Legend (1986) [Blu-ray]

This is the review for the Legend (Ultimate Edition) [Blu-ray] and I have to say it is a great piece of work Ridley have done at last. The picture and sound quality is just perfect. It is as if shot yesterday with HD camera, the most recent one. No grainny, with the most picture sharp, the most beautiful as it can have. To begin with, I urge you not to watch the theatrical release version which is 1 hour and 30 minutes version with Tangerine Dream soundtrack. I am not saying that Tangerine Dream is a bad artist but Jerry Goldsmith's soundtrack is much better and it fits perfect with the movie. And plus the director's cut which is 114 minutes long makes more sense in many ways. It is the perfect film itself. On the other hand, the theatrical release version has so many problem not just because it is a shorter version but it has other problems such as the moment when the evil king's first appearence. Ridley wanted him to appear him way later but in the theater release version, he appears at the beginning and that makes the movie's tenstion away. Ok, the main review. Ridley Scott made three or if I may add one more, four great great visually stunning film in his life, and then he concentrates more on making boxoffice hit movies from then on. Maybe he is tired of not making popular movies anymore and he wanted to have more fame and then everything became not that exciting anymore. The lists are <BLADRUNNER><BLACK RAIN><LEGEND> and if I may add one more that will be <SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME>.. Among them this one is the most stunning beautiful eye blindingly shot film ever made. He used the nature so well that it almost look like we are in the totally different world somewher like heaven or somewhere not even exist. The forest always has pollens flying as if they are snow or fog. So beautiful that makes us dreaming or even doped watching at the world in a totally different way, Birds flying, animals hopping, all kinds of flowers everywhere, trees,..beautiful sky and endless woods. And most of all young Tom Cruise and angel look Mia Sara, the princess. Even one look can melt your soul girl. Not only that. The palace where the evil king lives is a gothic like place just like the movie <BLADE RUNNER>. The color pattern he used. Blue, Red, yellow, purple and all kinds of so much vivid colors that make our eyes almost blind. The night scenes and dark palace shots are just so great to even look at. The all kinds of creatures that are not humans, they are not childish at all. They are totally original. The Gump is so cute but mature at the same time, he is a true leader. A small figure but very lovely. The small angel like female figure is just lovely-sorry I don't know the name- it is like tinker bell. And all the other charactors are not like kid's stuff at all. Some very real and not childish at all. Some very scary and perfect. Tim Curry who played the darkness-the evil king was so perfect that he was almost scary for children. The most amazing part from the movie was when the good team creates the light beam by reflects with a bunch of iron plates and destroy the evil deeds. The beem was blue and was so beautiful. The Jerry Goldsmith's music was just perfectly fits with the beautiful movie which was not shown for the movie first released in the theater version and Ridley himself was not all pleased. I again urge you not to watch the Theatrical version. All in all. This is one of the best Ridley Scott ever made and I would say the best fairy tale movie in history. You cannot miss this one. It is a bliss that now it is released in bluray in a perfect condition. The Ultimate Edition has both Director's Cut and Theatricla Cut and both are pitcure, Sound perfect. But as I said don't waste your time watching the Theatrical version. The end. WHERE TO FIND: Both selling from Amazon US and UK the price is almost the same. But since Amazon Uk is selling the US version I prefer buying from US. Korea is out of order for this product. It is sad. ART: 98/100 BOXOFFICE/FUN: 95/100 MUSIC: 95/ 100 ACTING: 98/ 100 EDITING: 98/100 DIRECTING: 98/100 SEXUALITY: na/100 ACTION: 85 /100 BLOOD/GORE: 70/ 100

