Not Your Average Robin Hood

Robin Hood (2010)

Director: Ridley Scott

Cast: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Max von Sydow, William Hurt, Mark Strong, Oscar Issac, Danny Huston

Duration: 140 minutes

It has been a full decade since Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” won our hearts and swept the Oscars. The marketing team of “Robin Hood” makes sure you do not forget the unprecedented success of the multi-Oscar winning film, by printing Crowe’s beastly face and “from Ridley Scott the director of Gladiator” across the promotional posters. Nevertheless, despite the production team and leading man, “Robin Hood” is every bit different from the Roman epic. Like Crowe says, “we didn’t want to do another version of Gladiator.” It is also different from the conventional story of Robin Hood. “We wanted to explore other themes and topics”, Crowe continues. The result is, as the poster describes, the untold story of Robin Hood – how a loyal English soldier became an outlaw residing in the forest.

Since Scott’s version is clearly an unusual take on a usual story, do not expect Robin to rob from the rich and give to the poor just yet. However, the South Shields-born director still offers an eventful story complemented by ruthless sword fights, flying arrows, light-hearted entertainment and heart-warming romance.

Set in 12th century England when King Richard the Lionheart (Huston) was leading the Third Crusade abroad and provincial landowners were heavily exploited at home, the film documents King Richard’s death, King John’s (Issac) crowning, Robin Longstride (Crowe) taking on a new identity and Sir Godfrey’s (Strong) secret plot to help France invade England.

In spite of a simple main plot – a country ruled by brute force and lacking moral must unite to repel foreign invaders, Scott spends considerable time on setting up the scene. A detailed illustration of the historical and political background exposes the misfortune of England under a remorseless leader and the breeding of secrecy and treachery. At the same time, we are introduced to the rarity of honesty and bravery, exemplified in the characters of Lady Marion (Blanchett), Sir Walter Loxley (von Sydow) and Longstride.

As the evil powers gain momentum and the good people get caught up in it, the setup contributes to constructing a coherent story, which takes the audience through Longstride’s arrival in England and encounter in Loxley’s house. Eventually, it brings us closer and closer to the climax when Godfrey’s intentions are revealed and Longstride leads his men to defeat the French on the beach of Dover.

A carefully crafted exposition also helps build solid characters. Longstride first appears in the film as an honest and reserved man, who sometimes enjoys the silly songs, dances and jokes of his Merry Men. Under the influence of Loxley and motivated by new knowledge of his father, he realises his call of duty and fights to protect his country.

On the contrary, Lady Marion enters the film as a fearless lady who defends her property and is sceptical of Longstride’s intention of impersonating her late husband, even though it was Loxley who suggested the idea. The more time they spend together, the more Marion becomes convinced of Longstride’s noble character and gradually softens up her tone and manner.

King John is another impressive character. Upon being crowned the new King of England, he shows utter disrespect for loyal servants at court. He is unmoved by the suffering of his subjects, brought upon by his greed for wealth and power. Despite joining forces with Longstride and William Marshal (Hurt) to fend off the French, John declares Longstride an outlaw out of jealousy and pride. This echoes his display of arrogance and indulgence, even towards his mother, in the beginning of the film and persuades the audience that this King’s real interest lies only within himself.

Those who have seen Scott’s previous works such as “Gladiator” and “Kingdom of Heaven” will agree he is truly a master of creating historical worlds. Shooting on real locations and restraining the use of CGI lend an exciting authenticity and powerful narration to “Robin Hood”, making it all the more precious to see our heroes and villains up-close in real actions in a real England.

Critics commonly agree the film falls short on Crowe’s accent and historical accuracy, but these are immediately compensated by a moving performance from the main and supporting casts. Crowe and Blanchett, among the best of their generation, capture the essence of their characters and make a subtly romantic couple. Von Sydow’s Loxley is brave, funny and awe-inspiring. Issac, as King John, convinces the audience he sees no one but himself, while Strong proves to be this year’s most memorable and likable villain (also in “Kick-Ass” and “Sherlock Holmes”).

So, forget what you know about Robin Hood and Crowe’s shaky accent (though it still sounds British enough for me), and enjoy a summer blockbuster that has everything to offer.

