Superbowl Sunday is usually a great day for movie fans and yesterday was no exception. As Saints went onto win their first championship (Who Dat?) I couldn’t help but get really excited when this TV spot for director Ridley Scott’s “Robin Hood” aired.

As you can see it’s not your father’s band of merry men this time around. In fact the film, which stars Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett as Robin and Marian looks more like a sequel to “Gladiator” than the traditional tale. Not that it was ever intended to be the usual romp through Sherwood Forrest.

The idea was to make a film that portrayed the mythical figure of Robin Hood as the villain with Crowe playing the more affable Sheriff of Nottingham. The movie, entitled “Nottingham” wasn’t to be however. The story goes that Scott wanted to make the Sheriff a more “conflicted” character and rewrites soon began. Well known scribes Brian Helgeland and Paul Webb each turned in drafts, and even as filming commenced playwright Tom Stoppard continued writing.

Now normally thats a bad sign, but the same thing happened on “Gladiator” and looked how that turned out. After this U.S. trailer debuted a few weeks ago I was so excited I nearly wet myself.

Amazing slow motion arrow shots, a screaming Crowe leading the charge in beach front battle, Blanchett looking perfect as Maid Marian, and the Mark Strong as the Villain. What more could the movie going public want? Crowe even has his Maximus haircut!!!! I can’t help but think that Kevin Costner is kicking himself right now.

Yet, most of the web community quickly dismissed the preview and friends of mine have been quoted as saying “I wanted it to be Nottingham” and “how many Robin Hood movies have there been” etc…

To them I say, so what? You wanted a different take on Robin Hood, well it looks like this film is certainly going to accomplish that. With Ridley Scott directing you know the action as well as the production design is going to be amazing. A movie with the Sheriff of Nottingham as the good guy would’ve been gimmicky and ripe with problems anyway. The big question mark is the script. Yet, somehow I think it will deliver everything you’d expect and more from this timeless story. Will it top 1938’s classic “The Adventures of Robin Hood” starring Errol Flynn? I doubt it, but this is a new version for the new generation. Robin Hood is like James Bond. He changes and gets reinvented with every new crop of filmmakers. That’s not a bad thing, it just goes to show you that this character has lasting staying power.

Oh and if you didn’t like either of those previews then take a look at this international cut.

If you didn’t like that trailer, then I guess I won’t be seeing you the theater come May.