ROBIN HOOD: Prince of Thieves (1991) 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review

[@JWickyJr13]

If you grew up in the 90s, this movie was pure fire.

[@Peer165]

I don't care, I was a 90's kid and Prince of Thieves is still my favorite Robin Hood ever made. The soundtrack alone is amazing.

[@Sammo212]

Even with the hilarious stuff its an awesome film. This and Disney’s Three Musketeers are some of my favorites.

[@nickm8874]

Well said

[@dallesamllhals9161]

..call off christmas = Why!

[@Treklosopher]

It's the best Robin Hood movie yet made.

[@handznet]

Exactly. Soundtrack is amazing. I listen the theme almost every week. The movie is great

[@meligoth]

"Unlike other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent." Cary Elwes You can't deny the greatest burn in a movie about Robin Hood movies of all time.

[@TruckerJenkins82]

Men in Tights is my favourite ever comedy film, hits every note for me.

[@wwb16]

your name is mervin?

[@colt5189]

@@TruckerJenkins82 I really liked Men in Tights back in the day. Haven't seen it since. Though I've generally grown out of that type of comedy that I think is really more of a comedy style for kids.

[@meligoth]

Not Mel Brooks' best film, but you can tell everyone had fun for a neat movie to turn off your brain to, maybe with a little weed to get you in the perfect mood to laugh your ass off in its absurdity.

[@Thagomizer]

The other cool part is that Cary Elwes clearly studied Errol Flynn's performance, too.

[@gallolocoparisien]

This movie was my first Alan Rickman movie, and I'll always be thankful for it!

[@nehemiahpouncey3607]

The game was another story.

[@nehemiahpouncey3607]

My stepdad recorded this off of t.v. but Never got to finish it cause the tape ended. It stopped at the part when things were Going down at the castle. Robin hood shoots soldier's off horse tape Ended.

[@mtank30]

This film was a huge hit in the Summer of 1991 here in the U.S. So as was (mostly) the norm back then for a "family"-friendly type film that made lots of money at the box office, it was released on VHS not only for rental, but also for "sell-thru". (Suggested retail $24.95). So my family bought it when it hit shelves, as we really enjoyed it. What's totally weird about the VHS version of the film, though, was that the original music video for the Bryan Adams song was played under the end credits. That was the last time I saw that video.

[@pfad2672]

Some of the best mullets of the early 90’s

[@mikesutton381]

The orchestral opening is something i still listen to now. Breathtaking. Had all the toys too, was my favourite film back in the day

[@heyitsfriskey550]

My first dance with my wife at my wedding a couple months ago was the Bryan Adams song, that's how much this movie resonates with me.

[@Leon_K_24]

The Cost was great in this movie. I remember the crowd at the theater as a kid. They LOVED it. If the characters all spoke like they did in the 12th century, we wouldn’t be able to understand any of them. I always saw it like Enemy at the Gates or The Three Musketeers-the characters are actually speaking Russian and French but the actors have a whatever accent.

[@knowthycell]

I saw this in the movie theater twice as a 12yr old in 1991. The owner/operator interrogated me about my dob, grade, state of nervousness etc. In retrospect he was just messing with me.

[@redroseabc5099]

I love this movie! It will always be my favorite Robin Hood movie ever. I am so blessed to be a 90’s child! 🏹

[@fredo1070]

Sure this movie is cheesy, but it has one thing that modern films lack, it is fun! One of the few films when I catch it on TV that I'll watch all the way through.

[@mikeg2491]

It also has soul, even if Costner could have done a better job in the acting department the film still has heart. I love traditional costumes, sets, old school Hollywood craft at its best.

[@Silanda]

'91 seems like a good year for music video rights issues. The video for "You Could Be Mine" using Terminator 2 footage is also unavailable on anything later than the original home releases. I can only assume that the contracts were written with little foresight, and the studios and artists now can't come to terms on allowing each other to use each other's IP.

