Legend

[rodneyfaile]

I haven't seen this movie in so long, I barely remember it. I didn't see it on Netflix, so thought I would hop over to Amazon and pick up a copy. After reading a few reviews, and then a Google search, I see there are several versions of this movie, just like Blade Runner. Anyone here have the Ultimate Edition on Bluray? Which version/versions are included? From what I've read, the differences are significant.

 

[The Mad Professor]

I haven't seen this movie in so long, I barely remember it. I didn't see it on Netflix, so thought I would hop over to Amazon and pick up a copy. After reading a few reviews, and then a Google search, I see there are several versions of this movie, just like Blade Runner. Anyone here have the Ultimate Edition on Bluray? Which version/versions are included? From what I've read, the differences are significant.

Legend Blu-ray: Ultimate Edition

That should pretty much sum it up...

The short version: It has two versions, the Theatrical Release (with the Tangerine Dream score) and the Director's Cut (with a score by Jerry Goldsmith). The Director's Cut is about half an hour longer.

Here's an in-depth analysis of the differences:

Legend (Comparison: Theatrical Version - Director's Cut) - Movie-Censorship.com

 

[rodneyfaile]

Looks like there are at least 4 versions.

Why are there different versions of LEGEND and how many exist?

Maybe Ridley will make Legend: Final Cut and package them all together, lol.

Just ordered the Ultimate Edition. Like I said, I barely remember this movie. Looking forward to finding out if I prefer Tangerine Dream or Goldsmith.

 

[Kerr Avon]

"Legend" can only be watched with the Tangerine Dream score.

Do not watch anything else.

 

[Nexus6]

"Legend" can only be watched with the Tangerine Dream score.

Do not watch anything else.

^AGREED.^ Years back, I bought the Deluxe Edition DVD (which had the theatrical release, & the director's cut), & was UTTERLY let down by the director's cut. When they changed the score, it almost seemed to leach the "magic" out of the whole film (which is not a good thing in a fairy tale). I've never watched the DC again, but I've watched the theatrical release multiple times since...

My 2¢.

 

[Trooper_trent]

I KNEW IT!!
I grew up watching this movie and hadn't seen it in years. Its on Uverse On Demand and as I started watching it with my son, I was like :confused WTF is this?
Ever since then, it's come on tv a few times and it's always the WRONG version.

 

[Mola Rob]

I like a lot of directors cuts but the longer version of Legend did nothing for me. Most of the cut footage was awkward and added nothing. Give me the theatrical cut any time.

No version I have seen makes me think this was anything but a huge misfire. It has some good parts but it's mostly a mess. Tim Curry made this movie way better than it should have been.

 

[Banner]

^AGREED.^ Years back, I bought the Deluxe Edition DVD (which had the theatrical release, & the director's cut), & was UTTERLY let down by the director's cut. When they changed the score, it almost seemed to leach the "magic" out of the whole film (which is not a good thing in a fairy tale). I've never watched the DC again, but I've watched the theatrical release multiple times since...

My 2¢.

Totally agree with you and Kerr Avon. The added footage in the director's cut is nice, but losing the Tangerine Dream score really makes it a completely different film... and NOT for the better in my opinion. Sure, the TD soundtrack kinda dates the movie to the 80s but the Goldsmith score is so generic. A good soundtrack (even if good is subjective) can make or break a viewing experience.

 

[GlazyUK]

See I seen this over here in the UK on it's release and love the Goldsmith music because it's the music we got with the cinema release here, a superb score, even though I'm a fan of Tangerine dream I thought their score sounded out of place. I read that even they loved Goldsmith's score and couldn't understand why they were asked to replace it, but they were getting paid and did what the studio asked.

 

[The Mad Professor]

See I seen this over here in the UK on it's release and love the Goldsmith music because it's the music we got with the cinema release here, a superb score, even though I'm a fan of Tangerine dream I thought their score sounded out of place. I read that even they loved Goldsmith's score and couldn't understand why they were asked to replace it, but they were getting paid and did what the studio asked.

As I suspected, the debate over the music is not really about whether or not the music sucked, but what you grew up with.

