Given that I went to see the new movie today, I am most definitely in a mood for some Robin Hood action right now! I've always enjoyed the story in its various cinematic guises - I very much enjoy the old Errol Flynn film, the Disney movie, and now this new "prequel" from Ridley Scott - but I'm afraid the only book I've read connected to the legendarium is Robin McKinley's The Outlaws of Sherwood. Does anyone have any suggestions for older, more traditional books on the subject?

Yes, a Robin Hood special feature!!

I'm a big fan of the BBC series, although I have yet to see season three (hopefully I'll be seeing them soon though ) I love all the characters (well, the outlaws at least ), and thought both seasons 1 and 2 were fantastic.

There was a really cool TV special on before the movie came out that said that around...1224 I think it was, there was record of and outlaw in... I think Nottingham, but it might've been Yorkshire? Well, it was somewhere around Sherwood, and the man's name was Robert Hode. And after that, I think it was around the 1270s-1290s there were six outlaws recorded as having the name Robin Hood. So they concluded that either "Robin Hood" was a generic outlaw nickname, or that they were copycats of an original Robin. Personally, I'm in favor of the later

I'm also a fan of Steven R. Lawhead, even though I'm only about 3 quarters of the way through Hood. I'm loving it, though The way he writes just pushes you along in the story, and it's really difficult to stop reading. I also love how he incorporated characters into it...using different spellings, but having similar names. I think my favorite characters so far are probably Iwan and Merian.

Given that I went to see the new movie today, I am most definitely in a mood for some Robin Hood action right now! I've always enjoyed the story in its various cinematic guises - I very much enjoy the old Errol Flynn film, the Disney movie, and now this new "prequel" from Ridley Scott

I got to see Ridley Scott's film about a week ago, and though it was great Not really what I was expecting, but still fantastic. Haha, I also got to see the Errol Flynn movie a little while ago, and it was really good too. I wasn't really expecting too much (I don't know why, I'd heard good things about it before) but it was really cool seeing classic Robin Hood stories (like the archery contest, and Little John on the bridge) all put into a larger movie (I don't really know if they were all together to start with though, I just heard them separately). The only thing that kind of bugged me was when they would go in fast-forward kind of speed during the action scenes, it just made it look a little funny, IMHO

I've read two of the Lawhead series (or is it three? can't remember).
It was interesting to see his take on it.

I used to love "Robin of Sherwood", the 80s version with the music by Clannad. Now that series would be a great DVD to come upon - even when they changed Robins before a new series!

And as a child I can recall seeing some black and white TV programmes of Robin Hood, with an enduring song for the opening/closing credits - which I will sing for you if you ask!

I haven't watched the BBC series apart from perhaps once - it seemed to be yet another example of rewriting historical tradition into 20th/21st century teenage angst (why why why? do they do it? yes, to get viewers, but still.... Robin as a Sensitive New Age Guy?)

Oh Robin Hood how I long to see the new film! I'm trying to wait until after exams, and reward myself that way. We'll see how that goes. Lovely opening by the way, I never knew all that about its origins.

I concur with all the Errol Flynn Robin Hood approval. I love that movie and have it on VHS; in all its fuzzy, terrible sound quality-ness. It really is only one of a few adaptations I've seen where Robin is the gallant young man he is in the books and Maid Marian is not an excellent-archer-bordering-on-feminist. I also like her character development in this film version -she starts out as an antagonist, and ends up a protagonist. And she's still cool without war skillz.

A really hilarious comedy version (bordering on silly-stupid) of the story is Tony Robinson's BBC series (Maid Marian and her Merry Men). According to Wiki, "In the show, Marian was portrayed as the real leader of the Merry Men, whilst Robin was a vain coward who was mistakenly believed to be the leader by King John and the Sheriff of Nottingham."

Other than those, I have seen (and own) Disney's animated version which is lovely in all its pencil drawn glory and classic voice characterizations (Phil Harris, Phil Harris!). The other Disney film I've seen was that one with Keira Knightley, Princess of Thieves I think it's called -it's not bad, and it centers around a middle aged Robin and his daughter.

Lys: Given that I went to see the new movie today... Does anyone have any suggestions for older, more traditional books on the subject?

