Legend [Blu-ray] [1985] [Region Free] [US Import]

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.

Such a long time ago, without a smidgen of CGI, Ridley Scott managed to create something so ethereal, magical, otherworldly, and simply mesmerizing, that one is staggered by the man's talent. He used the exact equipment other directors had at their disposal, and yet somehow, it all looked different. A huge compliment to the props, sets, and makeup department. The cast was sensational with special mention to the protagonists, Tom Cruise & Mia Sara, but also to the incredible performances of Tim Carrey, the then child actor David Bennent (in the role of Gump), and Annabelle Lanyon with her otherworldly depiction of the fairy Oona. Incredible cast all around, all topped up with the incredible music by Jerry Goldsmith. Ridley Scott could have easily directed The Lord of the Rings, and this film is strong evidence that this could have taken place and would have looked as incredible as the films by Peter Jackson. Highly recommended!

Tim Curry as The Darkness. What's not to like? Well, other than the fact I can never find a version with the Tangerine Dream soundtrack, which is a shame, cause I love it and prefer it, but ah well

I'll start off this review by saying that I have always loved this movie. It is one of those many films that I grew up with and loved. This is a definite 80's classic and one of my all time favourite cult movies. There is only one downside to this DVD, which is that it is not the version I grew up with. When I got a copy of this, I was surprised and disappointed to find it is not the same as I remembered; some of the scenes were different, most notably the opening scene, when this movie's main antagonist is introduced. But the biggest difference is the soundtrack. At first, I believed that Ridley Scott had done a George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, and edited this movie. But a little research across the internet proved my assumption to be quite wrong. Truthfully, there are five different versions, all with different running times. This is among those four that features the soundtrack performed by Jerry Goldsmith. The version I grew up with features the soundtrack performed by Tangerine Dream. Of course, we all have our own opinions and persona preferences, but I much prefer the version I grew up with. I suppose nostalgia plays some contribution to my personal opinion, but I also personally feel that Tangerine Dream's soundtrack blends in more well than Jerry Goldsmith's. Whereas Jerry Goldsmith's score gives the film a magical, fairytale feel, Tangerine Dream's gives the film a magical, fantasy feel, as well more depth. I just feel it works a lot more well than Jerry Goldsmith's. To me, Legend is not complete without the classic song, "Loved by the Sun", played during the final scene. But again, that's my personal opinion. Hopefully they'll somehow release the Tangerine Dream version on DVD, here in the UK? Aside from that disappointment, I consider this to be a great film. Here's the plot. Darkness (played by Tim Curry) resides in his dark lair and plans to shroud the world in eternal darkness, so he can roam the lands freely. In order to do that, the two unicorns must be slaughtered and their horns delivered to him. It's not clear what he is exactly. As a child, I assumed he was the devil, really because his appearance is the common depiction of the prince of darkness. Now, I'm not too sure what he is. Is he the devil's son or just A devil? Anyway, Darkness sends his goblin servant, Blix (played by Alice Playten), out on a quest to deliver to him, the horns of the unicorns, as well as to destroy them. I won't say TOO much of the plot, but Blix injures one of the unicorns and takes its horn and it's this time when the world is shrouded in ice and darkness. A princess named Lili (played by Mia Sara) had unknowingly led the goblins (Blix had two companions) to the unicorns, when her lover, Jack (played by Tom Cruise), a young man who lives in the magical forest, took Lili to see the unicorns as a romantic treat. Jack and Lili are separated after this and Lili learns of the goblins and their actions. Unfortunately, she is captured by them, along with the unicorns. Jack, in the meantime, whilst searching for Lili, meets a forest elf named Honeythorn Gump (played by David Bennent, but voiced by Alice Playten) and his companions, Brown Tom, Screwball and the fairy, Oona. Together, they embark on a quest to rescue Lili and the unicorns, defeat Darkness and retrieve the unicorn horn and restore the world to its former state. There are several positive things I have to say about this movie. Ridley Scott did an excellent job in capturing the magic in my opinion, and to me, fantasy films featuring mythical creatures, such as elves, goblins, etc, require that magic. The characters were great and the appearance of some really captured that magic, such as Gump's appearance. Other examples include the usage of glitter over some of the mythical characters. The settings really captured that magic too, such as the forest, that features a usage of fairy dust in the air. Even Darkness' fortress captured it too, what with the floor shrouded in thick mist. Of course, this takes it down to a far lower level. The characters were great, such as the antagonists - Darkness, Blix and Meg Mucklebones, primarily - as well as the protagonists. Then there is the story. This truly is a fantastic fantasy film, but again, I'm just disappointed that this doesn't feature the Tangerine Dream soundtrack. Again, I hope they do release that film some day.

I have looked everywhere for the version of this movie with the tangerine dream soundtrack as that was the version I watched as a kid, many copies of this movie later, including Vhs and finally I get to watch this movie as I remember. There is nothing wrong with the directors cut, still an enjoyable movie but for me the Tangerine Dream version is just a bit more magical. Summing up, both versions of the movie and a load of blu ray extras to go with it is an absolute win.

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

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.

Bien, fonctionne parfaitement en français.

La película llegó en tiempo y en buen estado. Película con un Tom Cruise joven de protagonista, gran película fantástica, me sorprendió. Viene con subtítulos al español.

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