Does the world really need another Robin Hood movie? Apparently Ridley Scott isn’t a fan of the myriad previous efforts, declaring Mel Brooks’ 1993 send-up Robin Hood: Men in Tights his favourite take so far. But for all the histrionic trailers that paint this fifth collaboration with Russell Crowe as an action-packed Gladiator-in-the-woods, we suspect that a tired concept might a tiring movie make. There weren’t any press screenings before we went to print, but word on the street suggests Robin Hood is a lot slower than those sword-swinging trailers would have you believe.

We also find ourselves unconvinced by the cast. A portly Crowe sporting a 21st century haircut and a penchant for long speeches doesn’t exactly inspire us to camp out at the ticket desk, and Cate Blanchett seems a brave choice for fair Maid Marian. Isn’t she a little – dare we say it – mature? Plus, Matthew Macfadyen (an underwhelming Darcy in Joe Wright’s Pride and Prejudice) scarcely appears in the trailers, yet he plays the Sheriff of Nottingham. Are the filmmakers that scared of Alan Rickman’s shadow?

It may be this week’s biggest release – hence its ‘Film of the week’ status – but we’re a little unconvinced by Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood. As summer blockbuster season shapes up to be a two-horse race – comic-book heroes (Kick-Ass; Iron Man 2) vs. epics (Clash of the Titans; Robin Hood; Prince of Persia next week) – we’ve a sneaking suspicion that capes are going to be cooler than sandals in 2010.