Beyond Sherwood Forest [Blu-ray]

My expectations were low for this film, but it was really very good.Fair warning, if you only enjoy movies about legends and medieval settings that are 100% historically accurate then you are simply going to hate this movie.Sorry, it cannot be helped.Move along, move along, there is nothing to see here for you.For those of you that enjoy a romp outside firmly bounded, scripted interpretations of legendary themes, press on!"Beyond Sherwood Forest" is a play on the traditional Robin Hood tale, except that Robin's father is killed by Malcolm (played by Julian Sands) while the Sheriff and his men are out hunting a dragon.It turns out that the dragon is a lycanthrope played by Katharine Isabelle. Malcolm captures the woman and keeps her imprisoned for thirteen years.Julian Sands does a fantastic job as the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. What Sands does with a glance would take many actors three pages of dialogue. He comes off as both ruthless while still not entirely understanding the forces that he is using. (I will not spoil the movie, but his choice of an "insurance policy" from the dragon is top flight and makes sense.)Robin Dunne does an entirely adequate job of playing Robin Hood. The story is a bit different than traditional versions. Robin is not a nobleman in this version; so, Robin does not have to have an underlying noble ethic or air. The local townspeople grow to hate Robin for the troubles that he brings on them from the royalty. This is utterly logical. I like it!While not as odious as the rapping scenes from "a Knight's Tale," Erica Durance plays a strictly anachronistic Maid Marian. It would be hard to imagine a less likely set of motives for a medieval noblewoman, and no amount of coaxing by the director can make it seem realistic that a woman who should have spent most of her time doing needlepoint has taught herself to be the best quarterstaff master in the county. That said, Erica does a good job entertaining with her performance in this film.The remainder of the cast are foils for the action, and again, that is absolutely fine. If you are looking for a film for the ages then rent Errol Flynn's "Robin Hood."All in all, a very good film with some very nice twists. I added to my personal film library.In service,Rich[...]

This is all about the dragon, the best feature in this movie, but it is under utilized..........more's the pity. Otherwise, a fairly decent retelling of Robin Hood and a couple of his not so merry men. In this version, Robin Hood sees his father brutally killed by malevolent Malcolm (Julian Sands) and it so traumatizes him that when he grows up he has completely lost his British accent. From that point on he's played by Robin Dunne. Naturally, Maid Marian grows up to be some kind of backwoods ninja warrior princess who'd spit in your eye first and ask questions later kind of gal. She's a swashbuckler. It's quite an unnerving mischaracterization but all right, whatever. Little John (Mark Gibbon) is of course BIG, at least they got that part right. Friar Tuck (Bill Dow) is sorely misused and quickly discarded. The dragon (Katharine Isabelle) is a visitor from another forest. Marian is on the run from an arranged marriage of convenience. There's a `pick on Robin day' when everyone turns on the poor sod for stealing from the well armed and giving to the not so well armed. Oodles of people die. There are old grudges and new grudges galore. Robin and his merry band of two visit the Dark Wood looking for fruit. Because what retelling of Robin Hood doesn't have a portal into another realm presided over by an officious oaf (David Palffy as Sylvan Elder) with absolutely no sense of humor whatsoever. Directed by Peter DeLuise in an uninspiring fashion, it fits right in with other Syfy offerings.It has a certain affable charm.It's entertaining but unchallenging.I enjoyed it, mindful of its TV limitations.

"Beyond Sherwood Forest" is directed by Peter DeLuise (Sanctuary; SGU Stargate SGU; Stargate SG-1; Stargate Atlantis; Andromeda; etc) and was released as a made for TV film in 2009; starring Robin Dunne (Sanctuary, Cruel Intentions, Skulls II, Species III), Erica Durance (Smallville, The Butterfly Effect 2, House of the Dead), Bill Dow (Stargate SG-1, Legends of the Fall, Stargate Atlantis, Kyle XY), Julian Sands (The Killing Fields, Room With A View, The Girl With A Dragon Tattoo, and as the Doci in Stargate: Ark Of Truth), Katherine Isabelle (Ginger Snaps, Freddy vs. Jason, Insomnia, Ogre), Mark Gibbon (The Chronicles Of Riddick, The 6th Day, Smallville, Knights Of Bloodsteel, Stargate SG-1), Richard de Klerk (Repeaters, Stargate SG-1, Bang Bang You're Dead), David Palfly (Storm, House Of The Dead, Stargate SG-1, House Of The Dead), and others. It is a film about 1174 England and the familiar Robin Hood story where King Richard is away on the Holy Crusades while Robin, Marian, Little John, and Will Scarlet deal with Prince John and the Sheriff of Nottingham Castle from their own base camp in Sherwood forest - only this film's version has a dragon (hence, the Sci-Fi genre). The CGI special FX are superb. The two leading ladies are lovely, but no nudity unfortunately (even though suggestively indicated), and the other-worldly dark forest sequence with CGI were-lion-wolves are well done (even if not quite to the excellence of the dragon). A magical film without too heavy of a hand in the gore side of film-making, and yet it might be a little frightening for young viewers. You need to be a fan of dragons, a fan of the Robin Hood theme, and a fan of Sci-Fi genre mythological creatures and mythological beings who keep watch over ancient temples and mysterious covenants. It didn't hurt that I've seen half of this movie's cast in other films and like those other films too. (Wooden pitchfork in this film was only intended for agricultural use.)

If you're a desperate fantasy fan, looking for something to tide you over until the next blockbuster or season of Game of Thrones, this is maybe a poor choice, but it will do in a pinch. It's predictable and has bad CGI, but if you're desperate it's okay.

First of all, bare in mind this was made for showing over the internet on the small pc screen. It's not a big Hollywood production, not even a low budget film company. So of course we are in the realms of special effects. Secondly, with that particular internet audience in mind, it was bound to incorporate certain teen friendly post-Xena traits.That said, as a hard core Robin Hood fan, I still really enjoyed this movie for what it is. Do I want to see a dragon in a Robin Hood movie? Well, if it involves seeing Katharine "Ginger Snaps" Isabelle in the transformation scenes, Yes I Do!Will Scarlet, Little john, Tuck, Gisborne and Marian are all present. But don't expect characters to adhere to traditional perceptions. If one looks closely at the plot line it resembles a pc game in which the hero (Robin) has to complete certain tasks (levels) in order to obtain a certain prize which will cure the Dragon of its curse. So maybe a possible computer game spin-off was considered if the movie was a big success?Chill out. Relax. It's fun.

This film seems a continuation of the Arthurisation of the Robin Hood legend by many film-makers. A lot of effort went into creating the deeply medieval fantasy plot, carrying with it the swashbuckling sword-fighting of the more prominent Adventures of Robin Hood and Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. The perfect casting of Robin Dunne of Robin Hood and the open-ended narrative at the end of the film makes it a perfect prequel to the Robin & Marian film featuring Sean Connery. The story-line fits the typical timings of Robin Hood screenplays, namely when King Richard is away and his brother John is attempting to take control of England. However, it is quite original, with only the character names following the traditional legend known to many as whilst some the scenes are iconographic of Robin Hood as told time and time again, it is not the usual characters involved in them and not everyone lives happily ever after.

I confess, I took a chance with this, and having read other reviews, I didn't expect to like it. However, as it was so cheap and I'd seen all the other Robin Hood films, I gave it a go. I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't think the fantasy element would work alongside the Robin Hood story but it did. The acting was surprisingly good, and all in all, I thought it was good family entertainment.

Not a great movie by any means but it was still pretty amusing. Don't expect great acting or effects going in and you'll be fine.