It's very rare for a film to be as visually stunning and captivating as 1985's "Legend". Directed by Sir Ridley Scott, it is sadly kind of an underrated film that has only recently become a cult hit. The story is a fairly simple one, an evil lord known simply as Darkness (Tim Curry) wishes to vanquish the power of light from the world forever by killing the last two unicorns who represent eternal goodness. The only thing that stands in his way is a forest dweller named Jack (Tom Cruise), his rag tag team of elves and dwarfs, and his love Princess Lili (Mia Sara). It all begins when Jack, against his better judgment, takes Lili to see the unicorns. She is so captivated by what she sees that she goes up to touch them, not realizing that Darkness' henchmen have been following them the entire time. Taking advantage of her nativity, they manage to kill one of the unicorns and the effects just from that one death are noticeable right away, when a dark winter descends upon them. From there, Jack and his friends must race to save the last unicorn and Lili too, who ends up getting captured by Darkness to be his bride. To be sure the story is good for this type of movie but what really makes the movie stand out is its visuals and acting. The sets are nothing short of grand and real, unlike today with computer CGI leading the way. An enchanted forest has never looked as amazing and, well, enchanting as it does here. The use of color to convey the stark difference between the world of good and evil is also used very well through out the film. You can especially see this when our heroes reach the lair of the devil himself, Darkness. The skill of the cinematography used throughout the picture cannot be overstated either. It also helps that all the actors play their parts well. Tom Cruise looks a little lost in this type of movie but still manages to give a competent performance as the hero and Mia Sara is enchanting as the beautiful and innocent Lili. But the actor who really deserves to be praised is Tim Curry as Darkness. Anyone who's seen a number of Tim Curry's films knows that he excels at playing bigger than life characters and it's no different here. With his enormous personality and beyond words amazing makeup ( courtesy of Rob Bottin), Tim is able to truly capture evil and play it in a scary and yet strangely tempting way. Despite all it's merits, there has always been an issue with "Legend". Like Scott's "Blade Runner", it was not received as well by the test audience as well as hoped and the result was two versions of the film ended up being cut. One is a shorter version with music by Tangerine Dream that was released in the states and the other was a longer one released in Europe with a score by Jerry Goldsmith. Eventually, just like "Blade Runner", Scott released a director's cut which includes the added scenes and Goldsmith score and it's the version that is the best one in my view, manly because you get a much richer story than you do with the American one. Plus, I've always been a Jerry Goldsmith fan. The American version isn't bad but having seen both versions, there just is no comparison between the two. But then again, there are those who love the American version over the European one so to each his own I guess. If you buy the ultimate edition, you can see for yourself which is best. Either way, "Legend" is one of those magically movies that never fails to captivate, enchant or get old, no matter how many times you see it. So don't let this amazing tale pass you by. Also starring David Bennent, Billy Barty, Robert Picardo, as well as many others.

Great movie

The first I saw of this film I had just popped into a local video library back in the late 1980s and the woman behind the counter had been watching the film which was just ending. The Goldsmith score and the scenery took my attention immediately so I asked what it was. From that point on "Legend" had become part of my life. A well conceived "original" fantasy by Ridley Scott, "Legend" transports us to a classic fairy tale world. While some will say this film is not for kids it's worth baring in mind the terror we have placed in our kids' minds reading them any other classic fairy tale. Disney artists had deep concerns about making Pinocchio due to it's levels of violence! Legend has brilliant characters well performed and cleverly takes male and female swapping them into opposite genders. Blix, a male goblin is played by Alice Playton while Meg Mucklebones is played by Robert Picardo. As an entirely studio-shot film it is strikingly realistic with excellent lighting that gives convincing daylight scenes. The cinematography captures the detail and colours wonderfully and the sets are very convincing northern European landscape. The score by Jerry Goldsmith is most fitting of the soundtrack options. "Legend" was made a box-office failure by studio imposed changes which annoyed the contributors as well. Goldsmith wrote a soundtrack appropriate to the story location and narrative backdrop of classic European fairy tales. He was Scott's choice for the soundtrack and unusually Scott opted for almost wall-to-wall scoring. The Tangerine Dream soundtrack favoured by some is a somewhat erroneous score. 'Dream' are a German synth group who are particularly influenced by musical sounds from the far East and their score for "Legend" is penetrated by inappropriate Indian musical instruments. It jars against the cultural traditions of the narrative and fails to convey the story properly. I would say in balance that the Dream's score if played alone is good, just that it's not what should have been for Legend. The studio execs also imposed a song over one of Dream's tracks without telling them. All this was part of the US release which could not be the same as the UK and European releases as Americans (generally) do not have a cultural background based of European folklore. Of course our enjoyment of the film depends almost entirely on our first experience but I can only say that which ever version you prefer, the UK release directors cut is as near to the version Ridley Scott intended for audiences world-wide. For my understanding as a film maker it is the UK version that works best.

