Customer Reviews

Beyond Sherwood Forest

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I watched this on the SYFY Channel and wasn't expecting anything profound. I was correct in that assessment but I found in quite enjoyable nonetheless.

Although I didn't care for the killing off of Friar Tuck I thought it had its interesting takes on the Robin Hood mythos. Robin Dunne was adequate as Robin of Locksley and Erica Durance made an adventurous Marian.

I think a larger budget could have made the scenery more convincing but I understand in this day that money is tight.

Over all, i was satisfied with this made for TV straight to DVD movie.

This SciFi Channel version of the Robin Hood tale is silly and cheesy, but fun nonetheless. My first thought while watching this movie was "Why?" However, I found myself stuck to the end. True blue to it's TV fantasy, B movie genre, the effects are cheesy, the dialogue is fluff and the story is utterly unbelievable. If you are looking for an evening of quality entertainment walk away, but for a mindless guilty pleasure, look no further. Shh I won't tell.

Film of true entertainment. Even though this movie is on the preference of Robin Hood, the action and patriotism is performed with excellence. The storyline of the girl dragon bird and the forest was unbelievably noteworthy. I would refer this movie to all friends and family.

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

[...]

"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.)

I am very pleased with my purchase. It was sent very quickly and in great condition. I will buy from this company again.

Great show. A different story line for the Robin Hood characters. Good actors that played the parts. I kept my interest.

This movie had a bad plot and very poor acting. You could almost know what was going to happen before it actualy did. I do not recommend this movie to anyone.

Beyond Sherwood Forest just doesn't mean they are out of the woods, even if the critics say they are in the woods. Critics trying to compare this to A class productions are wasting their breath and our time. The premise of this fantasy from the SyFy channel is Robin and his merry men will fight a dragon, a.k.a. Katherine Isabelle, and Wolves of Unusual Size (W.O.U.S.) along with the usual Sherwood baddies. Don't take this movie to serious and you will probably find it entertaining. I enjoy most these time filler B movies that SyFy puts out regularly. The cast includes Robin (Robin Dunne of Sanctuary), Marion (Erica Durance of Smallville's Lois Lane), Prince John (David Richmond-Peck), Sheriff of Nottingham (Julian Sands), Little John (Mark Gibbon), and Friar Tuck (Bill Dow of Stargate SG-1).

Why would I expect critical acclaim or awards? It probably won't happen so anyone being critical of what is meant to be light entertainment is overstating an opinion that doesn't need to be stated any longer (beating a dead horse, kicking it, beating it again, ad nauseum). If you like SyFy made B movies you will probably enjoy this one as well. My only critique is the killing of Friar Tuck. I not only like the character but Dow as well so it was unfortunate they felt the need to eliminate him. Fans of fantasy movies will probably find it watchable, and certainly a decent background while you pay the bills or work on your web page. Reasonble price and decent storyline, directing, acting, special effects, and music inclined me to add it to my DVD library. If you enjoyed this be sure to catch Dungeons and Dragons/Dungeons and Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God.

CA Luster

the plot was ok, but the acting and graphics left this film feeling more like a cheap series turned movie. the price is decent, suggest only hard-core hood fans buy this one otherwise it's a waste of shipping cost.