Robin Hood Prince Of Thieves

Buckles are truly swashed and derring-do effectively done in this 12th-century adventure, which simply sets out to entertain handsomely and does so with a great deal of dash, flash and panache. Kevin Costner is more “Indiana Hood” than the Locksley lad of yore and Alan Rickman is a joy to behold as the panto-styled Sheriff of Nottingham, while Morgan Freeman's cultured Moor — Robin's early saviour — is a commanding, though unlikely, medieval presence. But it's director Kevin Reynolds who deserves the most praise for disguising such overfamiliar events with imaginative staging and a constantly roving camera, and turning in such an enjoyable popcorn epic.

A glum version, with little sense of community among the outlaws and an odd mix of acting styles. But it found great favour with the public, becoming one of the most commercially successful films of the year.