Product Details

• Actors: Jonas Armstrong, Lucy Griffiths, Richard Armitage, Keith Allen, Sam Troughton
• Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: Unknown
• Number of discs: 5
• Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: June 5, 2007
• Run Time: 585 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (289 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000NQQ4DI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,922 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Robin Hood: Season One" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Every generation gets the Robin Hood it deserves. After a dashing adventure (The Adventures of Robin Hood), a ponderous retelling (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves), spoofs (Mel Brooks' When Things Were Rotten and Robin Hood: Men in Tights), and even a cartoon (Disney's Robin Hood), this thoroughly modern 2006 BBC series brings cheeky wit, exuberant action, and fierce fencing and special effects-enhanced archery to the party. Scruffy Robin (Jonas Armstrong) returns home from the Crusades war-weary and "changed." But when he finds the countryside under the taxing grip of the brutal (he crushes birds with his bare hands!) Sheriff (Keith Allen) and his glowering lieutenant, Guy of Gisbourne (Richard Armitage), he takes up his bow and arrow against the injustice.

Series 1 depicts how Robin of Locksley becomes "Robin of the Wood" and then "Robin Hood," robbing from the rich and, well, you know the drill. "The peasants' hero," this Robin is a tad vainer than previous screen incarnations. As his former servant and wisecracking sidekick Much (Sam Troughton, who can be a bit much himself), observes, Robin likes to linger after his good deeds to see the looks of gratitude. Marian (Lucy Griffiths) is another revelation. The daughter of Nottingham's former sheriff, she doesn't exactly welcome Robin back with open arms. "Five years and you're still peddling the same drivel," she says after he spouts some romantic tripe. A formidable fighter and champion of justice herself, she has a surprising moonlighting gig best not revealed here. We also see the gathering of Robin's men (none call them "merry"), including hulking Little John (Gordon Kennedy), Allan-a-Dale (Joe Armstrong), and Will Scarlett (Harry Lloyd). Beautifully filmed in Hungary (what; England was booked?), Robin Hood is mostly grand escapist adventure, but there are unnerving scenes of violence that raise the stakes. In one episode, a peasant who won't reveal Robin's whereabouts has his tongue cut out, (mercifully offscreen). In another, a child is the victim of a sniper's arrow. . Robin Hood takes liberties with the oft-told story of the legendary folk hero, but it's so well played and rousingly entertaining, few should mind. --Donald Liebenson

Product Description

People's hero, war hero, romantic hero and leader of the world's most famous resistance group...Robin Hood is known and loved by millions around the world. His fight against a corrupt government and greedy officials is something we all can connect with. Fun, modern and intelligent, the BBC's Robin Hood is guaranteed to appeal to today's sophisticated viewers and is set to be as popular as the new Doctor Who. Sharp, witty scripts by Dominic Minghella and a striking new look set the tone as the BBC updates this popular legend for all the family.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Audio Commentary
Featurette:Hood Academy Featurette
Other:Character profiles
Audio Commentary
Other:Character profiles
Audio Commentary
Other:Character profiles
Featurette:Robin Hood - The Making of Featurette Dressing Hood Featurette Designing the Hood Featurette

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

119 of 137 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic ROBIN HOOD March 11, 2007

By Karen A. Fleming

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I ordered this ROBIN HOOD after seeing only 2 episodes. I don't usually do that; I usually read all the customer reviews before making up my mind to buy something. Why did I jump in so early? This looks like being a classic ROBIN HOOD.

The pilot and first episode are fantastic. The pilot retells the familiar story of how Robin returns from war in the Holy Land and becomes an outlaw, and does so with wit and verve, in true swashbuckling style -- and with a beautifully light touch of humor. If you have seen THE PRINCESS BRIDE, you have seen a similar style of humor to that used here. But in that movie humor is a large element of its content. It is a very small but important element in the RH pilot.

The first episode turns very gritty; and the humor becomes a much lighter, smaller element. The Sheriff of Nottingham takes over Robin's former estate (like the terrorists took over a Russian school a few years back) and starts cutting out people's tongues -- one peasant at a time -- in an effort to make them tell him where Robin is. Meanwhile, Robin is having his own troubles with the outlaws of Sherwood Forest, who see him as an enemy from the upper class. This is a complex story with complex people and very believable motivations.

The writing is very sharp; the acting is spot on. It is beautiful. Do I have any complaints? Well... I could be a little picky and say people really didn't bathe much back then; and when the Sheriff says, "Tick, tock, tick, tock..." to indicate time is passing and he is getting tired of waiting for someone to tell him what he wants to know... ordinary people didn't have mechanical clocks back then. But, hey, this is a legend not history. And it is superb.

I love this ROBIN HOOD.

63 of 78 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars More Whimsical Than Dangerous--A Very Modern BBC "Robin Hood" Can Still Be An Adventure April 8, 2007

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

Format:DVD

I'll be the first one to tell you--I'm sophisticated and classy. You know why? I watch BBCAmerica, and the Brits--they are the leaders of urbane and upscale entertainment. If you need any convincing, just watch an episode of "Footballer's Wives," "Mile High," or "Bad Girls." Of course, I'm kidding. These shows are brassy, bawdy, and loaded with bad behavior! But, you know what, they are also filled with life. They embrace their nastiness wholeheartedly and make no apologies for being pure popcorn entertainment. With language and nudity not permitted by American networks, it seems as if the genre of nighttime soaps has been revitalized by Britain. But that's not all BBCAmerica has to offer, they are just the shows that helped the network grow in popularity. Some other intriguing entries that recently aired in the US are on their way to DVD--there is a new hip take on "Robin Hood," the supernatural "Hex," and the complex crime story "Conviction." So beware! The British are coming, the British are coming--and it's a good thing!