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Director: Jon Favreau

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson

Duration: 124 minutes

It is only natural to have high hopes for its sequel when, two years ago, “Iron Man” took global audience by storm, revived Robert Downey Jr.’s career and elevated Jon Favreau’s status as the man behind Iron Man.

However, it is not fair to judge “Iron Man 2” solely based on a comparison with its predecessor. Film critics often focus on whether the sequel has raised the bar, and they generally conclude that “it does not live up to expectation”.

Like the main protagonist himself, “Iron Man 2” comes back different and is equally impressive. While the first film sets up the background of the story and introduces many new elements, the second film builds upon an established plot and characters. It is exactly the nature and extent of such development – in addition to mind-blowing action scenes, of course – that determines the success of “Iron Man 2”.

The main plot is woven into a number of sub-plots, yet they are clearly communicated and the focus stays tightly on Ivan Vanko’s (Rourke) vengeance against Tony Stark (Downey). But fighting for his life under Vanko’s deadly electric whips is not Stark’s only battle. 

He is racing against his body, as the element fuelling the device in his chest is killing him at the same time. He is competing with his rival, Justin Hammer (Rockwell), who is aiding Vanko, through Hammer Industries, to build his own version of Iron Man to destroy Stark’s. He is struggling to keep his best friend, James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Cheadle), and his suit in a wave of public pressure. It gets more personal. Stark’s ambiguous relationship with his assistant-turn-CEO, Pepper Potts (Paltrow), is rocked when he keeps his physical condition a secret from her.

Despite having only directed two major films – including Iron Man in 2008 – that succeeded commercially, Favreau has apparently mastered the skill of narration. He makes a story as eventful and technological as this easy to follow and intriguing, even for audience with no general understanding of Marvel comics, such as myself.

Outstanding performance from an all-star cast also plays an important part in unfolding the aftermath of Stark’s public announcement of Iron Man’s identity. Favreau said in an interview that casting Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark meant his work was half done. Downey has also earned many praises from film critics for his portrayal of an arrogant billionaire and charming genius trapped in physical and moral dilemmas. Though there is no universe to save, Downey’s Stark alone holds the narrative together and captures the audience’s curiosity.

The sequel introduces a number of new characters. Mickey Rourke as Vanko is vindictive, creepy and fearless. Sam Rockwell plays the sleazy Hammer, who bridges between Iron Man and Vanko and supplies comic relief to the film. Though Favreau explains Scarlett Johansson’s Natalie Rushman disrupts the tension between Stark and Potts, the existence of her character fails to contribute to the central importance of the plot. Don Cheadle’s character is not new, but he is a better “Rhodey” than Terrence Howard. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts is more complex and developed, and the Oscar-winner delivers another convincing performance as the new boss of Stark Industries.

There is no doubt the use of CGI is extensive in the film, but Favreau makes the impossible look possible. The director has expressed scepticism about CGI and preference for retaining certain extent of realism to incite the audience’s emotional attachment to the story and characters. A few notable scenes include the vibrant and glamorous opening of Stark Expo, Stark’s transformation into Iron Man on the racetrack and the final showdown. Johansson also deserves credit for her single fight scene, although the addition of her character and Nick Fury (Jackson) from S.H.I.E.L.D. is purely to pave way for the union of comic superheroes in “The Avengers” – due to be released in 2012.

The extra scene after end credits promises the return of Iron Man to complete a trilogy. Anticipation is going to be even more intense for a third instalment. As long as Downey with his trademark goatee and sarcasm is still behind that iron mask, Iron Man 3 is sure to be among many box office hits adapted from Marvel comics in the next few years.

Cheshire to host historic half-marathons for women

Oulton Park in Cheshire has been chosen to become part of a unique sporting series that is set to make history in Britain.

Organised by the Devon-founded Women’s Running Network, “The Better Half” is the first ever women-only half marathons in the country. After last month’s successful opening round in Castle Combe in Wiltshire, the series will move on to Oulton Park on July 11. Pippingford Park in East Sussex will stage the final race on September 19.

The 13.1-mile-run will raise money for Breast Cancer Campaign and Ovarian Cancer Action, two cancer charities that have great significances to the Network’s founders – Pauline Beare and Peg Wiseman.