Well, I've read Howard Pyle's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. It really is darker and far more depressing than the more popular re-tellings; but it's certainly interesting and I know you're used to the strangeness of original fairy-tales so you might like it.

coracle: I haven't watched the BBC series apart from perhaps once - it seemed to be yet another example of rewriting historical tradition into 20th/21st century teenage angst (why why why? do they do it? yes, to get viewers, but still.... Robin as a Sensitive New Age Guy?)

I laughed at your '21st century teenage angst/Robin as a sensitive New Age guy' classification. I haven't seen this new series, but I am keen to given what I've heard about it (or perhaps in spite of what I've heard )

I have had a great love of all things Robin Hood ever since I watched the Disney animated animalized Robin Hood as a child.

I'm a fan of the BBC show, though I watched everything with a somewhat critical and pessimistic eye. A great deal of it is ridiculous, but the characters are fun and the action is good.

I read The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley and I really disliked it. I thought it was boring, annoyingly centered on the saxon/norman conflict (even to the point that the nobility was more important than the poor), and oddly written. We also own the Howard Pyle version of the story, but I haven't read it. Either that one or the Lancelyn Green.... Hmmmm. I can't remember. All I know is that it has funny little summaries of the action in the margins.

I have yet to see the new movie, but my sister is quite a fan (she's an archer herself), so I'm sure I'll see it eventually.

I enjoyed Robin Hood: Men In Tights (although it was a bit crude at times). I loved Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Errol Flynn's Robin Hood was very good but the sword fighting was absolutely terrible. I've seen some other versions but didn't like them - the Disney cartoon included.

I am, and have always been a skinny guy, so when I dressed up as Friar Tuck for a friend's Robin Hood birthday party back in grade 5, I had to use several pillows. I looked ridiculous but we all had great fun.

I haven't read any book on Robin Hood.
1. Disney animated movie- I have always thought it was great.
2. BBC series- I began and enjoyed it, but lost interest almost near the end of Sn 1.
3. Ridley Scott movie, I loved it! I thought it was great, and hope there can be a sequel to it, all lies now in this one making a profit.

There is only one Robin Hood!

I have something to admit here...everytime I sit down to Thanksgiving dinner I want to grab the drumstick (turkey drumsticks are pretty big) and lean back in my chair and give that speech where Errol Flynn calls out Claude Raines for usurping the throne while eating giant mutton legs. Although if I called my Mom "traitor!" she'd probably sock me in the nose.

I also remember the old Daffy Duck rendition of Robin Hood, especially when he pulls out his "Buck and a quarter staff"

I got a lot of heat for it back in the day because my friends all loved it (and the girls all swooned over that goofy Bryan Adams song) but I thought the Kevin Costner version of Robin Hood was a travesty. By all rights it should have worked...it had all the essentials, well, minus a Robin Hood with an English accent (Robin Hood: Men in Tights pointed this out, and rightly so I say!), but it just seemed...icky to me. And I still maintain Bryan Adams sounds like he needs a bag of Halls throat drops everytime I hear him croon "Everything I Do, I Do it For You". Gag me with an eggbeater.

Oh I LOVE Robin Hood. I've read several books about him but I didn't see really any movies b/c our family is not huge in to movies. Really actually I only saw cartoons. The only non-cartoon version of Robin Hood I've seen is the BBC series (season 1) and a few episodes of the '50s tv series.

lys: I really liked this book. It's a collection of tales by Louis Rhead. The illustrations are great and Maid Marian and her romance with Robin Hood are not centered on .

Shadowlander, I don't remember Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (the Kevin Costner version) as having Bryan Adams songs in the movies, or do you mean that they were during the credits? Yes, Robin Hood wasn't British in that movie but I found it very enjoyable as a kid (I admit that I haven't seen it since). I remember it had good action and lots of over-acting and was more than a little creepy/violent at times.

Oh sweet Merlin!! the new movie was AMAZING!! The easily best movie I have seen in 2010, was easily as good as LotR in some parts, the dialogue was perfect, the Characters were spot on in my mind, and the final battle was EPIC (I apologize for the cliche ).

