Legend (Ultimate Edition)
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Movie Reviews of Legend (Ultimate Edition)
Movie Review: My review of the DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
Ok I have already proclaimed this as one of the best films of the 1980's in earlier reviews so instead of repeating that I will review the DVD and it's features.First off the directors cut is simply marvelous. The extra 25 minutes makes this film so much clearer and those who scoffed it the first time I think would enjoy this film much more. Extra dialogue between the characters clears some of the continuity gaps Ridley Scott and his team could not avoid when forced to edit it to 1.5 hours.
I have to say I enjoyed the Goldsmith score more with this cut than I did when I saw the original European version. Perhaps because this film is a much better edit whereas the Euro version had some very bad edits. The US version which, while shorter and had a different score, was still smoother than the Euro. I still prefer the Tangerine Dream score as a whole but I appreciate JG's music better this time around.
The extras on this DVD are a lot of fun. Especially the hour long documentary made in 2000, before the death of Billy Barty.
They talk to Ridley, Mia Sara, Tim Curry, Alice Playton,Rob Bottin, Robert Picardo(yes that's right the holographic doctor from Voyager was in Legend, but I won't tell you who, watch the documentary!)the writer of Legend and just about everyone else except, not surpirisingly at all, Tom Cruise. I wasn't at all upset about that as I prefer all the other folks in this movie over him anyway.
There are a lot of great photos and trailers. They also have the deleted alternate begining sequence, the sound isn't great on this but it is still fun to watch. They have the original audio track of the Fairy Dance sequence with photo stills and storyboard artwork which is interesting and unfortunate that this scene is lost.
All in all this was well worth the wait and I am very happy that one of my all time favorites is finally here and in a much improved version!
"There can be no light without darkness."
Movie Review: REDISCOVER A MASTERPIECE
Summary: 5 Stars
Ridley Scott's much maligned fantasy adventure finally makes it to DVD in a beautifully packaged, lavish two disc set that features a glorious director's cut that's almost 25 minutes longer than the original U.S. theatrical release of 17 years ago. The fleshing out of character and story in this classic beauty and the beast, good and evil, light and darkness fable certainly fills in the gaps and makes this wondrous tale a substantially nuanced and more emotionally satisfying experience. Tom Cruise is Jack, a mythical forest dweller whom fate has chosen to battle a demonic lord of darkness (Tim Curry) to save a princess (Mia Sara). Director Scott claims this restored version -- including Jerry Goldsmith's mystical score -- is the film he originally wanted to make.
In his richly detailed and entertaining commentary, he covers a myriad of production concerns and makes note that all the amazing sets and effects were essentially filmed as we see them in real time and not the result of computer graphics or optical tricks. Hard to believe the huge forest sets were built to order inside a gigantic sound stage. They are even more surreal and dreamlike in this perfect widescreen transfer.
There's a wealth of extras including the original version, isolated original release score by Tangerine Dream, lost scenes, storyboards, recreation (with photos and drawings and music) of discarded scenes, Brian Ferry's music video "Is Your Love Strong Enough" and much, much more. This striking film deserves rediscovery and Universal has spared no expense in creating a terrific digital edition of what is now clearly a masterpiece of epic fantasy that was only hinted at in its original release. Special note should be made of the remarkably visual original screenplay by William Hjortsberg who also wrote the novel "Fallen Angel" that became the underrated film "Angel Heart." Another story about confronting Satan.
Movie Review: One of the best of the 80's fantasy movies.
Summary: 5 Stars
I was lucky enough to have experienced this film in the movie theater when it was first released in the 80's. Back then I didn't know anything about a European version or cut scenes, I simply enjoyed it for what it was, a great fantasy film. I recall seeing it several times and discovering something new each time, it's just one of those movies you never get tired of seeing because the visuals are so stunning. The plot is quite simple, and let's face it, a bit cliched, with the whole "good vs evil" and the stealing (and search) of the magic unicorn horn.
