Robin Hood 2010 DVD : The Epic Adventure


ROBIN HOOD - THE EPIC ACTION-ADVENTURE DEBUTS IN A BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK & 2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION DVD SEPTEMBER 21, 2010.

ACADEMY AWARD® WINNERS RUSSELL CROWE AND CATE BLANCHETT. STAR IN THE SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER FROM THE DIRECTOR OF GLADIATOR.

ROBIN HOOD


THE EPIC ACTION-ADVENTURE DEBUTS IN A BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK & 2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION DVD SEPTEMBER 21, 2010 FEATURING AN UNRATED DIRECTOR’S CUT PLUS THE ORIGINAL THEATRICAL FILM.


Universal City, California, Wednesday, July 28— Oscar® winner Russell Crowe reunites with Gladiator director Ridley Scott to reveal the untold story of a common archer’s rise to become a hero in Robin Hood, the $309 million worldwide blockbuster coming to Blu-ray™ Hi-Def Combo Pack, 2-Disc Special Edition DVD and single disc DVD on September 21, 2010 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. All of these versions will feature the theatrical film, as well as a never-before-seen unrated director’s cut of the movie. The film and its unrated version will also be available day and date for digital download and video on demand.

The 3-disc Robin Hood Blu-ray™ Combo Pack will feature a Blu-ray and DVD copy of the theatrical and director’s cut film, as well as a digital copy of the director’s cut that can be viewed on an array of electronic and portable devices anytime, anywhere. Additionally, both the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and the 2-Disc Special Edition will feature deleted scenes and filmmaker commentary, plus an extensive look at the making of Robin Hood that includes behind-the-scenes interviews with cast and crew. The Blu-ray™ release also exclusively features an interactive “Director’s Notebook,” which seamlessly takes fans inside the making of the specific scenes of the film, from production design to special effects.





Sweeping pageantry and heart-pumping action transports viewers to the meticulously recreated medieval battlefields and byways of 13th century England for the inspiring story of a legendary hero. Robin Hood’s sterling cast also includes Academy Award® winners Cate Blanchett (The Aviator, Elizabeth: the Golden Age) and William Hurt (The Incredible Hulk, Kiss of the Spider Woman), as well as Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes), Mark Addy (The Full Monty¬), Oscar Isaac (Body of Lies), Danny Huston (The Aviator), Kevin Durand (Legion), Scott Grimes (“Band of Brothers”), Matthew Macfadyen (Frost/Nixon), Eileen Atkins (Last Chance Harvey), Simon McBurney (Body of Lies) and Oscar® nominee Max von Sydow (Shutter Island).

Robin Hood’s expansive scale and exhilarating action sequences hit a bulls-eye with critics around the world, with Pete Hammond of Boxoffice Magazine saying, “If you’ve think you’ve seen Robin Hood, think again,” and adding that that the film is “spectacular epic movie making at its best in the tradition of Gladiator and Braveheart.” Robin Hood is “An original, new take on a classic story,” in the words of Patrick Stoner, WHYY – PBS (Philadelphia) and “A must-see epic adventure!” according to Christina Vandre, KARE – NBC (Minneapolis). Dan Jolin of Empire gives it four stars, calling it, “Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe at their most entertaining since Gladiator.”


BONUS FEATURES EXCLUSIVELY ON BLU-RAY™:


• DIRECTOR’S NOTEBOOK—A seamless multimedia experience focusing on the director’s vision gives viewers a peek inside Oscar® nominee Ridley Scott’s unique filmmaking process. Incorporating behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Scott and his trusted inner circle of collaborators, this feature launches at critical moments throughout the film to illuminate the task of mounting a vast production like Robin Hood.


• THE ART OF NOTTINGHAM—A special look at the portfolio of designs generated for the film, including video introductions by key department heads such as production designer Arthur Max and costume designer Janty Yates. Galleries of concept art, costume designs, storyboards and other imagery are featured.


• BD-LIVETM—Access the BD-Live™ Center through your Internet-connected player to get even more content, watch the latest trailers and more.


o MY SCENES—Bookmark your favorite scenes from the movie.


• pocket BLU™ APP— Experience Blu-ray in an exciting new way with the pocket BLU™ app for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Blackberry, Android, PC and Macintosh. With this app, you can work seamlessly with a network-connected Blu-ray™ player to activate advanced features such as:


o ADVANCED REMOTE CONTROL: A sleek, elegant new way to operate your Blu-ray™ player. Users can navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live™ functions with ease as well as activate a timeline to skip to any point in the movie with the slide of a finger.


o VIDEO TIMELINE: Users can easily bring up the video timeline, allowing them to instantly access any point in the movie.


o MOBILE-TO-GO: Users can unlock a selection of bonus content with their Blu-ray™ discs to save to their device or to stream from anywhere there’s a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy exclusive content on the go, anytime, anywhere.


o VIRTUAL KEYBOARD: Enter data into a Blu-ray™ player with your device’s easy and intuitive keyboard to facilitate such Blu-ray™ features as chatting with friends and sending messages.


