Robin Hood Ever Changing
So there's a new Robin Hood movie in preproduction called Nottingham. Ridely Scott and Russell Crowe are both involved and it's slated for 2009. Check out IMDB for details, cos the movie details are not what this blog is about.

What it is about is Robin Hood's ability to grow, change, and evolve with the times. Take the BBC's current incarnation of Robin for example. The series has a lot of content about Saracens, and the Crusades. And while I believe this is just a way to make veiled political commentary on the war in Iraq. Turning Robin into a peace loving veteran who accepts everyone no matter what their race, gender, or religion, la de da de da. There by inspiring a whole new generation to do the same. It's a really good message. It's a message that Crusade Robin feels the need to spread. While the BBC still finds a way to incorperate most of Robin's traditional nemisis AKA the Sherrif of Nottingham, and Guy of Gisborne (I'm still waiting for Robin to cut off his head) a few classic characters are missing. Prince John for one, and Friar Tuck for another. But with the new evolution, this isn't really a big deal.

For some reason the BBC hasn't even mentioned the classic reason for Robin's statis as a wolfshead. Saxon vs Norman. For those of you unfamiliar with the classic legend Robin Hood is traditionaly a Saxon Yeoman outlawed for either illegialy killing the kings deer (Forest Law prohibited the killing of deer.) or killing foresters charged with protection of the King's forest. (There are also quite a few other first offences attributed to Robin. Later legends have him as a Saxon lordling returning from the Crusades ignorant of Forest Law (for whatever reason) and getting into it with the Sherrif over saving someone's hand.) Like I said the legends grow and evolve.

Anyway miss the whole Saxon vs Norman thing. And I hope the new movie takes the classic spin. To me it's the nuts and bolts of the story. Don't even get me started on Stephan Lawhead's Welsh Robin, Rhy Bran Hud. (I still haven't decided if I like it or hate it.) So the Welsh used the long bow before anyone else in England... So Robin's legend starts before the long bow was introduced... Who's to say that Robin never went to Wales and got a bow... Who's to say that didn't happen? I mean the guys not even really real. He can go to Wales and get a bow if I bloody well want him to. Cor!

It's never dullsville in Sherwood Forest, that's for sure. Much like a real forest all the legends keep changing. It's a never ending process. I love the way fairy/folk tales evolve over time, and I love watching it happen. The same thing is happening to the Phantom (And he's relativity a newcomer to the whole folk legend scene but evolving very fast comparitivly.) But that's another rant for another day.


***I also posted this as a blog on my regular page.