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Robin Hood : The Complete BBC Series 1 Box Set [2006]

RRP: £34.99
Our Price: £18.00 (subject to change)

It's alright but...
Review date: 2008-07-02 Rating: 6 out of 10

I have only recently got into this series, and i haven't seen many episodes yet. It does have some positives, and the story isn't too bad. There are some quite original plot lines too.
Some of the charcters are quite good, I find i cannot help laughing at the sheriff's antics.
The main downer though is the political corectness, probably a symptom of having been made by the BBC.
I really felt that this show was actively promoting Islam at times. Having muslim charcters is one thing, but there seem to be a disproportionate number here, they are always put across as the ones who are prepared to negotiate and who want peace, and are very often given a stage to openly talk about thier religion. Whereas christianity is barely given a mention, and is sometimes portayed in quite a negative light.
We are also constantly reminded of the superiority of Islamic civilisation over western. This is certainly true to some extent, but it often comes across as arrogant, sneering and sometimes downright patronising.
Sometimes one is left wandering why robin and the crew even bother fighting for england, when we are supposedly so backwards and ignorant, and bears sole responsibilty for atrocities commited during the crusades.

Enjoy this series as light entertainment by all means. It is good for that, but i would say try not to be taken in by the PC attitudes and phrpaghanda. Perhaps buy it from a marketplace seller, so the bbc don't get profit

Reviews

A wasted opportunity
Review date: 2008-04-02 Rating: 6 out of 10

I wanted to like this series, I really did. I awaited its first transmission with baited breath, regularly visited the internet to find information about it, and counted down the days to the first episode transmission. What a let down! It fails for a number of reasons and I think the reason it has annoyed me so much is that so many of its faults were, in hindsight, so easily rectified. The actor playing Robin, good as an actor that he is, is just not Robin for me. He looks like he's just finished his paper round! The character of Little John was 2 dimensional and a bit too....Scottish? I understood the character of John Little was from Yorkshire, not the Scottish Glens. Marion was one of the saving graces of the series, well written and cast to someone who can act well and striking. The rest of the merry men? Mostly pretty dull and either reactionary or cliched. I couldn't care less for Will Scarlet and Alan A Dale, despite having a history of being a minstrel, sounded like a cockney geezer! How drab in an attempt to make it somewhat contempory. Where was Tuck? I understood the writers said they didn't include Tuck as they didn't think it was right to `Laugh at fat people in this day and age' ??? Why would we laugh at him, if he was well written and courageous? This smacks of the problem of the whole series, it is all about how it looks and not about how it actually is. Too much effort in having green hoodies and not enough time spent on plot development and character depth. And excitment! The character of Djac was interesting and clearly derived from Nasir in Robin of Sherwood, but female. Nice twist though.

The sheriff looks and acts like he's wandered off stage from Panto at Southend-on-Sea (purple eye make up? I don't think so, do you?) and Guisburne in black leather may be good for the mums watching, and although he also was well acted with the script given, all the smouldering looks, well it just didn't wash with me.

I hoped it would improve with series 2, but if anything it got worse! I saw a documentary prior to the first series, and the actors were asked whether they had looked at previous versions of Robin Hood, in particular Robin of Sherwood. They responded laughing and almost sneering at what had been done previously; sorry chaps, your version is not a patch on Robin of Sherwood, on any level. To compare that series to this one is like comparing a Rolls Royce to a wheelbarrow!

Cracking good fun!
Review date: 2008-03-11 Rating: 10 out of 10

I only caught the odd episode of Series 1 Robin Hood when it was originaly broadcast on TV and also missed the early episodes of series 2! Then I became hooked!

This box set gave me a great way to catch up on all the great fun I had been missing. The early portrayal of the characters were slightly different, as they then matured and developed during s2.

The extras provided great insights in to the sets, costumes and characters. I loved the commentories as well. All I can say is that it will be watched time and time again!
I would have like to have seen some 'deleted scenes' or out takes. Also I would have liked an interview with Keith Allen ( the Sherif ), and there is always space for lots more Richard Armitage ( Sir Guy!) swoon!

Historically inaccurate, yet beautifully accomplished!
Review date: 2008-03-10 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is certainly not a show that I would recommend to anyone who feels that historical accuracy is essential to TV and movies. As I am a history student myself, I can sympathise with those who feel that this was a travesty of history, particularly if they have a specialism in this period. However, I think this show came along in the nick of time to remind us that TV is for relaxing, not for study.

Robin Hood is a swashbuckling and thoroughly fun attempt at bringing a folk tale into the present day. It is excellently cast- Gordon Kennedy as Little John is a particular stroke of genius. Keith Allen's performance as the Sheriff of Nottingham was always condemned to be eclipsed by the unrepeatable turn by Alan Rickman of the 90s film, but he is wonderfully dislikeable nonetheless. The episodes are formulaic- but so what?! The formula works, why not run with it? The series is pitched at the right level for Saturday night family viewing, and where it comes to the obvious lack of Academy Award standard performances the show never promised us a rose garden. You get your introduction presenting a dilemma for Robin and the lads, then your attention-seizing theme tune, then a series of unfortunate events culminating in a fight scene and a break out from the castle, followed by the obligatory happy ending.

As someone who spends a huge amount of time poring over books and serious study, when I sit down with my glass of wine on a Saturday night THIS is exactly what I want. To criticise Robin Hood for being historically inaccurate or badly written or even badly acted is something of a moot point. It's like saying that Brucie's Generation Game was silly- of course it was, that was the whole point.

This is brilliant Saturday night viewing (indeed, if during its' period of transmission it had been preceded by repeats of Generation Game, I may have died from happiness). It's also brilliant for entertaining the kids while you do the ironing. As a historian, I would suggest BOOKS for anyone who wants something that's 'historically accurate'. Let TV remain what it ought to be- a source of relaxation that is used in moderation as a way of suspending over-thought. We should all chill out and watch some Robin Hood!

In technical terms, there are no problems with the boxset. The extras aren't ground-breaking, nor are they deficient, and all the episodes are there in their original glory. My only criticism really ought to be directed to the BBC- there seems to be no intention of releasing the second series on DVD, and the idea that the first series was released elsewhere before the UK (which arguably paid for the show by means of the TV Licence)is disgraceful.

Robin Hood....
Review date: 2007-12-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

I agree completely with other reviewers that it's not good at all that the three single volumes seemed to be the only release that was going to happen... I've bought them all and love them but would have preferred to have a box set with extras!!

As I haven't got the extras, I can only review the series itself... and what a series! There has been so many Robin Hood productions over the years but I think that this one has been so successful because it reaches its target audience... it has introduced the legend to a new generation in a way that they can understand!
It's fast-paced, funny and I know I for one will be keeping this in my dvd collection!

The only question now is: "should I wait for the Series 2 Boxset?"

Product Details/Specifications

Actor(s):
Keith Allen
Richard Armitage
Jonas Armstrong

Director(s):

Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503224820
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 5
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2007-10-29
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 675 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2006
Language: English (Original Language)

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Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Robin Hood : The Complete BBC Series 1 Box Set [2006]

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