“This past year has been difficult for us,” said Pauline. “I lost my best friend Christine, 59, who was also my daughter’s godmother, to ovarian cancer just a year after diagnosis.”

Peg continued: “My mum (diagnosed at 80) was the last in a long line of breast cancer sufferers in my family, starting with my paternal grandmother followed by my sister’s death at the age of 55. My sister’s death could have been at age 40, so to me the importance is that my mother’s recovery (and thankfully she has a good prognosis), my other sister’s recovery and the extra years that Beth had were all due to the research and the progress that comes from supporting these charities. So it is vital that we do this.”

Many years ago, the idea of a women-only half marathon started as a dream for Pauline and Peg. This year, they are turning it into reality.

“We’ve had this idea for a few years,” Pauline explained. “We’ve been involved in the Race for Life since the beginning in helping and encouraging women get involved in it. But women naturally progress and there are a lot of women that want that challenge of doing something different. There isn’t a women’s only half marathon in this country, so the Women’s Running Network is just a natural partner to bring that about and make that happen.”

The prospect of running 13.1 miles may be a little daunting, but Peg stressed anyone can do it. “This series is perfect for the novice runner. There’s a relay alongside the half marathon to encourage all women to participate and support this unique event”.

The Cheshire circuit was selected for its inspiring surroundings. The traffic-free course will be made up of three laps over a mixture of smooth tarmac roads, paths and tracks through the stunning parkland. Oulton Park also provides some challenging undulations on its race circuit.

It is hoped that the Better Half events will become a regular part of the running calendar, and, if the success of the Women’s Running Network is anything to go by, thousands of women will be inspired to lace up their running shoes and take part. All the money raised will be split evenly between the two charities.

Breast Cancer Campaign supports many research projects that have contributed to improving survival rate for the most common cancer in the UK. Around 80 per cent of women diagnosed today will be alive in five years’ time.

Ovarian cancer action is dedicated to improving women’s chances of surviving ovarian cancer by raising awareness of the disease and its symptoms. Less than 40 per cent of women diagnosed with the disease will live within five years – a statistic that has not significantly improved in the UK for twenty years.

You can find out how to take part and raise money at www.womensrunningnetwork.co.uk.

Eason shines at the Apollo 陳奕迅曼城演唱會

Without glittering makeup and showy costumes, Eason Chan still entertained a 3000-strong crowd at Manchester Apollo Theatre last Thursday.

As the first Chinese artist to perform in the theatre, Eason left his audience – many first time goers – with a vivid memory of his versatility. Backed by the brilliant and talented band “Mister”, Eason offered a fine selection of his classics – “你的背包”, “K歌之王”, “單車” – and more recent releases such as “沙龍”, “淘汰” and “陀飛輪”. He also performed his English records – “Aren’t You Glad” and “Nothing Ever Happened” – as well as a cover of Radiohead’s early 90s hit “Creep”.

It wasn’t all about singing. Performing at a venue with less than a quarter of the capacity of the Hong Kong Coliseum, Eason and the audience enjoyed a great amount of interaction. The chit-chats and jokes exchanged created an atmosphere that resembled a fans gathering. For one lucky fan, the most precious moment of the evening had got to be a personal birthday greeting from Eason. But for most others, the spontaneous and amusing chatty-man moments are just as delightful as his passionate ballads and energetic performance of a series of bouncy records, including “這樣一個麻煩” and “演唱會”.

Lucky for fans at the Manchester instead of London concert, there was a full 45-minute encore. Despite having to catch an early flight the next day to Rotterdam, Eason couldn’t resist the audience’s enthusiastic screams for more. One after another, Eason indulged them in the sweet tunes of “天下無雙”, “Shall We Talk” etc. and one that had been requested by the crowd throughout the show – “浮誇”. Finally, in a wave of hands and red-orange rays of light, “夕陽無限好” ended the show fittingly.

Eason’s first visit to Europe yields success 陳奕迅倫敦記者會

Eason Chan Yick-shun, a multi-award winning and record-breaking Hong Kong artist, received a warm welcome from the UK media in London yesterday afternoon.

