Scott Sherwood

The only connection this film has with traditional versions is the use of the familiar names: Robin, Marian, Will Scarlet, (Little) John, the Sheriff and Guy de Gisborne. Their roles in the story have been completely changed to present woke, 3rd wave feminist, Black Power, wimpish white, progressive ally characters - even antifa-like characters appear battling the black-uniformed minions of the Sheriff. For young people who don’t know the first thing about the traditional Robin Hood stories and the time period in which they are set, the plot may be credible: men “drafted” into the Crusades and sent to “Arabia” (no use of the term “Holy Land”) for economic exploitation and gleeful massacre of Muslims most of whom seem to be black. As for the characters ... Robin is introduced as an unwoke and as yet not very accomplished archer who is more or less taught his trade by a black, Muslim prisoner and used by the latter as an instrument of his revenge for the death of his son in “Arabia” at Guy de Gisborne’s orders. By coincidence, the Muslim’s name is translated as John though the modifier “Little” is left out. Marian, no longer “Maid” but now 3rd wave feminist, takes charge of Robin’s awakening all the while plotting a workers’ revolution with her lover Will Scarlett and Friar Tuck against the Sheriff and a menacing bishop from Rome of whom even the Sheriff is frightened. Friar Tucker is used mostly for comic relief and is overjoyed by his liberation from holy vows through Robin’s intervention. Will Scarlet has been working patiently for peaceful change by organizing the working class - miners - of Nottingham which is oddly populated for the late 12th century by a large number of blacks whose role seems to be to shout encouragement to their less woke white neighbors. Will, however, is revealed to be plotting his own seizure of power and reappearance in a movie sequel as the new Sheriff of Nottingham. The Sheriff and Guy de Gisborne remain villains but their aim is no longer to enrich themselves or Prince John while “good King Richard” is out of the country - I don’t think Richard was mentioned once, not John - but to provide the funds that that evil bishop from Rome demands even though it means seizure of all the miners’ wealth at sword point. And how will the money be used? To bribe Muslim leaders into a secret alliance against ... their own English army in order to ... undisclosed! I suspect that the screenplay was co-written by Social Justice Democrats. Too bad Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was too busy to fill the role of Marian.