Movie Review: "Robin Hood"

Apparently I'm kind of on a Russell Crowe kick. "Gladiator," "Les Miserables," and now "Robin Hood." It all started because the "Gladiator" and "Robin Hood" soundtracks popped up on (one of) my movie scores soundtrack station(s) on Pandora. They both have amazing soundtracks. A-mazing. But I had never seen "Robin Hood," so I decided I should.
I liked it well enough, though it's a little slow - I watched it in two sittings. I remember when it came out thinking, "Russell Crowe as Robin Hood? He's too old and not dashing, as one expects Robin Hood to be." But I liked him in the role anyway. He may not be dashing, but he's manly, and that worked. I also liked Kevin Durand as Little John, but as I have a soft spot for big guys no matter what, I probably would've liked whoever they had in that role. (Though I guess I did have a guilty thing for him when he was a mercenary on "Lost." Though the fact that he's big may have influenced me then as well.) The movie was lacking a little in their relationship, though, which is sad because I really like the friendship of Robin Hood and Little John. This version just didn't take much time for it.

The saddest thing, though, is that it felt like it was setting up for more movies, but as it wasn't a hit there won't be more. I think it's sequels would have been better, and better for having had this go ahead of them. It even ended with something saying, "And so the story begins" or something like that. 
One other thought was something I first noticed when watching "Gladiator" again and then paid attention to in "Robin Hood." While yes, both movies are rated R for violence, for the most part they aren't gross. Yes, there are a few things in each, but for the most part, at least in these two movies, Ridley Scott gives you a sense of violence, rather than a view of it. Primarily he uses chaos to give the effect in a battle or whatnot. And that would be why I can watch his movies without having to peek through my fingers like I did for "The Patriot" and do for some others. That's better directing as far as I'm concerned.
Overall "Robin Hood" is good; the problem is that it's a bit like it's setting you up for a story that you never quite get to. So take that as you will. I say if you want to watch it, watch it; if you don't care, you don't have to bother.