• uHEAR—Always catch every word with uHear! This innovative feature instantly skips back a few seconds on your Blu-ray™ disc and turns on the subtitles for the section you couldn’t hear!


• INTERACTIVE TICKER: Get the latest information about Universal’s theatrical and Blu-ray™ releases. Plus, get updates about upcoming BD-Live events, awards and TV shows on NBC


BONUS FEATURES AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY™ AND 2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION DVD:


• DELETED SCENES WITH INTRODUCTION & COMMENTARY BY EDITOR PIETRO SCALIA


• RISE AND RISE AGAIN: MAKING RIDLEY SCOTT’S ROBIN HOOD


o BALLAD, LEGEND & MYTH: PRE-PRODUCTION—See how the filmmakers and actors, including Ridley Scott, Brian Grazer and Russell Crowe, tackled the challenge of breathing new life into the longest surviving character in the English language, Robin Hood.


o THE MORE THE MERRIER: PRODUCTION—A stellar cast led by Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett descended on England to shoot this massive epic under the direction of Ridley Scott. With an unparalleled passion for detail, Scott oversees all of the production design, costuming, weaponry and action sequences in the film.


o NO QUARTER GIVEN: POST PRODUCTION—Sifting through a million feet of shot film, Ridley Scott and editor Pietro Scalia perfect the screen story and work with the post-production team to add layers of sound design, visual effects and Marc Streitenfeld’s beautiful score.


• DIGITAL COPY OF THE UNRATED DIRECTOR’S CUT VERSION OF THE FILM

SYNOPSIS

Robin Hood chronicles the life of an expert archer, previously interested only in self-preservation, from his service in King Richard’s army against the French. Upon Richard’s death, Robin Longstride (Oscar® winner Russell Crowe) travels to Nottingham, a town suffering from the corruption of a despotic sheriff and crippling taxation, where he falls for the spirited widow Lady Marion (Oscar® winner Cate Blanchett), a woman skeptical of the identity and motivations of this crusader from the forest. Hoping to earn Lady Marion’s hand and salvage the village, Robin assembles a gang whose lethal mercenary skills are matched only by their appetite for life. Together, they begin preying on the indulgent upper class to correct injustices under the sheriff. With their country weakened from decades of war, embattled by the ineffective rule of the new king and vulnerable to insurgencies from within and threats from afar, Robin and his men heed a call to ever greater adventure. This unlikeliest of heroes and his allies set off to protect their country from slipping into bloody civil war and return glory to England once more.


http://www.robinhoodthemovie.com/


CAST AND FILMMAKERS


Directed By: Ridley Scott


Screenplay By: Brian Helgeland


Story By: Brian Helgeland and Ethan Reiff & Cyrus Voris


Produced By: Brian Grazer, Ridley Scott, Russell Crowe


Executive Producers: Charles J. D. Schlissel, Michael Costigan, Jim Whitaker, Ryan Kavanaugh


Director of Photography: John Mathieson BSC


Production Designer: Arthur Max


Editor: Pietro Scalia ACE


Music By: Marc Streitenfeld


Costume Designer: Janty Yates


Cast: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt, Mark Strong, Mark Addy, Oscar Isaac, Danny Huston, Kevin Durand, Scott Grimes, Matthew MacFadyen, Eileen Atkins, Simon McBurney and Max von Sydow


TECHNICAL INFORMATION


Blu-ray™


Street Date: September 21, 2010


Selection Number: 61115859


Running Time: 2 Hours 21 Minutes / 2 Hours 36 Minutes


Layers: BD-50


Aspect Ratio: Widescreen 2:40:1


Rating: PG-13 for violence including intense sequences of warfare, and some sexual content / NA


Technical Info: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1/DVS DD 2.0, French and Spanish DTS Surround 5.1, English SDH, French and Spanish Subtitles


TECHNICAL INFORMATION


DVD


Street Date: September 21, 2010


Copyright: 2010


Selection Number: 61110991


Running Time: 2 Hours 21 Minutes / 2 Hours 36 Minutes


Layers: Dual Layer


Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1


Rating: PG-13 for violence including intense sequences of warfare, and some sexual content / NA


Technical Info: English Dolby Digital 5.1/DVS DD 2.0, French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, English SDH, French and Spanish Subtitles


2 Disc DVD


Street Date: September 21, 2010


Copyright: 2010


Selection Number: 61112398


Running Time: 2 Hours 21 Minutes / 2 Hours 36 Minutes


Layers: Dual Layer


Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1


Rating: PG-13 for violence including intense sequences of warfare, and some sexual content / NA


Technical Info: English Dolby Digital 5.1/DVS DD 2.0, French and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1, English SDH, French and Spanish Subtitles

Picture Strip 4: Disney's Story of Robin Hood


Part 4 of Laurence's superb picture strip of Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).