Wohl der beeindruckenste Fantasyfilm der prä CGI Ära. Die üppigen Kulissen des Märchenwaldes mit ihrer überbordenen Fülle an Flora und Fauna scheinen der Fantasie eines romantischen Träumers entsprungen zu sein. Unterstützt von stimmungsvoller Lichtgestaltung wird hier eine idealisierte Schönheit gezeigt, die ein Maximum an paradiesischer Atmosphäre schafft, welche sich stilsicher zwischen Märchen und Traum bewegt, dabei jedoch zu keinem Zeitpunkt ins Kitschige hinübergleitet. Das Gefühl für die Ausstattung und die Arrangements der Naturkulissen kann man nur als perfekt bezeichnen und man hat sich auch nach 113 Min. noch lange nicht daran satt gesehen. Bevölkert wird dieses Idyll, abgesehen von den üblichen Waldbewohnern, von einer Schar Zwerge und Gnomen. Die knautschigen Gesichter der Winzlinge erinnern selbst stark an verknotetes Wurzelwerk und fügen sich mit ihren faltigen und behaarten Häuptern nahtlos in die urige Vegetation ihrer Waldheimat ein. Hier haben die Maskenbildner ganze Arbeit geleistet. Die schrullig gestalten Masken der Gnome haben genau diesen ernsthaft märchenhaften Ausdruck, den es braucht, um sich von dem Look eines reinen Kinderfilmes abzusetzen, aber doch nicht zu böse zu wirken. Ähnlich verhält es sich mit der Gegenwelt des oberirdischen Paradieses, der diabolischen Unterwelt. Hier ist der Gestaltungsspielraum naturbedingt etwas eingeschränkter, da Finsterniss und Verderben hier ihr zu Hause haben und sich Üppigkeit daher verbietet. Aber auch dort erscheinen im Schein der lodernden Fackeln, zwischen Leichen und Kerkern, Fabelwesen, die die Betrübnis und das Verderben dieses abstoßenden Ortes mit ihrer entstalteten Physiognomie passend personifizieren. Besonders stechen hier der Kobold und Satan höchstpersönlich mit ihren überdimensionierten maskenbildnerischen Elementen ins Auge. Ist es bei einem die Nase und die Klauen, sind es beim anderen vor allem imposanten Stierhörner, die mit ihrem kreativen Mut beeindrucken und für so manches Design der Tolkienverfilmungen Pate gestanden haben dürften. Die Kulissen sind an diesem düsteren Ort vornehmlich von Tod und Verwesung, steinener Kälte und quälender Hitze gekennzeichnet und setzt so die astrale Gut-Böse Polarität visuell ebenbürtig um. Da eben der visuelle Aspekt so eindeutig dominiert, gerät die Handlung etwas in den Hintergrund. Doch auch sie ist aus dem zeitlosen Stoff gemacht, aus dem Legenden gefertigt sind: Der Einsiedler Jack will seiner Flamme, Prinzessin Lily, daß erhabenste Schauspiel ihrer Welt bieten. Die Beobachtung der scheuesten und reinsten aller Wesen in freier Wildbahn, den Einhörnern. Von Lilys Unschuld angezogern, nähern sich diese Fabeltiere dem jungen Paar so nahe, daß Lily sie sogar streicheln kann. Vorher hatte jedoch der Teufel seine Schergen ausgesandt, um Lily als Köder für die Einhörner zu benutzen. Er muß die Einhörner töten, damit das Gute und das Licht aus der Welt verschwindet. Dann endlich kann Satan uneingeschränkt herrschen. Nachdem den Handlangern bereits ein Horn der Tiere in die Hände gefallen ist, werden bei der Jagd auf das zweite und letzte Tier, Lily und das Einhorn gefangen genommen und