Robin Hood Trailer Reaction: 3 Ups & 2 Downs

1. A Generic Tale With An Average Antagonist

While the trailer has certainly made us a bit more optimistic about elements of Robin Hood, it hasn't really changed our opinion on the generic nature of the film. Modern re-tellings of the medieval stories are all the rage now in Hollywood, and yet filmmakers fail to realise that this is the last thing movie-goers want. Moreover, while the trailer suggests we won't be disappointed with the action in Robin Hood (more on that later), the narrative appears to be a watered down version of the original Robin Hood tale.

The Sheriff of Nottingham (Ben Mendelsohn) is as stereotypical an antagonist as you could get. Unless the trailer is deliberately misleading us (and it probably isn't), the Sheriff doesn't appear to have goal or desire. He's just rich, pompous and arrogant, and is angry because his money is being stolen. Hardly original, or compelling, is it?

And now for the positives...