{"id":53237,"date":"2026-05-24T15:00:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T19:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=53237"},"modified":"2026-05-23T19:35:52","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T23:35:52","slug":"robin-hood-1991","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/24\/robin-hood-1991\/","title":{"rendered":"Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves [1991] [Arrow 4k UHD LE]"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the 1991 thrilling smash hit from Kevin Reynolds, comes to 4k via Arrow Video. Read this review, or I’ll cut your heart out with a spoon.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

You know it\u2019s true. Everything I do, I do it for you, dear readers. What\u2019s also true is I\u2019ve never seen director Kevin Reynolds\u2019 Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves before. Despite the massive cultural juggernaut of a film that it was, with the Bryan Adams song that still gets big airplay, it slipped my view at 9 when it was new, and in that time since then (sadder confession: I\u2019ve not seen the animated Disney one either). It\u2019s also one of those I\u2019ve bought on DVD and Blu-ray but never put in until now, with the Arrow 4k<\/a> update.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, I HAVE seen Mel Brooks\u2019<\/a> 1993 parody Robin Hood: Men in Tights too many times to count. \u00a0 Like seeing Spaceballs<\/a> a handful of times before seeing Star Wars<\/a>, it\u2019s a weird experience, knowing the parodied scenes while watching them straight. For my wife and me, both of us watching for the first time (and Men in Tights is her favorite Brooks<\/a>), we couldn\u2019t help but quote a different movie while watching this one, like when I sing Weird Al\u2019s lyrics to the base songs, much to her annoyance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But parody aside, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is a highly entertaining mini-epic; light-hearted but also seriously done, with a great sense of adventure, kinship, a nd a series of great sequences and production design. Coming off the soon-to-win Best Picture of Dances with Wolves (the film, released after Robin Hood was lensed, still holds up as a quietly powerful film), Cosner turned from the epic near-myth of the West to the myths of England with Robin Hood.\u00a0 Prince of Theives is big in a different way than Dances with Wolves, with a bombastic sense of fun and adventure.\u00a0 It\u2019s clear a lot of effort was put forth by so many capable and invested hands. The screenplay by Pen Densham & John Watson is just big enough to be grounded rather than silly and folds in the legends for a modern take with ease (especially in the expansion of Marian’s role). Everyone is game as well.\u00a0 Yes, Kevin Costner\u2019s lack of an accent is noticeable, but his signature bland yet somehow engaging acting style fits in an unlikely way.\u00a0 He is surrounded by a fantastic troupe. Morgan Freeman<\/a>\u2019s Azeem the Moor is new to the tale and creates a wonderful counterpoint. I love Mary Elizabeth Masantranio\u2019s feisty Marian. And yeah, to character actors Michael Winscott<\/a> and Michael McShane.\u00a0 Sean Connery<\/a> pops in for a second to show it’s good to be the king!<\/span><\/p>\n

The heroes of Sherwood Forest may be thieving from the Sheriff of Nottingham, but that Sheriff is just as much of a thief of the film itself. Alan Rickman<\/a>. Alan Freakin\u2019 Rickman. Rickman is a completely different movie, and I\u2019m all for it (and I want to see THAT version). Man comes in, chews all the scenery with an astoundingly energetic performance (balancing Cosner\u2019s more subdued hero), spitting and snarling every line (which he rewrote with Ruby Wax) for four minutes, and then takes off again with a Skeletor Meme of \u201cUntil next time!\u201d\u00a0 (Geraldine McEwan as Mortianna plays off him so well, they could be their own show).<\/span><\/p>\n

