Blu-ray Movie Reviews

Russell Crowe stars as the legendary figure known by generations as "Robin Hood", whose exploits have endured in popular mythology and ignited the imagination of those who share his spirit of adventure and righteousness. In 13th century England, Robin and his band of marauders confront corruption in a local village and lead an uprising against the crown that will forever alter the balance of world power. And whether thief or hero, one man from humble beginnings will become an eternal symbol of freedom for his people.

Universal delivers a striking visual treat with this one. The high definition transfer features exquisite fine detail and one of the more dimensional visual feasts I’ve seen in some time on the format. Rich blacks and impressive contrast add to the depth of image and colors are strong without looking garish. The DTS-HD Master Audio mix is no slouch either with impressive dynamics and a rich sense of spatial design that really puts you in the film. I loved the discrete cues littered throughout the surround soundstage and the sidewall imaging was excellent. One of the best presentations on the format this year.

Lots of extras on this two disc release including a DVD copy and a digital copy for your portable devices. The Blu-ray is rich in interactivity including the ability to interact with your iPhone or iPod Touch. You also get some great overlay features during the film that delve into the production and story. Other features include a look at the great production design and following Ridley Scott through the making of the film.

While not the knockout that Scott delivered with Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven, Robin Hood is still a solid production and a fresh start for the popular outlaw. Universal has done a tremendous job with the Blu-ray release making this an easy recommendation.