Princess of Thieves
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Movie Reviews of Princess of Thieves
Movie Review: "Wish for a thief, you'll get one."
Summary: 4 Stars
In 2001, Disney produced PRINCESS OF THIEVES, a made-for-television movie which not only dusted off the legend of Robin Hood but engagingly added to it. It featured the lovely Keira Knightley, who was then only 15 years old and took time off from school to shoot this picture. The following year would cause her star to prominently ascend with the release of BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM, but, even as early as in this film, one can plainly see the natural acting abilities and vivaciousness which radiated from this lanky snippet of a girl.
Plot SPOILERS begin:
The year is 1184 in the reign of Richard the Lionheart, King of England. The Sheriff of Nottingham (Malcolm McDowell) decides to rescind the price put on the head of Robin Hood's baby upon discovery that the infant is a girl. The Sheriff will grow to rue this act. The willful and plucky Gwyn (Keira Knightley), despite the determinedly sheltered existence her celebrated father had laid out for her, is not about to lead a life of meek and ladylike propriety as she instead seeks to follow in her father's footsteps. Possessing her father's archery skills and his habit of questioning wrongful authority, Gwyn will end up in more capers than one girl really should.
Now it's been five years since Gwyn has seen her father. Robin loves his daughter and, for the sake of her safety, has purposely made his visits unpredictable and very seldom. One day, Robin Hood and Will Scarlett are tasked to safely escort the dying King Richard's son, Prince Philip, so that the prince may properly assume the monarchy. En route, Robin Hood pays a call on Gwyn, who has long been left in the care of Friar Tuck at his abbey and reared with her childhood friend and monastery novice Froderick.
But an argument forms a barrier between Gwyn and her father (she wants to go with him, he thinks that's just stupid), which makes for a bitter departure for Robin. The undaunted Gwyn cuts her hair to pass for a boy (hah!) and sneaks away in pursuit of her father and her own very high ideals. When Robin Hood is taken captive by the Sheriff of Nottingham, it's suddenly left up to his rebellioius daughter to rescue him and prevent the wicked Prince John from usurping the throne of England. And, wouldn't you know it, an archery tournament figures into the rescue mission. Good thing the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Plot SPOILERS end.
PRINCESS OF THIEVES is very good for a television feature. The focus is definitely on Gwyn, the daughter of Robin Hood, with a solid supporting role played by Robin Hood even if fans might be a bit disappointed that he doesn't get to do more; a minor beef of mine is that, even though Gwyn has seemingly taken on the mantle of the sharpshooter in this film, I still expected Robin to wield the bow and arrow more (in fact, I find it hard to recall even one scene in which he slings a bow). Also, in much of the movie, Robin is stern and lacking in humor and seems intent on playing the uncompromising father card. Only later on do glimmerings of his once rakish personality surface.
Now, sure, this movie's hampered by a very modest budget, which played a huge factor in having the film shot on location in affordable Romania. It's a given that the special effects, stunts, and sets would suffer a bit. But while there is a diminished sense of grandeur here and the skirmishes are done up with more enthusiasm than technical skill, there's still a sense of purpose to this film. The cast and crew, it seems to me, were fully behind this picture and I could sense the commitment in their performances (the behind-the-scenes featurette goes on to reveal that, of the entire cast and crew, only about 16 or 17 spoke English; so bonding was key).
Stuart Wilson, with his commanding presence and sketchy resemblance to an older Sean Connery (who himself portrayed this character), makes a fine Robin Hood, who's now more grizzled and may have lost a bit of his dash but remains heroic and can still muster up an irreverent comment when called upon ("You have egg in your beard"). Even at his most stodgy, he maintains a certain magnetic quality about him. Stephen Moyer provides romantic lead services and is decent as the initially self-serving Prince Philip; certainly, he calls on his Heath Ledger good looks to win over the hearts of the female viewing audience. Veteran actors Malcolm McDowell and Jonathan Hyde add villainous heft to their respective roles of the Sheriff of Notthingham and Prince John. And Keira Knightley? Well, she's simply luminous and one can see why things got bigger and better for her soon after, career wise. As the feisty Gwyn - who'll brazenly steal a horse but who then is insulted when the horse is offered to her because of her gender - Keira embodies modern girl empowerment to a tee. Boy, whenever she's on the screen, I can't take my eyes off her. Plus she has that sexy-cool Brit accent.
This dvd contains two noteworthy bonus features: "Princess of Thieves: The Adventure Behind the Adventure," which is the 8 and a half minutes long, behind-the-scenes segment and a so-so audio commentary by Director Peter Hewitt. These extras are certainly miniscule but apropos of a small screen feature. But it's not about the extras, it's about the film itself. Never mind the historical discrepancies. Watch this instead for the entertainment value. PRINCESS OF THIEVES effectively pays homage to the Outlaw of Sherwood, one of the all-time great historical legends. The climactic scenes may not be as rousing as or contain the magnitude of Errol Flynn's or even Kevin Costner's versions, but they'll certainly do. With ample servings of derring-do, false identities, royal intrigue, and star power as provided by Knightley, PRINCESS OF THIEVES is a breath of fresh air and an appealing addition to the mythos of Robin Hood. Once again, Keira Knightley rocks.
One question, though. Where's Little John in all this?
Movie Review: Potential Classic
Summary: 4 Stars
This movie is a favorite of my daughter and I. I like the main imaginative idea of Robin Hood as a single father, bringing up a daughter named Gwyn. Talk about the ultimate tom boy, right? Well she happens to also be a very beautiful girl and the mix of modern and historical sensibilities about gender and the roles we play sets the stage for philosophical reflection, action and discussions.