[@RAGING_MIRAGE]

I saw this film twice in 1991 when i was 14 and i remember it being huge at the time. This new 4K might be worth a purchase.

[@tolsen8212]

I can't believe you dissed Men In Tights. It shit all over this stupid fake American Robin Hood. One of the best comedies ever.

[@4bobbyt]

I still like the 1938 Errol Flynn version as much as this. And Claude Rains and Basil Rathbones were also delicious villaiins. The score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold is also iconic.

[@gooberthoreau]

I loved this movie as a little kid, but it is still amazing how the score has transcended the film even to this day as it has been repurposed a million times.

[@ragepage1596]

Now, now, the Canadian government has apologized for Bryan Adams on several occasions.

[@sneakyquick]

My parents were not big tv or movie goers. When this came out we went as a family and watched it back to back on the same day and we bought the vhs at sams club there was an entire pallet of them.

[@DamnFoolIdealisticCrusader]

I’m quite surprised this got such a fancy release since it’s been overlooked by WB for years. Getting both cuts and the original audio mix is massive. The highlights of this film have always been the photography, production design and Rickman’s performance for me. I think it’s overall a mixed bag that doesn’t quite work but is made much more engaging by the fact that it is still all analog and done for real. The 2010 Scott Robin Hood was enjoyable but like this film too dour. In my opinion there are only two truly great masterpiece film adaptations of Robin Hood; the 1920 Fairbanks silent film and the immortal 1938 Adventures of Robin Hood.

[@colt5189]

So far, it looks like they've just done a UK release. I'll pick it up when they do a regular US release.

[@bubbytumby8509]

I love your videos so much. These videos are like a small college class on movies. I love all the research you do

[@nickm8874]

He’s brilliant isn’t he. Most underrated movie content on KZbin

[@thesteveruss]

The 1984 "Robin of Sherewood" series remains the best Robin Hood film adaptation.

[@ronfinn4316]

This is a channel that just keeps giving back. Incredible. You deserve way more subscribers.

[@GuyverX0]

I was in this movie as a 8 year old kid in the background 😅

[@jl_legend]

I do love this film, flaws and all - it hit me at just the right age when it came out, and has major nostalgia. Plus, the special edition DVD has a great commentary track with Costner, Slater and Freeman - with Morgan Freeman introducing himself as the voice of God. It felt like they were having a great time doing the commentary and still managed to discuss how the film came to be. It is genuinely my favourite commentary. Not sure I'd buy a 4k version, I've kept the DVD one this time, and I've got the HD release through Google Play movies.

[@plumlogan]

Iconic theme music

[@TruckerJenkins82]

One thing I do remember at the time was a segment on 'Going Live' and a young girl on the phone who said she'd been to watch it at the cinema 20 times or so. Sarah Greene challenged her to recite the next line in the film from any given surprise clip. I'm pretty sure she got them all right.

[@TheDreamfinder99]

Omg I actually remember this!! They showed her the clip of Robin and Azim about to be catapulted over the wall and asked her what happened next!!

[@lxdead5585]

I always like the movie, it doesn't try to act serious, it got romance, adventure, comedy and really, really great cast. I can't ask for more.

[@sorenpx]

I agree. It's a fun movie. I see people trashing the movie from time to time and I always think those people just can't enjoy a fun adventure film.

[@badbirdkc]

I'm with you. I don't like the extended cut. I feel the same about Highlander. Sometimes the theatrical cut simply is better and wish they were more readily available. And I'm glad someone else recognizes how great the action is in this movie. The raid on the village and the final battle are two extraordinary action sequences that I would put up against any movie.

[@mikeg2491]

I thought the theatricals for lord of the rings were stronger as well, i enjoyed the extra scenes for bringing more of the book in but the pacing was way better on the shorter cuts. I have to sometimes take a few hours or day break to rewatch the extended cuts again.

