Movie ballads were big in the 90's. Besides a certain 'My Heart Will Go On' from the 'Titanic' by Celine Dion, another big ballad from the 90's was also prominent on the radio for weeks after its original release; 'Everything I Do (I Do It For You)' from 'Robin Hood; Prince of Thieves' by rock star Bryan Adams.
The song can be heard on the end credits but can also be heard throughout the film as an instrumental piece tied in with the score by Michael Kamen who got nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Oscar for Best Original Song.
This version of Robin Hood, along with the Disney animated version and Errol Flynn's version from 1938, is considered one of the better versions of the story.
The story starts off during the Third Crusade which was led by King Richard the Lionheart (watch out for a cameo by Sean Connery- who has also played Robin Hood before- towards the end of the film). Robin of Locksley (Kevin Costner) is captured along with his friend and companion Peter.
They are imprisoned in Jerusalem where they meet a Moor named Azeem (Morgan Freeman) who is also a prisoner. When it is Robin's turn for punishment, Robin engineers an escape during which he saves Peter and Azeem. Peter is hesitant in Robin's decision to include the Moor as they're supposed to be enemies but Robin and Azeem say otherwise; they've no choice as Robin tries and fails to save the other Englishmen in the prison but they can still save Azeem.
During their escape, Peter dies whilst trying to distract the guards away from Robin and Azeem. Before he does, Peter makes Robin promise him that he'll protect his sister Marian (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio). A few months later Robin and Azeem land in England and Azeem tells Robin that he has made a vow; to stick with him until he has saved Robin's life in the way that Robin had saved his back in Jerusalem.
Meanwhile when Robin and King Richard were away, the Sheriff of Nottingham (the late and great Alan Rickman) is ruling in his place. He and a group of his men arrive at Locksley Castle to arrest Robin's father (Brian Blessed in a toned down role for a change) for refusing to join him. "Long live King Richard!" Robin's father bravely bellows as he also bravely rides out to face the Sheriff and his men and dies in the process.
Upon its release, 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves' became one of the biggest films of 1991 before Disney's animated classic 'Beauty and the Beast' came along to knock it off the top spot in November that year. Since then, an extended version of the film has also been released with scenes that weren't in the original version. 'Everything I Do' appears on Bryan Adams' 1991 album 'Waking Up The Neighbours' with an extended instrumental ending.
I managed to get my hands on the extended version of the film a few years ago after seeing half of it on TV. I had really enjoyed what I had seen so naturally I got it on DVD. It didn't disappoint me at all; it was worth the wait.
Despite Kevin Costner's none existent English-accent he does a very good version of Robin Hood. However, I also agree with a lot of people that Alan Rickman stole the show from him as the Sheriff of Nottingham.
As I said earlier, this is one of the very few excellent versions of Robin Hood out there and is a must-watch for any fan of the old English legend.
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