Casually dressed in a plain white T-shirt, loose purple trousers and a long black scarf, the 35-year-old singer was surprised to learn he was the first Chinese artist to perform in Royal Albert Hall in over three decades, when informed by the MC.

Having impressed a full house of loyal fans in London, Eason explained he enjoyed the experience and felt there was more audience interaction than his concerts in Hong Kong. He was thankful to be allowed to entertain his audience for more than 90 minutes – common duration of concerts in the UK – and said he hoped to return to the UK in the future.

At the end of the press conference, Eason received The Big Ben Awards from the British Chinese Youth Federation in recognition of his remarkable achievement and incomparable prominence in Britain’s Chinese community. He remained humble and said he never imagined he would be where he is today. “I’ve always loved singing and I became a singer because it was my passion. I never thought I would make it this far, standing here in front of you all.” As he raised his glass of champagne to toast his success in Europe, Eason continued to show gratitude: “Teamwork is beautiful! Cheers!”

Eason and his band, Mr., will bring their music and enthusiasm to the Apollo in Manchester tomorrow and Rotterdam on May 8. Despite being a Manchester United fan, Eason confessed to having never been to Manchester and very much looked forward to meeting his fans there.

Eason’s sold-out tour in the UK is indeed long-awaited by the 800,000-strong local Chinese population, for it has been over three decades since a prominent Chinese artist has performed in the UK. The first ever Chinese artist to perform in the venue was the late Roman Lam, who visited the UK in 1979.

Eason Chan has led an overwhelming career that spans over almost two decades. Upon winning the New Talent Singing Competition organised by a prominent record company in Hong Kong in 1995, Eason embarked on a journey of producing unique and outstanding music and entertaining audience from Asia to America. Prior to his Europe Tour, Eason concluded his sixth record-breaking DUO concert at the Hong Kong Coliseum.

From Merseyside to Taiwan – young cyclists to conquer mountains for charity

In six months, two young women from Merseyside will join a team of cyclists on a momentous trek across Taiwan in Clatterbridge Cancer Research’s first international fundraising event.

Ashley O’Malley from Widnes and her best friend Stephanie Lewin from Speke, both 23, are among 30 cyclists heading to Taiwan to begin a gruelling 292 mile ride from one end of the mountainous island to the other. They will ride through the famous Taroko Gorge and Kenting National Park. It is hoped that the whole team will raise £100,000 to aid their scientists and clinical trials nurses in their fight against cancer.

Ashley, who will shortly be starting a midwifery course, says: “I lost both my grandma and an uncle to cancer within four months of each other and Stephanie and I both wanted to do something to support cancer research. “When we heard about the Cycle Taiwan ride we jumped at the chance, even though I can’t remember the last time I rode a bike!” She added, “I’ve done the Race for Life before but never anything as challenging as this. I’m going to have to join a gym. Soon!”

Stephanie, who works for clinical nutrition experts Nutricia, says: “I keep fit through gymnastics and cheerleading and I teach dance twice a week but we will still need to train about four or five times a week. I’ve already bought myself a new bike, though judging from the pain after my first try-out I’ll be needing a comfier saddle!”

Ashley and Stephanie have set up a website (http://www.justgiving.com/steph-ashley-cycle) to raise £6,500, which is just over the sum needed each day to continue the research that Clatterbridge Cancer Research is already funding.

Based at the Liverpool Cancer Research Centre, Clatterbridge Cancer Research is actively involved in a revolution into personalised medicine and cancer treatment. Their scientists use a Gene Reader to read patients’ genetic make-up of their cancer. This enables them to identify the genetic variations which lead to cancer and adopt personalised treatment, instead of the aggressive one-size-fits-all approach to chemotherapy currently on offer in the UK.

The charity relies solely on donations from the public and needs at least £5,500 each day needed to support its team of scientists, clinical trials nurses and their equipment. Money raised direct benefit the people of Merseyside and Cheshire who take part in clinical trials, such as the Cougar Clinical Trial Study – first in the UK – for prostrate cancer and SNDX, a drug for breast cancer.

Please call 0151 343 4300 or visit www.clatterbridge.org to find out more.