The standout here is the art direction, the movie was entirely filmed on a movie set, yet it doesn't feel like it, the forest really looks like a forest and the demon Darkness' lair feels vast and cavernous. The design for the demon Darkness is one of the all time best make up jobs in cinema history. Even though there is nothing left of actor Tim Curry's face or body he manages to infuse his character with a great deal of expression and personality. The design for the goblin Blix doesn't fare as well because it does look like a rubber mask with little expression other than a scowl. Tom Cruise in one of his early roles offers a rather hammy performance but maybe that's what the character called for. A very young Mia Sara looks like she was born to play the role of a princess because she's just so stunningly beautiful. Her scenes with the demon Darkness are a highlight of this film.
This 2 disc edition really surpasses the previous 1 disc edition by far. For starters, you get the European cut with the Goldsmith score and the US version with the very different Tangerine Dream score. My favorite among the many extars included is the video for Bryan Ferry's song Is Your Love Strong Enough, a great song and a great video. Very reccomended.
Movie Review: IT'S REALLY AN ULTIMATE EDITION!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have to say that the new Legend dvd delivers and is worth your time and money for fans of the movie and fantasy. Don't expect perfection in story and it's not free of errors but the first half of the movie is breathtaking! Second almost as good. This is not like anything you will see. It relies heavly on beauty and art I mean totally. Watch it for that only! and you will be amazed! I do think that both versions director's cut and theatrical are great but the director's is not 100% superior. Let me tell you. I think it's better because the Meg Mucklebones(a water witch) is extended and other nice seens but the new score don't make you feel for the unicorns as much, but its terrific it don't set the mood as well either but overall it is as good if not better.
The seen where Jack(Tom Cruise) finds the dead unicorn is much more heart felt with the Tangerine score and when jack walks away,
regardless of the score the look he has on is face walking away from the unicorns is awesome GO RIDLEY! I have to say that the perfect movie in my humble opinion would be. Tangerine dream score most of the time with some Jerry Goldsmith in some of the seens, No song at the end, Director's cut length. There is two things unexplained still though the sword that Jack gets in the cave just disappears after he slays Meg. The director's cut still does not explain this, and how he says "I know nothing of weapons" and is able to sword fight Darkness at the end. I guess you have to use your imagination. That he lost his sword in the swamp. He does not have it when they get through to the to Darknesses lair. When they slide down that hill and his shield comes flying but no sword? It was overlooked I guess, does anybody else notice this? but anyway Great Movie and I love it!
Movie Review: feast upon the darkness
Summary: 5 Stars
This Ultimate Edition DVD is amazing. I remember seeing this film when I was a kid, and Tim Curry as Darkness gave me nightmares for weeks. So when I heard that it was out on DVD, I just had to buy it.I remember the film fondly (despite being petrified by the rather satanic looking Darkness), but now I can't imagine why. Set more as a fairy tale than a fantasy epic like Lord of the Rings, the U.S. Theatrical Version is one of the most flawed fantasy films I have ever seen. Poorly paced, little character development, and exceptionally bad editing in some transitions. So imagine my surprise when I popped the new Director's Cut into the old DVD machine. Although the extra length means that the film (which already lacks much action) might seem a little slow, as a fantasy film, it is breath-taking. Not only do the extra minutes help the pacing and character development, the new edit adds much to make transitions less jarring and scenes more coherent. In particular the interaction between Lily and Darkness (a new classic in my mental catalog), as well as the film's ending (no longer feels like an 80's music video), are vastly improved. I prefer the Goldsmith score - it's more subtle and classical (and hence fairy-tale-like) than the "hipper" 80's-synth Tangerine Dream.
Of course, for those that prefer the U.S. Theatrical Version, you get that too with this set. However, the video and sound quality are not as good as in the Director's Cut - it's flat with poor color balance and noticeable scratches and compression artifacts. For me, the inclusion of the U.S. Theatrical Version is a nice bonus, but I don't see myself watching it again anytime soon. The Director's Cut, on the other hand, will see frequent play.