[@lukedaley17]

I remember when I was in primary school year 5 learning about Robin Hood and one day the teachers decided to show us this version of Robin Hood. It was weird at times hearing Kevin Costner try to speak with a British accent. Other than that I found the film quite fun and entertaining.

[@daverobson3084]

You sir, are correct. Alan Rickman's performance DOES NOT make Kevin Costner's performance bad. His performance( and the directing) makes his overall performance bad. There were several instances in this movie, even in dramatic scenes, where I was convinced that Costner was about to fall asleep. I like him in other roles, but not in this one. He didn't even " phone it in". He wrote a boring letter and had someone read it aloud in a droning monotone.

[@JohnnyFiction]

One of the greatest soundtracks of all time too

[@dvdmike007]

Saw in the cinema (last one I saw with an intermission with an ice cream girl) and this arrow disc is flawless with the 2.0 audio especially

[@davidknight2104]

Love this film ❤ yes it's a bit cheesy and we know it, but it's got everything! Action, romance, good score, good plot and the serious scenes are actually well acted It always has a place in my heart, my family usually watched it around Christmas time, and is one of the reasons I begun to take up archery 🏹

[@delatroy]

Happy Christmas Oliver 🎄

[@WASasquatch]

So, I know you just got done saying the line-up had been lackluster, but can we not take a moment to appreciate how nice the representation of the movies is on this service, not to mention the box art? Hardly see so much attention go into stuff like this in the states anymore.

[@saymynameice-zen-berg511]

I remember as a teenager in 1991 and going across the country to visit family and my first or second night there, we went out and saw Terminator 2 and had a blast then right after we went to the drive-in and saw Robin Hood-Prince Of Thieves another fun time. Two action classics the same night.

[@rufioquin2406]

I still have the vhs and both DVD releases. I never got the blu ray, but I do intend to import this. TMNT, Prince of Thieves, and Jurassic Park made the early 90s for me as far as live action films I watched over and over as a kid. I did have the entire Kenner toy line, but lost it all after several moves. I think it’s a wonderfully entertaining film with some unforgettable action (the hanging scene is all time great) and an excellent score. Love your retrospective reviews, Oliver!!

[@thermonuclearcollider4418]

1:56 "Robin Hood has never been considered a stunning-looking film" Sorry, but it looks like most medium-budget Hollywood movies from the late-80s\early-90s, so, while it's not a major achievement in cinematography, it doesn't look bad. There are probably more soft shots (i.e. when the image is not perfectly in focus) than the average movie from the period, that's for sure. My 2 cents is that a lot of the movie was rushed and so they didn't have enough time to properly rehearse for the focus pullers or do a lot of takes. And before anyone says anything like "jeez, those guys didn't know how to do their job", this was still in the days when crews were still mostly shooting blind, as the video output on film cameras (a small CCD camera attached on the real one that receives some of the light coming through the lens via a prism - the same one that bounces some more to the optical viewfinder) was very low-res, making it very difficult, if not impossibile, for anyone to evaluate critical focus. EDIT: I did check and the movie was indeed rushed as Kevin Costner was also going to do "Dances with Wolves" and "JFK" that year. Unsurprisingly, most of the soft shots involve his scenes.

[@sorenpx]

I agree that it's the best Robin Hood film, at least that I've seen so far. The Adventures of Robin Hood is a fun historical artifact but I hesitate to call it a great movie, as many have. Ridley's version, as you say, takes itself too seriously. That thing with Jamie Foxx and Egerton was awful. I had to turn it off halfway through. I need to see the '76 film with Sean Connery and the other '91 film, with Bergin.

[@jimmyoats]

Is this the movie that popularised flaming arrows? Any notable films before this?

[@TwoTonePictures]

I thought it was a stunning new transfer. The film has never looked better.Thought it was interesting Oliver that you thought the cinematography of RH was never considered great - I've always thought it was one of the best looking films of the 90s, with stunning photography that also feels gritty and rough.

[@knowthycell]

This must be a UK 4K release?