To see previous pages, please click on the label 'Picture Strip.'

Robin Hood entertaining Richard the Lionheart in Sherwood Forest



Daniel Maclise’s (1806-1870) large painting, titled Robin Hood entertaining Richard the Lionheart in Sherwood Forest (1839) is probably the most well-known interpretation of the legend on canvas. Versions of this colourful work of art have appeared on countless book covers about the outlaw down the years.

As you can see Robin Hood, centre stage, is wearing a scarlet tunic. This is a direct reference to the ballad, Robin Hood and Queen Catherine. Maid Marian is seated in a bower, a reference to the May Games and her role as the Queen of the May. In the background you can just about make out the targets being moved closer; a reference to the Geste and how the targets were too far away for King Edward's men. Little John stands on the left of the picture holding one of the king's deer. Friar Tuck is seen slouching in front of an oak tree.

Maclise was born in Cork, in 1806 from a humble background which he later tried to conceal. He was the eldest of seven children and was educated at a local English School where he developed a talent for drawing and caricature. His creative ability attracted attention from several influential patrons and in 1822 he became one of the first students and the newly established ‘Society for Promoting the Fine Arts’. When Sir Walter Scott visited Cork in 1825, Maclise made a sketch of him that was lithographed, and that inaugurated his public career.

Once he left Cork in the late summer of 1827 Maclise spent nearly all the rest of his life in England where he felt completely at ease and eventually lived in a beautiful house in 4 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, in London.

In 1828, Maclise was enrolled as a student of painting in the Royal Academy (RA) and a year later was awarded the Silver Medal for antique drawing and in 1831 the Gold Medal for History Painting. His fascination with history would become the foundation of his later career.

Maclise travelled to Ireland a year later and painted two famous works associated with his Irish material: All Hallows Eve (or Snap Apple Night) and The Installation of Captain Rock. From the 1830’s to 1840’s Maclise was prolific as an illustrator, which included fantastical work for Thomas Crofton Croker's Fairy Legends in 1826 , Thomas Moore's lavish Irish Melodies (1845), Lord Tennyson's Poems (1857). He also produced designs for Charles Dickens’s Christmas Books and during the early 1830s he executed a series of portraits of literary and other celebrities of the time, including his friend Dickens, as well as caricatures, which were afterwards published as the Maclise Portrait Gallery (1871).

In 1839 he completed his oil on canvas (72 in. x 144.1in.) Robin Hood Entertaining Richard the Lionheart in Sherwood Forest (re-touched in 1845).

In 1843 Queen Victoria purchased his Scene from Undine to present to Prince Albert on his birthday. The Prince in his turn commissioned Maclise to execute one of the frescoes in the Garden Pavilion at Buckingham Palace. . . This was followed by commissions for two frescoes in the New Palace of Westminster: The Spirit of Chivalry completed in 1848 and The Spirit of Justice completed in 1849.

In 1857 he agreed to paint two huge frescoes in the Royal Gallery in the new Parliament buildings, and in 1859 he began The Meeting of Wellington and Blucher on the walls of Westminster Palace. It was begun in fresco, a process which proved unmanageable, and he asked if he could resign from the task. But after being encouraged by Prince Albert, Maclise travelled across to Berlin to study ‘the new medium of water-glass painting.’

So he carried on with his project and its pendant, The Death of Nelson, but it was not completed until 1865 and the effort completely undermined his health. Maclise’s spirit seemed to have been broken and he turned his back on public life. He refused a knighthood and presidency of the Royal Academy and sadly passed away of acute pneumonia on the 25th April 1870.

Sudden Oak Death


I have just seen the news about ‘Sudden Oak Death,’ which is now spreading across the West Country and leaving thousands of trees (not only Oak’s) dead. The reports have been around for a while (including its spread in America) but this is the first time I have heard of it. I love the countryside and ancient forests and despair as our small island disappears under a concrete blanket. So is this yet another disaster to our natural wildlife?

Even more worrying for me is if this spreads to the Midlands it could contaminate Sherwood Forest! I sincerely hope not because I want future generations to experience the magic of walking through those ancient sunlit glades, with just the birdsong as company. Something I intend to do very soon.

So far the report said that that tens of thousands of trees have already been felled to try and prevent the disease from spreading, because it is carried on the wind by tiny spores. Let’s hope it can be stopped before it’s too late!

