I can't remember when I first saw this movie -- it's part of my consciousness from as far back as I can remember. It has fostered a lifelong love of the Robin Hood legend, and I own several other film versions of the Robin Hood story -- I love the live-action Disney version, The Story of Robin Hood (1952), and yes, Errol Flynn is great fun too. I also own 5 or 6 different book versions as well.
But back to the animated movie. This is my favorite style of Disney animation, with backgrounds that look a little more like stage sets than reality. It's the same style you'll find in most of their 60s movies, many of which I count as favorites. And oh, how I love the characters. Honestly, I think this Robin Hood is the handsomest one I've seen -- I had a total crush on him when I was a kid.
When I was little, I had the Disney storybook record for this movie, and I nearly wore it out. We didn't get to watch movies much, even after the advent of VCRs, so this is how I experienced the movie most of the time as a kid.
We went to Disneyland when I was 6, and I got really mad at my mom because she went over to the person dressed as Prince John and hugged him. I think now she was trying to show my brother and I that they weren't scary, but as far as I was concerned, she was consorting with the enemy.
You know, I had a lunchbox from this movie when I was in elementary school. It was the best lunchbox ever. My sister coveted it. I loved the movie back when it came out, and I loved Robin Hood and Prince John both. There's a picture of me with Prince John at Disneyland when I was probably about 7 or 8. However, Matthew went through a spree of watching this movie just a few months ago (he loved it, of course), and, hmmmm, it seems I've kind of lost the love for the animated version. I had to walk out on it. Admittedly, I had not seen it since it was in the theater, and I was only 5 then. But weird to remember it so fondly, but be so disappointed upon a revisit. That doesn't happen often to me, particularly on a story I really love (Robin Hood).
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen it since before Dano was born, but I still loved it then. But that could be because I'm still such good friends with the characters ;-)
ReplyDeleteI recently watched this movie with my sister. The character development blew me away! So refreshing to go back and enjoy these classics with a new eye for the details.
ReplyDeleteIt really is great fun, isn't it? Just because it's animated doesn't mean it's simple.
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