Legend

• Directed by Ridley Scott
• August 28, 1985 (France) / April 18, 1986 (US)

Jack, a pure being, must stop the Lord of Darkness from covering the world with eternal night.

Many films that I treasure now were introduced to me on weekend movie marathons airing on local independent stations (most of which became FOX affiliates). Legend is one such film. It is a dark fairytale as rich and sophisticated as anything made today. While no cinematic classic, it has rightfully developed a strong cult following.

There are two versions of this film: the 1985 US Theatrical Release with music by Tangerine Dream and a European version/director’s cut with music by Jerry Goldsmith. Ridley Scott prefers the latter. I am of the mind that the mind that the former is better. Not all of their film scores have been great but here their music helps to create that dark fairytale feel.

What also sells this is that the good guys are ultimately good and evil is just ultimate evil. There are some shades of gray and imperfections within the characters but not to the point the sides are indistinguishable morally. This is so very close to a Disney movie but not quite there-and that’s a good thing. It’s dark enough to be enjoyed by adults yet not so dark that you couldn’t have your kids watch it too.

Our hero Jack (Tom Cruise) is as sweet and as innocent as they come. Tom Cruise is absolutely amazing in this. Cruise is a fantastic actor and with a little effort can pull just about anything off I think. He gives Jack a purity that I don’t think others could quite do. And his anger when Jack displays it is anger based on the injustice and the wrong of the situation. I guess that would be righteous anger.

Few were more angelic looking during the 80s than Mia Sara. She had this pure, untouched look about her that is absolutely perfect for the part Jack’s true love Lily who is a princess but never gets addressed as such. Not even when she gets addressed by commoner and friend Nell (Tina Martin). There is the acknowledgment of higher social position but never does someone say ‘Princess Lily.’

Tim Curry is a fantastic actor. With his voice alone I have seen the man make a part much better than it should have been. He made a truly evil Darkness. Not maniacally evil but sinister and conniving and a villain that you could not take your eyes from. Not because of the make-up, but because of his absolutely magnetic performance. Much like the best villains in film, television, and such you might not be disappointed if he would win because Curry was that magnetic.

As with any good fairytale the villain becomes enamored or infatuated with the embodiment of feminine good in the story. Considering that there are only two females in this movie-and one is not known to the group at large until later-that leaves Lily. The scene when Darkness is tempting her with the figure in the dress is both disturbing and sexy. It truly is a dark seduction. And it is just choreographed so well.

Legend is a good versus evil. Darkness versus light. And while they do defeat evil, it’s not completely defeated. If you don’t figure out that is what will happen from the opening text then I do not know what to tell you. The plot and resolution leans in part on needing evil to have good or to tell the difference between the two. You cannot have A without B.

What really makes this are the practical effects. The prosthetics are both disgusting and engaging in a way that you just can’t get with the CGI that’s commonly found today. Everyone remembers Tim Curry as Darkness, but props also have to go out to the bog woman Meg Mucklebones (Robert Picardo) who was absolutely fantastic though there is some stiff competition elsewhere.

Ridley Scott seamlessly blends sets in with location photography. Not easy to do. And I’m not talking in the snow scenes. I’m talking before and after the meat of the film. The only time you can really pick up on this is when Lily and Jack are running towards the sunset. Even in the days before Blu-rays when I was watching this on a low-definition television that moment looked so fake. 

Visually stunning and with a simple yet effective foundation for a story, Legend is a fantasy film that satisfies. If you like fantasy with a little bit of an edge, this is a must see!