A Dork(ification)’s Movie Review: Legend (1985)

Deep in a forest…a boy, a girl and some faerie folk fight against Darkness, temptation and Goblins – with the fate of two unicorns (and the world) hanging in the balance.

I have this on Blu-ray.

Starring:

Tom Cruse…from Taps and Losin’ It.

Mia Sara…from Ferris Beuller’s Day Off and Birds of Prey.

Tim Curry…from The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Clue.

David Bennent…from nothing I’ve seen.

Alice Playten…from Heavy Metal and several episodes of Frasier.

Billy Barty…from H. R. Pufnstuf, The Bugaloos and (my favorite) Sigmund the Sea Monster.

Cork Hubbert…from Where the Buffalo Roam and The Charmings.

Peter O'Farrell…from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Kiran Shah…from Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Dark Crystal and Return of the Jedi.

Annabelle Lanyon…also from nothing I’ve seen.

and

Robert Picardo…from China Beach and Innerspace.

Notes of Interest:

1) Legend was released twice…first in the UK on December 13, 1985, and then again in the US (after some major revisions) on April 18, 1986. The film opened in the states one week after The Toxic Avenger, one week before Trois Hommes et un Couffin (later remade as Three Men and a Baby in 1987), three weeks before Short Circuit, four weeks before Sweet Liberty and Top Gun, and five weeks before Cobra and Poltergeist II: The Other Side

2) It wound up being the fifty-sixth top grossing film of the year, making more than Youngblood and less than Armed and Dangerous.

3) Legend‘s estimated budget was $30 million, but earned back about half that amount ($15 million).

4) When this film was released (in the US):

Tom Cruse was 23

Mia Sara was 18

Tim Curry was 39

David Bennent was 19

Alice Playten was 38

Billy Barty was 61

Cork Hubbert was 33

Peter O'Farrell was (?)

Kiran Shah was 29

Annabelle Lanyon was 25

Robert Picardo was 32

and

Director Ridley Scott was 48

5) In addition to drastically editing the film after its initial release (which included an orchestral soundtrack by composer Jerry Goldsmith and vocals by Mia Sara), Scott had a second soundtrack made for the American Version by Tangerine Dream.

6) There’s a site that has all kinds of info about this movie, including three versions of the script. Check it out.

7) The soundstage at Pinetree Studios that burned down during production of this film was built for the submarine scene in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977).

WTF? Moment: The draw of this film for me was not who you’d think…

…Make-up creator Rob Bottin

His creation for Darkness gave me nightmares. His look for “Evil Lily” gave me other ideas. Blix was sheer awesomeness in a box…and don’t even get me started on Meg Mucklebones.

WTF? Moment #2: Okay…so about Meg Mucklebones:

First of all, that’s a damn fine look…a full prosthetic suit.

Second, they got an actor to put the thing on.

Third, they immerse both man and suit in water…repeatedly.

Holy Crap! What a testament to Robert Picardo. I’d watch a movie that was just about Meg. He owned that role, and actually likes working in make-up…unlike Tim Curry.

WTF? Moment #3: A word about the soundtracks. I own both, and they’re both good, but I grew up listening to Tangerine Dream so I lean a little more towards their CD. There’s one song…”Unicorn Theme”…that if I had my way would have played at my wedding (as Mrs. Adorkification walked down the aisle). The first minute and a half of it anyways.

As for the Jerry Goldsmith version, I love his "Goblin's Theme" (natch) as well as “My True Love’s Eyes”.

WTF? Moment #4: Here’s a flub I haven’t seen mentioned elsewhere:

In Blix’s very first appearance, Darkness asks the question: “Are you not the most loathsome of my Goblins?” Here’s my question: Where are all the other Goblins? My understanding is that the other creatures hunting unicorns with Blix are supposed to be Goblins, but none of them look like Goblins...at all.

Here’s why: becoming a Goblin is a process. Blix represents the finished product, while the others are “in transition”.

WTF? Moment #5: Another flub…poor little Blunder trapped at the door to Darkness’ chamber as the light approaches. Where did he go? His body isn't seen as the doors blast open. In fact, we don’t see him again until he’s waving at the end of the film. This one’s easy – he jumped out of the way, and ran like hell.

WTF? Moment #6: Here’s one caused by the edit – In the beginning of the European Version, Darkness has a monologue about his situation and how sunshine is his destroyer. Later on, in both versions of the film where Darkness talks with Lily while Jack and the others listen in, Darkness repeats the monologue. Is Darkness so old that he unknowingly repeats himself? Actually, the first time Darkness is simply thinking out loud as he plots and plans. I’m just as guilty of doing this as he is.

WTF? Moment #7: One more comment about the film(s) in general - every edit to a film affects the final product. A minute added here, a jump cut there, and suddenly you have two completely different films with completely different feels.

I grew up seeing the American Version - which is a lot like common faerie tales. The Original Version is more like the original Grimm stories – darker, more gruesome and in many ways (without being dirty) more mature. I prefer the Original Version, but that being said…

WTF? Moment #8: …in both versions, the interaction between Lily and Darkness is fantastic.

WTF? Moment #9: Now - about the Blu-ray:

The visual/graphic/thingy while the disc loads is the Universal logo. There’s some motion to it and looks okay, but couldn't it be movie specific - like Darkness’ fireplace burning or Oona flying around? Regardless, what the disc lacks while loading it more than makes up for with the Main Menu. Beautiful. Breathtakingly so.

Speaking of the Main Menu, it includes a “ticker” telling you whether or not you’re hooked up to the internet and advertising the benefits of being connected. I’m not connected; I know I’m not connected; so I find it annoying. Fortunately there’s an option to turn the thing off.

And then there’s the issue about the bookmarks. Apparently this is a problem with many Universal Blu-rays. I had a hell of a time figuring out how to create and access them, but once I did it was fine.

My only other gripe? The extras are in Standard Definition. Really guys?

WTF? Moment #10: Among the extras is the Bryan Ferry video for “Is Your Love Strong Enough” (in SD). The song holds up very well…the video, unfortunately, does not.

WTF? Moment #11: Paging Mr. Cruise - Paging Mr. Tom Cruise - your past is calling. Get off your high horse and acknowledge that you were a part of this film. Embrace it. Talk about it in the extras. Give a damn commentary!