I heart Russell Crowe. I do.

I know, I know. But, really. I love him. I can't help myself. I think it's a combination of his gravelly voice and his barrel chest. (Also, Beautiful Mind and Cinderella Man are two of my fav movies of all time. Add Proof of Life in there and all I can say is, it's a little unholy, how much I enjoy him.)

Of course, I had to go and see the new Robin Hood movie. (Because who loves the idea of a man who would steal from the rich to give to the poor? Uh, me.) Of course, it was a little gruesome for my blood. Since I'm a weak-stomached thing who has a hard time with a bloody nose, I went into the theater expecting to be a little traumatized by the arrows and the swords and stuff. I was not disappointed in that regard. And just when I thought I had a grip on myself and all the trauma was over... Oh, no. Arrow through the neck on screen. AAAACK! I screamed like a girl and threw my arms over my face. (Yeah, I needed more coverage than just hands/fingers would have allowed there.) ... Here's hoping the Petersons will be seen in public with me again. (I did get laughed at for that complete over reaction. Imagine.)

The storyline was a little different than other Robin Hoods, but I liked it. That they cast the egg-eating assassin from Lost as Little John made me LOL. (Literally. He is HUGE, so the "Little John" thing was a crack up to me.) I think my favorite thing about this movie is how strong Marian is. I like what a hard worker she is, that she is such a woman of principle. (See? I didn't only like it because Russell Crowe was in it.) I did, of course, miss my cousin Shelly fiercely while I was watching the movie. (Cate Blanchett always reminds me of Shell.) I even got a little jealous of her during a kiss scene, until I remembered that it wasn't really Cousin Shelly kissing my BF in the movie. (I know, just go ahead and add that confession to the list of things none of you ever really wanted to know about me and how my brain works.)

All in all, I give it a good 3 out of 4 stars. (I'd do 3 and 1/4 if I could. 3 1/2 seems a bit much, but it's a solid 3 1/4.) I know that seems like I'm saying it wasn't good, giving a 3, but maybe 2 out of 100 movies that I see get a solid 4 stars. So, really... 3 and change is a pretty high compliment.

If you're into movies where people fight with swords and stuff, I think you should definitely go see this one. (And if you need someone to come with you to tell you when that arrow through the neck part's gonna happen, so you can properly cover your eyes so you don't accidentally witness the carnage, you just let me know. I'll be happy to come with and help you out with that. I know, I'm such a giver.)