The positive aspects of this film begins with the location of the filming. Listening to the commentary points out many interesting facts about Romania and filming in general. There is a very excellent film sequence near the beginning showing progressive growth of Gwyn as she awakes in the morning over an approximate 10 year period. For Star Trek fans there is a very funny little aside where the director refers to 2 of his characters as looking like Klingons and they really do. Keira Knightley is superb in this film. I believe that this film role will one day be seen as a classic for it embodies everything she potentially brings to the screen, but does so in a very family friendly story. I really like this actress, but don't care to follow her harder edged characterizations in some other films. I realize my conservative opinion on this and respect her right to pursue her career as she sees fit. The horses are fantastic. You learn from the commentary that they had difficulty with the wild natured Romanian horses and it is fun to see evidence of this on screen. Look for the roving dogs also.
The negative qualities of this film are mostly humorous. The fight sequences are very tame, which is good for a family film. Keira is never physically convincing as a "boy", but all films require some amount of imaginative play. Jonathan Hyde's acting, while good, is a rip off of Alan Rickman's Sheriff of Nottingham in 1991's Prince of Thieves. The ending is very sad from a romantic standpoint, even though I understand its historicity. Royal restrictions on marriage are so stupid, as well as restrictions of some church groups on marriage in the clergy. But, I digress.
Overall this is a fun, engaging movie that entertains and makes you think. The primary story revolves around the father/daughter relationship and this movie succeeds in promoting positive dialogue and action if you find yourself in one. When you understand this it makes this movie's ending a very happy beginning. Enjoy!
Movie Review: Delightful treat ~ good clean fun for the whole family!
Summary: 4 Stars
I stumbled across this delightful treat of a Disney film a few years ago, just as Kiera Knightley was breaking onto the Hollywood scene in "Bend It Like Beckham"...
A family-friendly film, this fictional story "Princess of Thieves" centers on Robin Hood's almost-grown teenage daughter, Gwyn (Kiera Knightley). While King Richard lies dying (off at the crusades), his illegitimate son (& rightful heir), Prince Phillip (Stephen Moyer) must bravely face danger & the mercenaries hired by Prince John (Richard's evil brother) to travel across England & ascend the throne. The tempestuous father/daughter relationship between Robin Hood & Gwyn must be overcome (Gwyn is angry with her father, as he is gone all the time & won't let her join his band of merry men), in order that they might help Phillip to his rightful place as ruler, foiling the plans of the evil Prince John. But when Phillip & Gwyn meet by chance under false circumstances, anthing & everything could happen...
For those of you worried about content, this is a very family-friendly movie: there is some mild romantic tension & a time when a woman dressed as a man ends up atop another man for a few seconds (clothes on, they were fighting), there is some killing/death (nothing too drastic or bloody shown) and there is mild violence as people fight. Beyond this, there is little to object to...
I was quite impressed by this film: I gave it 4 out of 5 stars for the fictional nature of the story and cheese factor, but I must say I really did like this movie & have watched it quite a few times: a sweet, sweet story with some good actors/actresses, I would recommend this as a nice break from everyday fare & a good film for the whole family to watch!
Movie Review: Good Romantic Adventure
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a really good movie with lots of action and some romance thrown in as well. Gwen, the neglected daughter of Robin Hood, decides to prove to her father that she can help him in his quest against Prince John. The King is dying and Robin is trying to make sure the rightful heir, Philip, the illegitimate son of King Richard, is placed on the throne. Gwen cuts her hair and pretends to be a boy. This is the only part of the movie that is somewhat unbelievable because she is a beautiful young woman that could never be mistaken for a boy, hair or no hair, lol. Keira Knightley (Gwen) is just outstanding in this film, and seems older than her 15 years! Stephen Moyer, is also stunning and does an excellent job in his role as the prince. One of the most memorable performances is by Del Synnott as Gwen's best-friend Froderick. Gwen meets Philip and he tells her he is Conrad, the Prince's valet, and that Prince Philip is dead. Little does she know that he is the prince himself! I didn't give this movie the highest rating because the conclusion is somewhat disappointing for someone like me who is such a die-hard romantic. Get the kleenexes! The story is more about Gwen's relationship with her father, and her desire to share his occupation of stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, even though she is not a son. It's an interesting movie with good acting, and is a good movie for the whole family. If you want all the romantic loose ends tied up nicely though, I'd suggest you watch a movie such as Ever After instead. The soundtrack of this movie is beautiful. I also liked the creative way that they aged Gwen from a small child to a woman at the beginning of the film.Movie Review: Definately a 3.5 star item, but let's give it 4 for fun
Summary: 4 Stars
Cruelly drubbed by many reviewers for folklore inaccuracies (Robin Hood's daughter is of noble blood etc), blatent historical inaccuracies (revealed in the final reel) and the Disney-fied vision of medieval life. This movie (originally made for television) is actually well worth a look and really not all that bad if taken for what it is (a fantasy re-imagining of the what if the good hearted English outlaw Robin Hood had a daughter who followed in her fathers footsteps). With some great acting - especially from Malcolm McDowell as the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham and rising Hollywood star Keira (King Arthur, Pirates of the Caribbean) Knightley as the title character Gwyn.
Revolving around the attempts of Robin Hood (and subsequently Gwyn) to safely transport King Richards illegitimate son Phillip to London in an effort to thwart Prince John's designs on the English throne. The movie has enough action to keep the young ones happy and enough drama and romance to make it a diverting picture for the adults.
Kudos also to director Peter Hewitt for providing a light commentary on this DVD.