Rushed production; star-protecting edits; extended footage; medieval songs; horse injury; arrow photography; VHS cuts; Arsenal claim; historical-language argument

In the discussion (10)

Approx. transcript time · 00:20:59Read transcript

The rushed production reportedly allowed ten weeks of preparation and Costner only three days before shooting, with recasting, aircraft noise and approaching wet weather increasing pressure.
Reported test screenings favored Rickman so strongly that producers removed material and shut Reynolds out of editing; the extended cut retains additional sheriff-and-witch scenes.
The supposed need to protect Costner's star position is contrasted with later acceptance of Ledger dominating The Dark Knight and with Willis successfully sharing Die Hard with Rickman.
The special edition reportedly contains twelve additional minutes.
The characters’ songs reportedly use actual medieval melodies.
Costner’s horse reportedly broke his nose.
The arrow shot reportedly used 300 framespersecond rather than the normal 24.
Some VHS releases reportedly shortened the attempted rape after complaints.
A claim that Costner became an Arsenal supporter during filming is mentioned with skepticism.
A quoted Reddit argument says medieval nobles and commoners would not sound like modern English speakers, offered as an accidental defense of Costner; the counterpoint is that his inconsistency was not a deliberate historical choice.

Roger Ebert's review

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 00:36:43Read transcript

Ebert gave two stars and criticized the film as murky, violent and lacking the legend's magic; a later column condemned its rushed production.

Best Double Feature

Poster unavailable

Robin Hood: Men in Tights

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 00:48:46Read transcript

Men in Tights is explicitly recommended as a double feature.

Casting What-Ifs

Gibson; Wright; Kidman; Kensit; Hurley; Grant; Cleese; Connery; disputed Elwes and Depp reports

In the discussion (9)

Approx. transcript time · 01:07:03Read transcript

Mel Gibson reportedly declined Robin after Hamlet.
Robin Wright reportedly withdrew from Marian because of pregnancy and was replaced by Mastrantonio.
Nicole Kidman is a reported Marian possibility.
Patsy Kensit is a reported Marian possibility.
Elizabeth Hurley is a reported Marian possibility.
Richard E. Grant reportedly could not play the sheriff because of Hudson Hawk.
The claim that Cary Elwes declined Robin is explicitly doubted.
The claim that Johnny Depp declined Will Scarlet is explicitly doubted, though he is imagined as a better choice.
John Cleese was reportedly proposed as King Richard before Costner pushed for Connery, whose fee was described as reduced to a charitable donation.

Recasting Couch

Greta Scacchi as Marian; Val Kilmer or Hugh Grant as Robin

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 01:10:12Read transcript

Greta Scacchi is proposed as Marian.
Val Kilmer is proposed as Robin for greater accent commitment, with objections that his striking looks and method approach might be excessive.
Hugh Grant is proposed for Robin's privileged arrogance and ability to face Rickman, but the group doubts the movie would have been a comparable hit without Costner's star power.

Picking Nits

Marian’s royal blood; delayed brother reveal; Azeem’s family; shallow river; Azeem’s absence

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 01:17:12Read transcript

The sheriff's fixation on Marian is questioned and explained through royal blood and her availability outside court.
Will withholding the brother revelation while undermining the group is criticized as contrived and obstructive; he is proposed as another weak link.
Azeem apparently both loving a family at home and having none to return to is flagged as a possible contradiction, followed by a joking secret-brother theory.
Little John not knowing his own river is shallow enough to stand in is considered implausible.
Azeem disappearing for a long stretch after the childbirth scene is questioned given Freeman's billing.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Game of Thrones date joke; hometown introductions; first explosion

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:24:20Read transcript

A joking question places Game of Thrones in the 1100 s, corrected by noting it is not set on Earth; first-name-and-hometown introductions are revisited.
Whether the English characters have ever seen an explosion is questioned, emphasizing the contrast between prejudice toward Azeem and his greater scientific knowledge.

Producer review

Enjoyable by the end; too long; hero least interesting

In the discussion (1)

Approx. transcript time · 01:27:30Read transcript

The producer initially finds Robin Hood corny and the opening like a classroom screening, but enjoys the film by the end; it is too long and might work better as comedy, with the title hero the least interesting part.