BUY IT AT AMAZON: CLICK HERE!
STUDIO: Universal
MSRP: $24.99
RATED: PG
RUNNING TIME: 114 Minutes
SPECIAL FEATURES:
• Commentary by Ridley Scott
• Director’s cut, restored version with Jerry Goldsmith’s score
• Original U.S. theatrical version with Tangerine Dream score
• Creating a Myth: The Making of Legend
• Storyboards
• The Fairy Dance, music and storyboards depicting the lost scene
• Original screenplay
• Isolated music score by Tangerine Dream
• Music video – "Is Your Love Strong Enough" by Bryan Ferry
A
proper version… Hell, ANY VERSION of Ridley
Scott’s Legend has been one of
this merry format’s biggest M.I.A. titles. Announced,
then cancelled, re-announced and then bumped
back… the Tom Cruise fantasy/fairy tale has
finally arrived in one of Universal’s snazzy
"Ultimate Edition" packages.
Keith Richards at age 194 ruminates
on how he and the cockroach are the only living
things on Earth after the nuclear war of 2021
did the last bit of damage the Rolling Stones
"Steel Wheels ’04" didn’t.
I
remember being colossally jazzed about this
film when it first hit theaters and then being
almost as colossally disappointed with the end
result. However, the more fan clamoring for
this DVD I hear the more excited I got about
the release I got.
Was
I right the first time, or is Legend
a forgotten classic? You see, Scott has included
TWO versions of the film. Let’s see…
Tom Cruise (shown actual size).
The
Flick
The
name Ridley Scott on a film instantly makes
it something to look for. Even his misfires
are interesting and gorgeous to look at. In
fact, his White Squall is a film
I hope someday emerges to people as a really
solid little sleeper. Regardless, a resume including
Blade Runner, Alien,
Gladiator, and Thelma and
Louise to only name a few, is prolific.
"You tell Mr. Weinstein
I ain’t giving up my post without a fight!"
In
the 80’s Ridley took what was at the time a
hefty budget, who at the time was a virtual
unknown, and what was at the time a dead end
genre and weaved his wizardry on it. He told
a tale of imps and unicorns, demons and fairies,
and did it all around the concept of love.
Today,
a film like that would probably find its market
without a hitch.
Back
them, it was tantamount to cinematic suicide.
Good God, the years have been
unkind to Debra Winger.
The
foul being known as Darkness (Tim Curry, under
more makeup than the wives of any four televangelists)
craves a horn. Not just any horn, but the horn
of a pure unicorn. With such a tool he could
banish the light forever and bring about a new
dawn of darkness (not unlike if Coca-Cola absorbed
a few more big companies).
When
pithy humans (Mia Sara and then unknown Tom
Cruise) accidentally allow such a horn theft
to occur, the magic of the forest is disrupted
and Hell literally breaks loose.
What
follows is fairy tale complete with point eared
elfin kids, pig faced halflings, and an armor
laden Cruise trying to make things right with
his sword.
Lucien reacts in the only way
he knows as Tinkerbell reveals herself to be
a Candiru in disguise.
I
think the concept works better than the execution.
Scott
chose to create an amazing forest environment
mostly within the confines of a studio and the
result is astonishing in way of set design and
craftsmanship… but the film feels very synthetic.
…and
slow.
"We’ve come a long way since
that sex show in Tijuana, eh Smoky?"
It’s
as pretty as a fairy tale, but it really lacks
warmth. Instead of the warmth and wide eyed
wonder prevalent in most fairy tales, it’s cold
and barren. Stiff, even.
None
of Tom Cruise’s patented charm is evident in
his role as the feral jungle protector Jack.
Mia Sara’s vacant stare isn’t enough to tide
us over until the later scenes where she’s a
sexy leather-clad seductress. The assortment
of "little people" under heavy make-up
(by Rob Bottin!) don’t help, because while the
work isn’t bad, it wiggles too much and took
me right out of the picture. Nothing like gones
with wobbly noses!
If
this was a collection of still images, it would
have worked better…
Except
for Darkness.
By taking this screen capture,
I am officially 51% gay.
There
has never been a cooler, more devilish looking
villain ever. Even with CGI being as flexible
as it is, I’ll still take this fella over
LOTR‘s Balrog.