On preparing to sit through "Robin Hood," it's best to know what to anticipate. If you're expecting any sort of historical insight or don't want anyone tampering with the "classic" tale of Mr. Hood--then I'd advise you to take a pass. Do I need to say what "Robin Hood" is about? Robin is a former noble who becomes an outlaw and forms a posse to (duh!) rob from the rich to give to the poor. This version casts attractive actors, employs anachronistic language, and is firmly rooted in modern (and politically correct) sensibilities. The production is slick, stunts and camerawork exemplary--this is a well crafted entertainment.... Most episodes move at a brisk and amusing pace, and even when things seem to lack real danger--the series more than compensates with humor. The plots aren't particularly revelatory, but any lack of originality is likely to be forgiven due to the energetic and likable performances.

And the success of this "Robin Hood" rest squarely on Jonas Armstrong's shoulders. Armstrong is a star! Perhaps a bit slight for a true action hero, Armstrong is wildly appealing and has great comic timing. His need to be loved by the people is a running gag and one that works exceedingly well--but, then again, who wouldn't love this Robin? Keith Allen is a stellar Sheriff of Nottingham, this is comic villainy at its finest. Richard Armitage as Guy of Gisborne is the show's real menace and does a nice job with a somewhat underwritten part. Lucy Griffiths plays an earnest Marion--updated to hero status herself just to be fair. At first, the show had trouble incorporating Marion into the main action and her tone was always more somber--but a balance is reached as the show progresses. The secondary players are a bit more sketchy, but are employed to good effect when necessary.

If this version of "Robin Hood" is guilty of anything, it might be a "too cool for school" mentality. It is so intent on being clever with ironic humor and modern attitudes that the sheer adventure is sometimes secondary. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this updating--it just tries so hard to be "hip." From the whimsical episode titles through to the inevitable laugh that ends just about every episode, "Robin Hood" almost defies you to take it seriously--and yet, its ultimate success depends on you doing so. I wanted to be blown away be this series, but the episodes end up being more of a lark than anything else. Fun, frothy and not very filling--I still give this 4 (maybe 3 1/2) stars. I see "Hood" having the potential to develop more compelling story arcs with greater ambition, let's see if that happens when Season 2 rolls around. KGHarris, 04/07. Read more ›

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars More Whimsical Than Dangerous--A Very Modern BBC "Robin Hood" Can Still Be An Adventure July 30, 2011

By K. Harris HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWER

I'll be the first one to tell you--I'm sophisticated and classy. You know why? I watch BBCAmerica, and the Brits--they are the leaders of urbane and upscale entertainment. If you need any convincing, just watch an episode of "Footballer's Wives," "Mile High," or "Bad Girls." Of course, I'm kidding. These shows are brassy, bawdy, and loaded with bad behavior! But, you know what, they are also filled with life. They embrace their nastiness wholeheartedly and make no apologies for being pure popcorn entertainment. With language and nudity not permitted by American networks, it seems as if the genre of nighttime soaps has been revitalized by Britain. But that's not all BBCAmerica has to offer, they are just the shows that helped the network grow in popularity. Some other intriguing entries that recently aired in the US are on their way to DVD--there is a new hip take on "Robin Hood," the supernatural "Hex," and the complex crime story "Conviction." So beware! The British are coming, the British are coming--and it's a good thing!

On preparing to sit through "Robin Hood," it's best to know what to anticipate. If you're expecting any sort of historical insight or don't want anyone tampering with the "classic" tale of Mr. Hood--then I'd advise you to take a pass. Do I need to say what "Robin Hood" is about? Robin is a former noble who becomes an outlaw and forms a posse to (duh!) rob from the rich to give to the poor. This version casts attractive actors, employs anachronistic language, and is firmly rooted in modern (and politically correct) sensibilities. The production is slick, stunts and camerawork exemplary--this is a well crafted entertainment. Most episodes move at a brisk and amusing pace, and even when things seem to lack real danger--the series more than compensates with humor.... The plots aren't particularly revelatory, but any lack of originality is likely to be forgiven due to the energetic and likable performances.

And the success of this "Robin Hood" rest squarely on Jonas Armstrong's shoulders. Armstrong is a star! Perhaps a bit slight for a true action hero, Armstrong is wildly appealing and has great comic timing. His need to be loved by the people is a running gag and one that works exceedingly well--but, then again, who wouldn't love this Robin? Keith Allen is a stellar Sheriff of Nottingham, this is comic villainy at its finest. Richard Armitage as Guy of Gisborne is the show's real menace and does a nice job with a somewhat underwritten part. Lucy Griffiths plays an earnest Marion--updated to hero status herself just to be fair. At first, the show had trouble incorporating Marion into the main action and her tone was always more somber--but a balance is reached as the show progresses. The secondary players are a bit more sketchy, but are employed to good effect when necessary.

If this version of "Robin Hood" is guilty of anything, it might be a "too cool for school" mentality. It is so intent on being clever with ironic humor and modern attitudes that the sheer adventure is sometimes secondary. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this updating--it just tries so hard to be "hip." From the whimsical episode titles through to the inevitable laugh that ends just about every episode, "Robin Hood" almost defies you to take it seriously--and yet, its ultimate success depends on you doing so. I wanted to be blown away be this series, but the episodes end up being more of a lark than anything else. Fun, frothy and not very filling--I still give this 4 (maybe 3 1/2) stars. I see "Hood" having the potential to develop more compelling story arcs with greater ambition, let's see if that happens when Season 2 rolls around. KGHarris, 04/07. Read more ›