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- A Classic Struggle of Good vs Evil in Legend
- Legend Was Anything But Its Namesake on Release
- Legend Garnered a Cult Following and a Praise with the Director’s Cut
As a long-time enthusiast of cinematic history and a connoisseur of the fantastical, I must say that the tale of “Legend” is one that truly resonates with me. Having grown up in the era of VHS tapes and late-night viewings on local cable channels, this film left an indelible mark on my young imagination.
Discussing a common occurrence, directors often face studio interventions during the theatrical release of their films. The DC fandom is particularly familiar with this phenomenon in relation to the “Snyder Cut” release. While alterations can sometimes trim excess or even enhance the production, it’s disheartening for creators when their original vision gets discarded and ultimately leads to failure.
The movie titled “Legend” was expected to thrive, considering it starred Tom Cruise and was directed by Ridley Scott. However, despite high expectations, this dark fantasy film did not fare well at the box office or with critics upon its initial release. Nevertheless, it managed to capture a loyal fanbase, eventually gaining cult status. This devoted following, combined with a later, more refined version of the movie becoming available, led many to reconsider their views on the film’s worth. In this analysis, we will delve into “Legend”‘s box office struggles and its subsequent rise to notoriety due to fan devotion and the availability of an improved version of the film that reached viewers years after its initial premiere.
A Classic Struggle of Good vs Evil in Legend
As I sat down in the cinema, I embarked on a gripping journey with “Legend” – a captivating dark fantasy adventure. In this tale, I found myself accompanying Jack (Tom Cruise), a compassionate denizen of the forest, who is entrusted with an extraordinary mission: to shield the last enchanting unicorn and prevent the world from plunging into eternal darkness.
I find comfort in the depths of the night and the shelter of the shadows. Bright daylight, for me, brings destruction.” (Character named Darkness from the movie Legend, played by Tim Curry)
In the movie, Tom Cruise was the main character, Jack, having recently made a big impact with his role in 1983’s Risky Business. He added stardom to the production, and it turned out to be one of his most cherished roles apart from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Tim Curry, famously known for his role in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, transformed into Darkness using an impressive prosthetic. Mia Sara, best recognized as Sloane Peterson in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, portrayed the princess, and Legend marked one of her notable screen appearances outside this film.
Ridley Scott helmed the film “Legend”, following the success of two future masterpieces, “Blade Runner” (1982) and “Alien” (1979), before its release. The film was based on the writings of William Hjortsberg, who also joined the production to pen the screenplay. Originally, Jerry Goldsmith composed the music, but it was later replaced with the contribution of Tangerine Dream, a groundbreaking German electronic band, due to audience disapproval of Goldsmith’s composition during testing.
Legend Was Anything But Its Namesake on Release
Under Tom Cruise’s starring role and Ridley Scott as director, audiences had high expectations for this ’80s film to perform well financially. Unfortunately, the movie ended up tarnishing both creatives’ reputations, with Tom Cruise having very few box office failures throughout his long career. The worldwide box office earnings amounted to a disappointing $16.8 million against an estimated budget of $24 million. The film’s poor performance was so significant that it severely affected the fantasy genre at the box office, with some industry analysts labeling it as a “genre extinction event.
The film Legend faced numerous setbacks, and it’s been suggested that one of these was incorrect marketing. However, a crucial factor contributing to its poor performance was the unfavorable critical response at the time. To put it simply, the movie wasn’t well-received by critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 41% “rotten” rating, while the Popcorn Meter rated it more positively at 73%. However, upon its release, reviews were predominantly negative. Roger Ebert, in his review of the film, gave it a 2/5 stars and concluded, “Despite all the impressive special effects, great makeup, and wonderful Muppet creatures, a movie can’t succeed if it lacks a clear purpose and the joy of its own creation.
Tom Cruise and Ridley Scott expressed dissatisfaction with the end result. For a long time after its release, Cruise avoided talking about “Legend”, presumably because he wasn’t satisfied with the film’s final version shown in theaters. Given that Scott had recently experienced his own turmoil during the production of “Blade Runner” – which faced heavy cuts and production troubles – it’s likely that additional studio meddling with “Legend” left him feeling disillusioned.
Legend Garnered a Cult Following and a Praise with the Director’s Cut
Even though Legend received severe negative criticism and failed at the box office, it gained a dedicated fanbase. This was due to several factors, such as younger viewers cherishing the movie in their memories. Tim Curry’s performance and the fantastical creatures provided an indelible dark fantasy image for young minds. Some admired it initially for its impressive special effects and found themselves enamored with the film despite its perceived flaws. However, the 2002 release of the director’s cut elevated the movie to the status of a misunderstood cinematic classic.
In the Director’s Edition of Legend, it played for around 113 minutes. The versions shown in theaters varied between the US (89 minutes) and Europe (94 minutes). Despite these differences, viewers who saw the Director’s Cut got an extra 19 to 24 minutes of content. This was achieved by expanding on conversations, particularly the crucial throne room scene between Lili and Darkness, adding more substantial dialogue. Additionally, creative decisions were made, such as omitting the initial appearance of Darkness and instead gradually revealing him. Also, the original score by Jerry Goldsmith was reinstated in the Director’s Cut.
If you’re interested in watching the most complete version of the movie “Legend,” which is often considered the best by many viewers (although opinions differ on the music), then you should opt for the director’s cut. However, finding this version can be tricky as streaming platforms like Apple TV and Prime Video offer only the theatrical cut. To watch the director’s cut of Legend, you will need to buy it.
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2024-11-04 04:31