I just got back from seeing Robinhood the movie and I was happy to see that questionable history aside the costuming was awsome. It looked like Armstreet provided or was the inspiration for most of the costuming. Except the boots, boots with heels were annoying me.
Fun! I love Armstreet. Milord and I have been trying to see this for three weekends, and things keep coming up.
And I hear you on the boots issue (well, boots at all?). A couple of years ago there was a TV show set in the 1700s, and the costumes were wonderful--except NONE of the men's shoes had heels, and it completely threw off the line of the clothing, because it affected the way the men stood and carried themselves. Bah.
Academy Award Winning Costume Designer for 'Gladiator', Janty Yates, works on just about every Ridley Scott film. She did the costuming for 'Kingdom of Heaven' that Museum Replicas bought the copyright to mass produce the costumes from that film. Rest assured MR will also buy the rights for the 'Robin Hood' line as well.
Costume Designers for films are inspired by paintings and other facets of Historical period clothing, that they draft patterns for. Their creativity is astounding.
A good friend of mine, who is a die hard Russell Crowe fan and knows him, asked me to replicate his garb from the film. That includes the Leather pants. But she wants to drop some pounds first. The armor will be a bit tricky, however. She also wants a replication of his uniform from 'Master and Commander' as well.
She has seen the film 9 times already, including the sneak peak with the Q&A with Ridley Scott.
Oh my. Well. there are 2 different sets of armor worn by Robin in the film. There are the Yeoman Archer's Leather armor and the "borrowed" Knights armor with full mail. Personally I'm in love with Elanor or Aquatine's Blue and Gold Brocade gown with Gold heamed veil set. I was also able to identify the tents as Panther Primitive's and some of the swords were Starfire's. I would know those hilts anywhere.
Being a costumer myself, I look carefully at all Historical films with that "eye". Sometimes I think I know too much for enjoyment. The suspension of belief necessary is blocked by what we know the truth to be.
Yet, the goal of a costumer, set designer, lighting design, cinematographer is to create a world, an atmosphere, a feeling to carry you through the film. Colors are dull and dark (Evil) or bright and gay(Young.). Action moves from right to left (Doom, bad things) or left to right (hope, good things). The idea is to get the watchers' minds to complete the gestalt.
I try to watch these movies, especially those with historical themes and figures, with that "suspension" firmly in place. I know I'll be picking it apart later...
It is kind of fun to recognise items and companies we all know and love from our forays online and at Faire...
As with the film 'Gladiator', much of the armory and other hardware were made by craftsmen on the production as well as contracted from other sources. A film this size needs talent from many sources.
I as well, look carefully at the costuming for a Historically placed film. I do tend to get a bit in a tizzy if I see something not quite right. There is a scene in 'Robin Hood' when Robin Longstride and his band of men board a ship bound for England(spolier here) to return Richard's Crown. The member of the Clergy on the ship is wearing a cap more fitting for the late 15th century and more 16th century, than the passing of the 12th. My friend asked me to look at that and tell her that the cap was 2 centuries into the future.
As worn by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in a 1545 portrait, who served under Kings Henry VIII and Edward VI
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Thomas_Cranmer_by_Gerlach_Flicke.jpg/200px-Thomas_Cranmer_by_Gerlach_Flicke.jpg)
Lady Kathleen, Believe me that scene had me twitching for many reasons. Robin and the men drinking out of glass vessels on a storm tossed ship was another reason. Glass was handblown and very costly, it would have been more h/a to have them drinking from pewter or wooden mugs.
I am also interested in making or buying a veil set like Elenor of Aquatine's gold trimmed set. Love IT!
Loved the movie, and the fact that for about 2 seconds you glimpse my family's coat of arms on the charter (bohun, 6 lions rampant on a blue field with a bar diagonal, and yes I know my heraldry stinks ='D)
only gripe: the awesome faire-like songs the cast sing? the ones that had me and hubby both exclaiming numerous times that we wanted the soundtrack? no where to be found. *pout*
I'm getting hubby together a new kit for Sherwood that will be influenced by Robin Hood and LOTR... now I just have to get him to drive me to Dallas!
I love the music too! No soundtrack? That is awful!
Enjoyed the movie!
Soundtrack is available. Amazon, iTunes... should be anywhere... Released 5.11.2010
I can't imagine that the soundtrack would not be released as the bard character, I cannot remember his name right now, was played by the lead singer of Great Big Sea.
Alan Doyle. Good friend of Russell Crowe's. He helped Russell co-write several songs on the latest TOFOG CD.
I have all of Russell Crowe's music. I have seen Russell Crowe in concert several times with his band when at the Chicago House of Blues in 2001 and 2003. His presence on the stage lights up as it does on the screen.
I saw the movie last night. The costumes were great, my favorite was the one that the "girl" -sorry I don't know her correct title- peeping through the keyhole was wearing. Could someone please let me know the correct title of her status. Thanks. Over all it was a great movie!
Quote from: Lady Lil on June 13, 2010, 09:35:44 PM
I saw the movie last night. The costumes were great, my favorite was the one that the "girl" -sorry I don't know her correct title- peeping through the keyhole was wearing. Could someone please let me know the correct title of her status. Thanks. Over all it was a great movie!
The "girl" in question is Isabel Countess of Gloucester, first wife of King John. He had their marriage annulled on the premise of consanguinity a year before he took the throne. He later married the 12 year old Isabella of Angoulême who he kidnapped from her fiancé, Hugh X of Lusignan.