the film significantly less if I were to base my opinion on this aspect alone. I'll refrain from going into real detail here, but I'll tell you this: I recall fond childhood memories of many Disney films in the past, and Robin Hood is among the all too few which hold up. You can tell that the film makers were trying to make an entertaining product, and they succeeded. If you're going to be close-minded enough to label the film as mediocre because it emerged during a so-called "Dark Period" or because Walt Disney didn't single-handedly create it, then how can you possibly expect to derive any enjoyment from watching the darn thing?

I respect constructive arguments and criticism, but some of the shots taken at Robin Hood are a bit too low for me to sit back and allow the insulting of one of my favorites without at least a bit of whining.