und in das unterirdische Reich des Teufels verschleppt. Nun ist es an der Reihe Jacks und der Wichtel, das Tier und seine Prinzessin zu befreien, bevor das Einhorn getötet wird und die unter dem bösen Zauber des Teufels stehende Liebe Jacks, den Fürsten der Finsternis freit. Da "Legende" den Pfad der klassischen Märchenerzählung nie verläßt, erzeugt die Handlung auch nur mäßig Spannung. Zu klar verweisen die Strukturen auf den Ausgang des Films und zu sehr lehnt sich die Bildersprache an die Vorstellungswelt der Kinderphantasien an, als daß hier mit einem massiven Einfall des Bösen gerechnet werden kann. Jedoch ist "Legende" weit von der Harmlosigkeit wie Disney's Schneewitchen entfernt und auch das Überleben bis zum Filmende ist keinesfalls für alle Protagonisten gewährleistet. Auf Grund des visuellen Genußes und der atmosphärischen Dichte sind auch einige wenige Längen in der Mitte des Filmes gerne verziehen. So sind z.b. die Gesangseinlagen der Prinzessin Lily nicht jedermanns Sache. Auch wird hier und da ein Augenblick zu Lange in den von tanzenden Blütenpollen und Sonnenstrahlen durchtränkten Waldlichtungen verweilt und die Handlung kommt auf Kosten des reinen Schauwertes nur zögerlich in Fahrt. Erstaunlich bei alledem ist vor allem, daß bei diesem Mix aus Musical, Phantasy, Märchen und Kulissenfilm etwas ganz neues, eigentlich undeffinierbares aber dennoch eigenständiges, herauskommt. Dazu trägt sicherlich auch das Spannungsverhältnis zwischen märchenhafter Bildsprache und modernen Dialogen bei. Müßen sich andere Crossoverexperimente noch den Vorwurf "Nichts halbes und nichts Ganzes", "Wie gewollt und nicht gekonnt" oder Flickschusterei, gefallen lassen, entfaltet sich in diesem Fall etwas sehr spezielles. Auch wenn vieles vielleicht irgendwo angelehnt ist, hat man zu keinem Zeitpunkt den Eindruck unter dem Einfluß einer Plagiates zu stehen. Beim Betrachten von "Legende" hat man stets den Eindruck, einem emanzipierten Werk gegenüberzustehen, der sich zwar bekannten Mitteln bedient, aber sie nur als Mittel zum Zweck verwendet, um über sie hinauszuweisen. Ridley Scott ist es mit "Legende" gelungen, eine isolierte Welt astraler Schönheit und seraphiner Ästhetik mit den dunklen Bildern unseren Unterbewußtseins zu verknüpfen und in eine Geschichte von archetypischen Motiven zu verwandeln, dessen traumhafte Bilder auch Heute noch den Standard des ewig Schönen und Guten versinnbildlichen und an Perfektion bisher nicht überboten worden sind. Natürlich ist der 20 Minuten längere Director's Cut zu empfehlen, der nur noch als Nullkopie vorhanden war. Das bedeutet laut Regisseur Ridley Scott mindere Bildqualität. Zu sehen ist davon allerdings nur sehr wenig. Ab und an ist das Bild zwar etwas blass und körnig, insgesamt wird die Stippvisite im Paradies aber nicht mit Schwindelgefühlen und Blickkrämpfen bestraft.

Perfect exactly what I was after. Just as I remember it from my childhood

Un excellent film à revoir sans modération pour les amateurs du genre.

Muy buena. Llego a tiempo las dos peliculas en una. La que estrenaron en el Cine mas corta y Versión extendida ( esta ultima solo en ingles) Muy recomendable