My favorite Robin Hood movie has always been and will likely always be The Adventures of Robin Hood, released by Walt Disney sometime in the mid 20th century. No, I'm not talking about the one with the fox. This one has real people, and the acting is superb. Plus it's got some really funny moments that are well-done.

I forget who plays Robin Hood, but my sisters and I had a major crush on him when we were little. He and Maid Marian were such a cute couple. You should check it out!

I've liked BBC Robin Hood, from what I've watched of it, excepting the third season. I mean, seriously:

W00T! I have been anticipating this Special Feature since I knew there was going to be one! I now have the opportunity to rave about my favorite legend!
Awesome opening post, Valia! You and WinterStar did great!

Well, it was somewhere around Sherwood, and the man's name was Robert Hode. And after that, I think it was around the 1270s-1290s there were six outlaws recorded as having the name Robin Hood. So they concluded that either "Robin Hood" was a generic outlaw nickname, or that they were copycats of an original Robin. Personally, I'm in favor of the later

Agreed! I also believe that Robin Hood was an actual person.

I have been a Robin Hood fan for many years, and was first exposed to the legend at a semi-young age (probably around the age most people on here were first reading the CoN. ). I read a couple books about Robin Hood when I was probably 7 or 8 (the 'Classics for Children' or whatever they were called. You know, the ones with the picture on every page. Anyone else remember that one?), and was fascinated by the story. I can't say that Robin was my childhood hero, but I found him extremely cool!

I lost interest in the legend for a few years (became interested in cowboys instead. ), but it was revived last November when I was struck with an idea for a book based on the legend. Researching the legend further cemented the idea, and I am currently in the process of writing my own retelling of the Robin Hood story.

On the subject of RH books, I recently read Stephen Lawhead's King Raven trilogy for the first time, and found them very interesting (much moreso than the Classics for Children version. )! While I can see his reasoning for placing the story in Wales, instead of in England/Sherwood Forest, I do wish it was set in Sherwood instead. (I do, however, commend Lawhead for his original retelling of the legend. ) Aside from that, I only have a slight issue with a certain part in Hood and Scarlet. I think my favorite book of the series was Tuck. I just liked it better than the others for some reason. Also, I liked the character of Alan a'Dale. "Ye ken?"
Oh, one more thing; am I the only one who cannot figure out what character from the legend Siarles is supposed to be (possibly Will Stutley?)?? Or Gwion Bach (is this supposed to be 'Much the Miller's son'?)??

Moving on to tv/movie versions...

After some prompting by Djaq (my sister, not the tv show character), I was persuaded to begin watching the BBC tv show last December, and was instantly hooked! I watched series 2 first, (because that was the one that we had at home. They belong to my older sister, and we hadn't borrowed the first series), and finished it in less than a week. We begged my sister to bring series 1 when she came over for New Years Eve, and then we watched probably 5 episodes that night.
I have since seen series 3 and hated it. Absolutely hated it. Sorry, but they ruined the show. The first episode was good (and I actually didn't mind Tuck in that episode), but the remainder of the season was awful because they introduce Kate's character in the second episode!! I.Strongly.Dislike.Kate! She has no purpose whatsoever except to be the obligatory female outlaw. (Sort of a spoiler...

A few questions for my fellow 'Hoodies'...

Which season of BBC Robin Hood is your favorite? For me it's a toss up between season 1 and 2. I honestly can't decide.
Which character is your favorite? It's a tie between Robin, Will, and Allan. If I *had* to choose only one though, it would probably be Allan.
Do you have a favorite episode? If I could only choose one favorite, it would probably be episode 7 from season 2.

Now, aside from all of that, I have also seen the animated Disney Robin Hood, the Errol Flynn version (several years ago, and I'm not sure I ever saw the whole thing), and part of an episode of Robin of Sherwood (a loooooong time ago and I do not remember a thing about it. ).

Wheew! That took a while to type up! I think that's all for now.

--- flambeau

Which season of BBC Robin Hood is your favorite?
well I've only seen season 1 so...

Which character is your favorite?
ah that's too hard! Probably either Much or Will...

Do you have a favorite episode?
wow, um, idk...maybe the one with Eve...where Much is lord or duke or whatever.