Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves

Check out our review of Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves - is it any good and how suitable is it for kids?

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Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves

Starring: Kevin Costner, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. (PG)

Release date: 1991

3 out of 5

3

The Bryan Adams theme song ‘Everything I Do…’ still haunts most adults (and not in a good way) and almost two decades later Costner is no more convincing as Robin, but this is still a fun – if somewhat ludicrous – family romp through Sherwood Forest (if you want something more serious, go for Ridley Scott’s grittier Robin Hood from 2010 with Russell Crowe – it’s not for little kids though).
Robin of Locksley (Costner) returns to England from the Crusades with trusty Moor Azeem (Morgan Freeman) and heads off to his home in Nottingham (bizarrely going via Hadrian’s Wall, so this isn’t a great choice if you’re teaching your kids British geography). Unfortunately, a new nasty sheriff (Alan Rickman, stealing every scene) has taken over, forcing our hero to become an outlaw and – after some amusing male posturing – team up with a merry band that includes Will Scarlett (Christian Slater), Friar Tuck (Michael McShane) and Little John (Nick Brimble). There’s romance too, of course, between Robin and Marian (Mastrantonio, looking as out of place in Ye Olde England as Costner), but this is best enjoyed by adults and kids as a rip-roaring adventure, with Rickman providing more chuckles than scares as the pantomime-style (‘…And call off Christmas!’) villain. 

Is Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves suitable for kids? Here are our parents’ notes...

Parents should note that the Sheriff does try to rape Marian.
There are plenty of bloody fight scenes but the only truly scary moment is the sight of the one-eyed witch.

If you like this, why not try: Stardust, The Princess Bride, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Dragonheart, Eragon,