[@TwoTonePictures]

@@knowthycell - we never got it here in Australia. I had to buy my copy from overseas, but I only got the Blu-Ray version, not the 4K.

[@Scrapluv]

I'm partial to Flynn's The Adventures of Robin Hood, but I also really enjoyed this version.

[@misterx530]

Great video. I adore this movie and can't wait to buy this Blu-ray.

[@matthewjames3637]

Thanks for the review, Oliver. I’ll have to import this the next time I place an order from the UK.

[@irondice5183]

I have left comments about where to find the bryan Adams original forest video 2 or 3 times and they don't seem to appear anywhere

[@wwb16]

is the OST available on youtube? because i've never been able to find it

[@stevenbeoethy4049]

I love that you're still using The Predator 2 Game Gear Music, Ollie... It's my fave too!

[@OliverHarper]

haha its not Predator 2 mate! Its the music from the Superman game on the Mega Drive.

[@stevenbeoethy4049]

@@OliverHarper My Man! Much love from Philly! Upon further investigation, I think it sounds most like the Music/score from Streets of Rage (original) ... Give a listen... You're Aces!

[@TruDis01]

'Arrow' releasing a Robin Hood movie? Damn straight.

[@srky4346]

I always preferred the Patrick Bergen and Uma Thurman one but the Kevin Costner movie was definitely more blockbuster.

[@dnasty312]

Is anyone else aware that Alan Rickman has defended Kevin Costner's accent, stating it was right for that century?

[@TheMightyCookieShow]

I always thought this movie had what it took to in 50 to 100 Years be considered a classic

[@Jay-O_Carlow]

Love it Thank Oliver .. This is My Childhood .. Climbing trees , with my plastic bow & arrow lol , I'm only A stone's throw away from you in Ireland .. So we heard it for 16 weeks too but as a 90's kid i loved it .. I used to love a wet Sunday having an excuse to put this on.. And 90's Kevin C Anything was good even when it was bad lol,, Thanks Again Oliver always love bringing Nostalgia back

[@GrandSlamSilver]

The most entertaining Robin Hood film to date? I suggest you watch The Adventures of Robin Hood, with Errol Flynn!

[@VAULT-TEC_INC.]

HELLO?? What about 2001 Disney’s “Princess of Thieves” staring an adorable 16 year old Kiera Knightly??? 😂

[@insertcolorfulmetaphor8520]

Such a good Robinhood movie! Of its time! Love it!

[@adrianseguras.9659]

dude i'd completely forgotten about the Robin Hood movie with Uma Thurman. JESUS. you took me back like... 30 years. You're my same age,.. i think. woaaa

[@colt5189]

I've always liked this movie. I think this is probably the best Robin Hood movie. Though I watched it a while back, and I still really like it, though I think it's a tad boring in places. I had the Kenner action figures too.

[@saku0207]

By far the best Robin Hood movie.. right behind men in tights

[@Azzeyman25]

on the my disc during the theatrical cut when the celts attack the camp there is a paused scene right before Robin hood shoots his first arrow. anyone else have this problem? It last about 2 seconds.

[@colt5189]

Looks like this is just a UK release so far? I'll pick it up when they do a regular US release.

[@graphicsgod]

Link to Amazon page?? I can't find anything but the regular version and special edition Blu-ray..

[@OnlyThe1Son]

I was born in the mid 70s! so going to the cinemas in the 80s I was spoiled! in the 90s! we had some Awesome pictures and Robin Hood prince of thieves kicked off the 90s with a great throw back picture... there had been many movies of Robin hood, I knew of Sean connerys version as a kid , watching it on tv and seeing it on VIDEO, and of course the TV SHOW with his son. jason in Robin of Sherwood. so to see a Hollywood version with a big budget and staring Kevin costner, Alan rickman , morgan freeman,and Christian Slater!!! I was excited as a 16 year old kid!!! I also enjoyed the Ridley Scott / Russell Crowe version. but it was different to Prince of thieves.