Tim
Curry (complete with a voice effect not unlike
Hellraiser‘s Pinhead), laden
with more rubber and plastic than the Dallas
Cowboys cheerleaders delivers a really solid
performance even though there’s not an inch
of the actor visible. While the creation suffers
during the action sequences (wobbly horns, and
the fact Curry isn’t the most impressive athlete
even when NOT covered in tons of prosthetics),
it remains the most identifiable aspect of the
film.
There’s
nothing like a muscular, cloven hoofed, 12 foot
tall red being with horns that seem long enough
to make John Holmes (rest his soul) envious.
Mild mannered Athok waits for
the opportunity to shed his disguise and roam
the world as the legendary actor George Dzundza.
Before
Michael Bay and his ilk infiltrated Hollywood,
there was Ridley Scott. While he unloaded his
share of classics, sometimes he was a victim
of the "style over substance" school
of directing and nowhere is that more evident
than in Legend.
Thanks to a move he learned from
Battle Arena Toshinden Cruise
deftly avoids another gay accusation, especially
amazing considering the Versace chainmail he
sported.
A
pretty, but hollow fairy tale of a movie with
a few phenomenal bits of invention that still
remain cool almost two decades later.
After the latest Neilsen ratings
the producer of Oprah relaxed,
his work done.
6.0
out of 10
The
Look
"You know, Darkness… you
really ought to give Reese Witherspoon her chin
back."
As
I said above, there are TWO versions of the
film in this DVD package. I’ll go into differences
in a few, but since the director’s 114 minute
cut is on the main disc while the 90 minute
cut is lumped with the special features you’ll
get a clue.
The
longer version is superior in every way as far
as presentation goes. That’s a change of pace,
because usually the director’s cuts feature
rough footage.
Not
the case this time, as the longer version is
crystal clear and sharp as a busload of TAG
students and while it’s a film that doesn’t
feature much light in it (the whole second half
is pretty much plunged in darkness), the transfer
isn’t murky or hard to discern.
Very
nice. The 90 minute cut is decent, but not what
you’d show to a roomful of guests in the home
theater.
8.5
out of 10
The
Noise
Once
again, the long cut gets a sexy bit of DTS and
5.1 while the lesser cut is given a humdrum
2.0 track.
To
be honest, whether you dig the Goldsmith score
or the Tangerine Dream one… it’s not as bombastic
or rich as you’d expect.
A
film as striking visually as this… really
a music video as far as how its look goes, you’d
expect a similar sonic assault.
Nope.
Decent, but unremarkable.
6.5
out of 10
The
Goodies
This
thing’s not called an ULTIMATE EDITION for its
health.
It’s
stacked.
First,
factor in the short (but still slow moving)
90 minute cut and the presence of the better
(the new scenes don’t add much but help give
the film a little muscle, and the restored Jerry
Goldsmith score OBLITERATES the dated one from
Tangerine Dream) cut in addition is almost enough…
But
there’s so much more.
Ridley
Scott has provided a scene specific commentary
track (with chapter stops, a trend that’s really
coming into its own) and while he’s always a
great host… you kind of get the vibe that
the film was more like a thing he had to get
out of his system rather than a labor of love.
Of
course, he’s on top of the world now and looking
back probably seems like looking at missed opportunities
and whatnot. Regardless, it’s a good track and
all directors who think they’re above commentary
tracks ought to see Ridley’s dedication.
Good
stuff, and he also covers the divergence in
cuts really well.
There’s
a nice long documentary on the film which covers
the whole shebang (including the fire that destroyed
their sets), and features everyone but Tom Cruise
(but Billy Barty was there!). Solid stuff, and
there’s literally HOURS more.
Alternate
opening (decent), lost scenes, storyboards,
pictures, and on and on and on.
LOADED.
If you even KIND OF like this film, this disc
is must buy stuff. The special features bring
this review up a full point on their own merits.
10
out of 10
The
Artwork
Good
stuff, even though the "Ultimate"
packaging doesn’t snap close or have a fastener
to keep the front flap from staying open unless
it’s filed in a collection.
And as much as I like the clear packaging, it
detracts a little for this film.
Still
the cover of the film’s villain holding the
crystall ball with the lovers image encased
is truly top notch.
It
could have been perfect, but as it stands it’s
a…
8.5
out of 10
Overall: 7.1 out of 10