First, any movie must keep faith with the audience. I am a professor of communication and we call this narrative fidelity. In plain English, the movie must present a plausible depiction of reality or at least one that works for the flow and integrity of the story. Prince of Thieves fails this test. You have noted one big problem with Robin not knowing how far the Cliffs of Dover are from Nottingham. He must have taken a few too many hits to the head in the Holy Land. J Further, his camp is so well hidden that two entire armies can sneak up on him undetected?siege engines included. This is absurd. It would be like a Panzer Division sneaking up on an allied army position. Not possible and it insults the intelligence of the viewer.

Second, the story should make some kind of argument about how Robin fits into the history of his times. Not so with Kevin Hood. He can barely stand still for those long, slow, pan shots so that the audience knows how handsome he is. Otherwise, he is filled with anguish and the need to run away. Consider his heroism when the Moor uses gun powder (fidelity again anyone?) to blow a hole in the castle wall of Nottingham Castle. Robin?s reaction is to save his men and then run away, that is, until the Moor gives a better speech that Kevin can and everyone is rallied to the cause.

Finally, it is important for a hero to present a picture for admires to imitate or at least aspire to imitate. I have studied over 30 versions of the Hood legend many of which go back over a couple of centuries. In all of them, Robin is brave enough and humble enough to lose an encounter and laugh about it, all the while offering a fair fight to his opponent. Not so Kevin Hood. When he fights Little John, he cheats and hits John from behind, and kicks him when he is down. I hope no one shows this movie to children with any hope that they will take away anything that they might imitate.

I know it’s not quality, and wrong in so many ways…but love it I do.