[@brunoantunes1331]

Does anyone know what the end song is? I've heard it before in some videogame but can't place it

[@willemverheij3412]

It's overall a pretty entertaining movie, but I do think they could have left out the attempted marital rape scene played for laughs. That was in poor taste. While this was for me also the first live action Robin Hood movie I ever saw, I would say that the version with Errol Flynn remains the definitive Robin Hood movie. It's very colourful, Errol remains the best Robin Hood and Basil Rathbone is great as Guy of Gisborne. Basil Rathbone was pretty much the Christopher Lee of his time, being a war hero known for playing villains and a good duelist. I like how in their final duel, Robin Hood kills Guy with a feint attack. I also was honestly surprised by this movie's kill count. While happy and colourful, Robin Hood really shoots to kill. The colours do look wonderful, and I can only imagine how great this movie must have looked back then, released when most movies where black and white.

[@billielachatte4841]

Loved the film and the NES game haha! Good times.

[@seangalvin4582]

Loved thus movie. I'm Oliver's age. My friend loved it so much he got the paperback novelization and copied it by hand. It was a weird idea. He has since passed away, unfortunately. This movie was great. I really like the Kevin Reynolds / Costner colabs.

[@thefonzkiss]

Aspergers

[@thancrus]

if im no mistaken he firs release of he VHS had the music video as well..... if no the HBO release tha aired on tv did i cant remember

[@bannnnner]

Has anyone watched that McTiernan 1991 version of Robin Hood? Sounds interesting

[@film79]

Yeah i watched it as a kid, I live in the USA and it played as on TV, like Oliver mentioned, on the Fox Network. I remember being disappointed at the lack of action and finding it kinda dull, but i was only 10 or 11 and since then I've read good reviews that make me want to revisit it.

[@Truthseeker1515]

Not a 90s child lol, I turned 18 in July 1991, waiting for my A 'levels results and this was a great movie to see.

[@notsyzagts7967]

Not to be nitpicky but I expected a video about a 4K transfer of a famous movie to be in 4K itself. Especially helpful when displaying 4k footage from the Bluray. It just didn't sit right with me.

[@Loanwolf387]

I love this movie! Can never find a good copy of theatrical cut (dvd or blu ray). Can someone tell me if this arrow release is region free …need to play it in North America

[@gastonadduco5519]

Thank you for mentioning Patrick Bergins version. In my opinion is a far superior film than Prince Of Thieves. John Irvins characters are similar to the real legend of Robin Hood and the music also is quite good. Shame that most people never saw it.

[@gorrbaczow]

Does anyone know how this BluRay compares to the Limited BluRay Steelbook by NSM Records?

[@mcnultyssobercompanion6372]

_I respect_ the boldness of your statement here, regarding the "most iconic moment of 90's cinema", lol...but I have to _respectfully_ disagree with you. I mean, iconic films from 90's cinema that have iconic moments, just off the top of my head: Goodfellas Everything Tarantino made Toy Story Fargo Saving Private Ryan Terminator 2 Basic Instinct Schindler's List Jurassic Park Seven Thelma and Louise Natural Born Killers Titanic In my opinion, all of them have at least one moment that trumps the fiery bow n' arrow shot in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves". That said...cinema is art and art is subjective. So there's no "wrong answer" here. It's a bold choice though.

[@OliverHarper]

Well I don't say it has the most iconic moment in 90s cinema, I say one of! So there is more of course.

[@thea-ronator57]

I just watched your review of this film from 10 years ago last night 😂

[@redroseabc5099]

I love this movie! It will always be my favorite Robin Hood movie ever. 🏹

[@AndyHugRetro]

Dude that's so weird, I was looking for that original music video the other day and it's nowhere to be found. Shame, big nostalgia for me right there. I had the toys as well but exactly like you quickly moved on when Secret of the Ooze came out.