BBC Report

Picture Strip 3: Disney's Story of Robin Hood


Another couple of pages from Laurence's excellent picture strip of Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).

To see previous pages, please click on the label 'Picture Strip.'

The Giant

The biggest bonus of running this blog is getting to know some of my regular visitors and discovering their marvellous array of interests and hobbies. To say that I am extremely privileged to have such a fantastically talented group visit my blog is an understatement. One of the members of this group, that I fondly call ‘The Whistling Arrows,’ is Mike. We have already heard some of his childhood memories and recently Avalon has made him a Blogger Buddy and featured his many talents on her website at Avalon's Blog.

Mike is not only a brilliant artist and illustrator but also a film maker with his new western movie ‘Circle of Death,’ hopefully released in December. But did you know he also writes short stories?

Here is his latest composition that he sent in a few weeks ago:



The Giant

From deep in Sherwood Forest among fallen leafs something stirs, a small squirrel carries an acorn that through instinct he buries in the forest floor and promptly forgets about it.

Nine hundred years had passed since that day, now from that tiny acorn a magnificent oak, a giant of the forest had grown, majestic, towering above all others in the forest. Beneath its leafy boughs Robin had pledged his love to Marian, minstrels had sang of their love beneath the tree, and Robin's band often took refuge among its branches. The giant oak had given shade, shelter and comfort to generations of people and animals, the stag, the badger, the fox, the birds of the forest and insects of all kinds. Kings and queens had come and gone and many battles had been won and lost, still the tree stood tall.

Surviving lightning strikes, drought, and even fire, it had seen love, life, and death. The rising and setting of the sun thousands of times and it seemed it would go on for ever. But now the giant was old, its magnificent trunk was gnarled and twisted, and its topmost branches were withering and bare of leaf, the great oak was beginning slowly, to die.




The sun rose as it always did, but now, there was a new sound in the forests, an unfamiliar sound, loud, grinding, closer and closer it came and then stopped, the whirring sound of a chainsaw suddenly filled the air sending birds flying in all directions. The razor sharp blade cut deep into the trees aging branches sending them crashing to the forest floor. In the end just the great trunk, stood alone, time and time again the blade broke as it sliced away at the trunk, then finally with a deep grown the massive trunk leaned slowly then crashed to the forest floor with a sound like thunder that echoed through Sherwood Forest.

The Sun streamed down and lit the place where the tree had stood the giant was no more, all that remained were leafs and branches, all fell quiet once more in the forest, then scampering from the giants leafs came a squirrel carrying an acorn which he buried nearby and promptly forgot about.

(Mike Giddens)


I would like to say a special thank you to Maria (Azul Maria) who very kindly allowed me to use one of her atmospheric pictures to accompany Mike’s story. To see more of her stunning photography please click here: Maria's Photographs.

Picture Strip 2: Disney's Story of Robin Hood




This is Part 2 of Laurence's superb picture strip of Walt Disney's live action movie, the Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men (1952).

Joan Rice's Letter, September 9th 1959



We have recently discovered that Joan Rice continued her acting career on the stage after her film career had sadly faded. Which at least goes someway in dispelling the cruel myth spread about by some, that she couldn’t act. This letter by Joan was sent in by Neil quite a while ago and is part of his personal collection.

It was written by Joan to a Mr. Northover, who must have arranged things for her during a stage production that she appeared in at the Savoy Theatre in Kettering, Northants in 1959.

It reads:

Savoy Theatre

9 Sept 59


Dear Mr Northover,


Thank you very much for sending me the copy of your report.


Please don’t apologise for anything, I was delighted to meet and talk to you. I hope you are going to enjoy the show tonight.


The spread in the paper was really something – if I do my job as well as you do yours we’ll all be all right.


Thanks for your good wishes one can’t have too many of those.


Sincerely


Joan Rice

 


Above is the theatre programme also kindly sent in by Neil, of that production, showing that Joan played the part of Catherine, in Arthur Miller’s ‘A View From The Bridge.’

This was her favourite play.

Picture Strip 1. Disney's Story of Robin Hood




Here is another treat for us all, courtesy of Laurence. He has laboriously managed to put together a picture strip of the whole of Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men, and above are the first two pages.

Laurence says:

"I have completed the whole movie, and you are right, it took me quite a while to do! There are around 85 pages in all - plus a cover and a cast list. I can forward them as and when if you like, if you think your readers can take it!"

Well I am sure you can all take it. So, I intend to post two pages of the picture strip every week- sit back and enjoy!

[The images are as large as Blogger will allow, so if you have trouble reading the text, you should be able to magnify the page via the right - hand corner of your screen.]