The Pensham & Watson script and Reynolds \u2019 direction use the familiarity of Robin Hood to tell a knowingly melodramatic adventure of a rich boy finding her heroism, fighting back against the power structure, and tapping into old school adventure. It\u2019s notably different than the Erryl Flynn sort of swashbuckler, looking at the legend in a slightly different tack. They find the right level of cheesy knowingness without going over the top – save Rickman, of course (okay, Brian Blessed in one scene does his blustery best). The legend endures, and while film adaptations can come off silly or lost (looking at you, Ridley Scott version, side-eyeing with concern the upcoming new film with Hugh Jackman), Cosner and company serve it well. In addition, it\u2019s a good-looking film, using the on-location landscapes of England and France exceedingly well.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Extended Cut: Included on this release is an extended cut of the film, about 12 minutes longer. Or should I say the theatrical version is included here, since 2005, the extended cut was the more easily available one? Anyway, the films are fundamentally the same, with the new scenes all based around expanding the Sheriff, seeing more of the schemes, and a backstory bit between him and Mortianna. With Rickman far and away the best part of the film, why cut? Okay, the real reason why is that they are a bit unnecessary – we know he\u2019s up to no good, we don\u2019t need the details to set up the next bit. But RICKMAN!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Package<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arrow puts together another of its awesome sets. The single-disc 4 K (no Blu-ray option) features a close-up of the new artwork by Paul Shipper, fitting within the Black 4k case. Within that case is a reversible sleeve with original poster art and Paul Shipper\u2019s. Within the hard case box with Shipper\u2019s art is a bound booklet, and two double-sided posters, one with art by JOse Saccone. Also included are six postcard-sized artcards.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Presentation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arrow restores both cuts from the original negatives, and damn if this film doesn\u2019t look gorgeous. It\u2019s a detailed image with a great deal of production value, and it shines in the transfer. The sound is big and boisterous as well, available in original stereo and 5.1. Subtitles are English only.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Features<\/strong><\/p>\n

Outside the new documentary, all features are ported from previous editions exactly as they are, 1991 TV-fuzz and all. Some folks may grumble about not upscaling them, but I like it; it brings me back to that era.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Commentaries (2005, play over the extended version)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1 – <\/span>Director Kevin Reynolds and Kevin Costner: The Kevins (as they are called across the features) talk about the process of getting the story off the ground, the competing Robin Hood pictures, their careers at that point, and where it all goes in the 14 years hence. Both men have bland speaking voices, but they have plenty to say and a wealth of information.<\/span><\/p>\n

2- Actors Morgan Freeman and Christian Slater, and writers\/producers Pen Densham and John Watson fill the second track with set anecdotes and the whole writing process. A little more scattered, they drop off often, but still a solid go.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here We Are King (new)<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/span>Arrow gathers just about everyone from behind the camera side (no actors, sorry) to discuss the whole production. Well-informed and put together, it\u2019s another in Arrow\u2019s great set of retrospective documentaries. (67m)<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The Man, The Myth, and the Movie (1991)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Pierce Brosnan hosts a tie-in TV special about Robin Hood. I was pleased that the first half is all about the 14th-century legend and how it grew and changed over time, where it came from, and what it means to England. More of this, please! The back end is focused on this film, selling the adventure on hand. (31m)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Interviews (1991)\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Totalling 19 min, these very fuzzy audio and visual talking head interviews are fine, but everyone seems a little annoyed to be doing them, especially Morgan Freeman. Also included: Kevin Costner, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Christian Slater, and Alan Rickman.<\/span><\/p>\n

Music Video<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A live performance of (Everything I Do) I Do It For You by Bryan Adams at Slane Castle in Ireland. Just as it sounds (4m).<\/span><\/p>\n

Soundtrack Cues\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The score over still images of the film (50m)<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Trailer (2m)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

TV Ads (2m)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Image galleries\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

48 Production Stills and 9 shots of the director working.<\/span><\/p>\n

Booklet<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

A nicely done 60-page booklet. Contains some of the new woodcut-looking art from the posters, along with a large slate of production stills and other images (the same as on the disc). Two essays are included: \u201cAn Everygreen Hero of a Tale Often Told\u201d by Mark Cunliffe and \u201cKevin Costner: Prince of Hollywood\u201d by Jackson Cooper. The former explores the various takes on Robin Hood and how they led to this one, the latter of Cosner on screen in the early 90s. Both solid with great discourse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n

After so many years (and watches of its parody), I am glad to finally visit Prince of Thieves. Arrow puts together a fine package, with a great transfer of both cuts, all the previous features, and adds a new one. I\u2019m sure there is some joke I can make here about Arrow Video and a movie with a lot of Arrows. But I\u2019ll leave that to you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the 1991 thrilling smash hit from Kevin Reynolds, comes to 4k via Arrow Video. Read this review, or I’ll cut your heart out with a spoon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,12],"tags":[58,2128,71],"class_list":["post-53237","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-collectors-den","category-movie-reviews","tag-action","tag-action-adventure","tag-adventure"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53237","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53237"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53237\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53241,"href":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53237\/revisions\/53241"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53237"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53237"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53237"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}