I grew up with the Tangerine Dream score (as that is what was released in the U.S... probably to try and draw in crowds), whereas the UK release was the Goldsmith score.

There are aspects of both scores that are good, but in the end it all boils down to what you're used to hearing.

 

[GlazyUK]

As I suspected, the debate over the music is not really about whether or not the music sucked, but what you grew up with.

I grew up with the Tangerine Dream score (as that is what was released in the U.S... probably to try and draw in crowds), whereas the UK release was the Goldsmith score.

There are aspects of both scores that are good, but in the end it all boils down to what you're used to hearing.

I agree, I went for probably 10 years or more before seeing the film with Tangerine Dream's score, although certain themes I like listening to on the album I think fit the mood of the movie, Darkness, Blue Room, Goblins. Others don't, I hated the music for the dress dance, it sounded really weak and lacking grandeur compared to Goldsmith's ! I think it was in Cinefantastique magazine where Tangerine Dream voiced their opinions on Goldsmith's score, and the fact they were not pleased with the addition of the Jon Anderson and the Bryan Ferry songs. Weirdly in the Goldsmith score during the sequence were they are throwing the large plates down to each other in the kitchen I can hear an extract at one point of Goldsmith's own music for Psycho 2, this part from around 54 seconds in until around 1.10 07. The Cellar (Psycho II Soundtrack) - Jerry Goldsmith - YouTube

 

[norgs79]

I had no idea there were different versions! I have an old copy tucked away on VHS somewhere that I haven't seen for about 20 years or so. I'm gonna watch it this week. I loved it as a kid.
IMHO, films back then that relied on puppetry and costume workshops were far more believable than CGI characters today. Your imagination filled in the gaps and brought the characters to life. Look at ESB Yoda compared to CGI Yoda. Everything is done for us now and it takes the magic away. This is why Legend worked then, and why I feel if made today, it wouldn't as much.

 

[GlazyUK]

Meg Mucklebones is amazing still even today !!!

 

[The Mad Professor]

Interesting facts about the movie:

- Meg Mucklebones was portrayed and voiced by Robert Picardo.

- The appearance of Blix (the head goblin) was modeled after Keith Richards

- Tim Curry got too impatient and claustrophobic with the makeup removal process and pulled the makeup off too quickly, tearing off his own skin in the process. Ridley Scott had to shoot around the actor for a week as a result.

- Principal photography began on March 26, 1984 on the 007 Stage at Pinewood Studios. On June 27, 1984, with ten days filming left on this stage, the entire set burned down during a lunch break. Reportedly, flames from the set fire leapt more than 100 feet into the air and the clouds of smoke could be seen five miles away. Fortunately, it occurred during lunchtime, and no one was hurt. Scott quickly made changes to the shooting schedule and only lost three days moving to another soundstage. Meanwhile, the art department rebuilt the section of the forest set that was needed to complete filming. Four large trees were dropped into an existing forest and Scott shot the snowbound scenes there.

 

[Too Much Garlic]

Guys, what you American's call the theatrical cut is in fact the re-edited and shortened American cut, whereas what you call The Director's Cut is closer to the original theatrical European version - it came first. Goldsmith's score was the original score, Tangerine Dream is the American replaced score.

The American version is trimmed beyond making sense. It lacks connection and reason and the score is jarring and out of place.

 

[Clutch]

Did anyone notice that Blix is flesh colored at the beginning of the movie?

 

[rodneyfaile]

Just finished watching the directors cut, and then the theatrical. I have to give the advantage to the directors cut.

More importantly, my first real thought was, once I saw Meg Mucklebones, I knew 99% of CGI in movies was laziness. So often I'm taken out of a movie by CGI. Definitely none of that here. I was all in. CGI has a long was to go before it can suspend disbelief the way this movie has done. Simply outstanding.

 

[Banner]

CGI effects have definitely improved over the years, but nothing still gives weight, realistically interacts with it's environment and gets great reactionary performances from co-starts like practical effects. I'm a big fan of directors and films that try to do a healthy mix of both in movies (since CGI is like pandora's box... no shutting that thing back up) like Guillermo Del Toro and pretty much everything he does.