[@OliverHarper]

You couldn't find it either?? Im not going mad then! Its fucking weird its not on KZbin? So strange!

[@0xyartes]

One glaring omission from this is that Prince of Thieves is mostly a remake of The Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn and Olivia De Havilland, PoT is better but the original does have some charm to it.

[@marcysiabushCBM]

The best Robin Hood for me is "Robin of Sherwood" from 1984 with Michael Praed. :)

[@jimwright4163]

Best Robin Hood film? I think The Adventures of Robin Hood beats it in my book.

[@passthesalt2000]

This. All of this. I love Prince of Thieves as much as the next '90's kid approaching 40, but to me, Errol Flynn is definitive.

[@TheDreamfinder99]

Absolutely love this movie!! I always will. Although I did struggle to find a hard copy that was the original version. I kept getting versions that showed the witch to be a total fraud as she was spying on the Sheriff and wasn’t using magic at all. And at the end he confronted her and called her a fraud. I hated that!!! Also there was bits showing the sheriff dancing around on a table making him look a bit of a buffoon. I hated that too! Now I have the proper version. I just love it! The score is fantastic too!! This film has a special place in my heart! “He fancies you my lady” ☺️

[@Ulysses3473]

Not a patch on the Robin of sherwood series that it takes its inspiration from...

[@Geronimo_Jehoshaphat]

Now give me a proper transfer treatment of Kevin Reynold's "Rapa Nui" (1994)!

[@brick6347]

Alan Rickman stole the show.

[@tired5]

Always did. He is such a legend.

[@Shadow-zz2ry]

I love this movie. Yes it's not accurate telling of robin hood but still and always entertaining.

[@nehemiahpouncey3607]

The first time I saw this was over my Aunts house. My stepdad recorded it off of t.v. Years ago but never got the whole movie It stopped at the part where robin hood Shot the soldiers off the horse.

[@yendub]

10:17 Alan Rickman's finest performance as a villain? Hans Gruber, anyone? Hey may have had more fun (and really hammed it up) in Robin Hood, but it is nowhere near his best villain performance. Most fun? I'll give you that.

[@CDubya.82]

When this came to tv one time in Australia, i had to pick between this movie and Batman Returns 😛

[@patrickkavanagh7371]

You should check out the Waterworld Arrow release Oliver it has an extensive documentary and Kevin Reynolds talks about his clashes with Kevin Costner on that film and all the problems making it, it's really fascinating. Better than the movie.

[@PetersonZF]

When I went to see this with my friends, many of them wanted to switch to Hudson Hawk instead, purely because it was a 15 certificate and 'therefore better'. Thank fuck common sense prevailed and we saw Robin Hood, which turned out to be plenty dark and violent for them! :p

[@purefoldnz3070]

a lot of Prince of Thieves was lifted from the 80's show Robin of Sherwood.

[@thefonzkiss]

It really wasn’t.

[@aidanlynn]

I picked up the regular bluray set after buying a previous bluray from another company also called Arrow Films. Transfer was terrible, looked like it was ripped from a vhs tape lol.

[@Bale4Bond]

Arrow is usually great, i'm somewhat surprised to read this.

[@aidanlynn]

@@Bale4Bond No it was another company also called Arrow. Don’t know how that can happen lol

[@Crimsonphilosophy]

And they used the Ewok village mold for The toy!

[@nickm8874]

I’d completely forgotten about that Targon Edgetarian or whatever his name is’ version. What a nonsense

[@thomasnihil4878]

Saw it as a 11 year old kid at the cinema. Still a good movie but I prefer the extended cut.

[@StellarStation214]

I think the best Robin Hood movie is The Adventures of Robin Hood from 1938, although Prince of Thieves is pretty decent.

[@Maxxroad]

Im happy with my laserdisc and VHS. Its a vibe. Crystal clarity will never be fun to watch.

[@Major42]

Love this movie

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

The Patrick Bergen movie is pretty good.

[@jimcameron1234]

Ridley Scott Film is far better