A demon who seeks to create eternal night by destroying the last of the unicorns and marrying a fairy Princess is opposed by the forest boy Jack (Tom Cruise) and his elven allies in this magical fantasy. Two different versions of this movie feature soundtracks by either Tangerine Dream or Jerry Goldsmith.Written by
Keith Loh <loh@sfu.ca>
Widely rumored to have been a source of inspiration for Shigeru Miyamoto's classic game series The Legend of Zelda. See more »
Goofs
As Lily's sword cuts the unicorn's chain freeing it, Jack shoots his arrow at the Devil and you can see the arrow strike his neck on the left side. However in the next shot you see that Jack has not yet released his arrow. See more »
Quotes
[first lines]
Darkness:
I am the Lord of Darkness. I require the solace of the shadows and the dark of the night. Sunshine is my destroyer. All this shall change. Tonight, the sun sets forever. There shall never be another dawn.
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Alternate Versions
Ridley Scott's preferred 113-minute "director's cut" was finally released to the U.S. on DVD in 2002 with the following additions/extensions:
Darkness' introduction is a bit longer (while still retaining his voiceover-only from the UK release;
Lily sings the full version of "My True Love's Eyes";
The clock-freezing vision from the U.S. version;
An extension of Lily visiting Nell;
Lily being called a Princess as it was in the UK version;
Jack's introduction is longer as Lily brings him biscuits which she stole from Nell's kitchen;
The Unicorn introduction is longer;
A unicorn trots circles around Lily just before she sings "Living River";
The Goblins invade the cottage, now frozen as the result of Lily's misadventure;
The Fairie sequence is longer (it is essentially the version of the scene as it played in the U.S. syndicated TV version);
The toast to Jack is longer;
Oona's introduction in the cave is longer;
Jack's encounter with Meg Mucklebones is longer;
An alternate version of the scene midway through the film where we first see Lily and the unicorn in the Tree of Darkness (an effigy of Darkness, not included in any previous version, can be seen);
The sequence where Jack, Gump and the fairies being held prisoner is longer;
A scene where Oona almost leaves Jack in prison but is freed by the other fairies;
An extension of the Demon Cooks scene (parts of the section where the cooks chop up a dead body can be seen in the opening sequence of the U.S. version);
An alternate version of "The Dress Waltz" (alternate shots of Darkness' effigy can be seen, and the sound mix of the sequence is different than in the UK version);
The voice of Darkness' Father is different than in previous versions;
Lily's confrontation with Darkness is extended;
Oona's thought line "you should see your Princess now" (heard in the UK version) is cut out;
The scene where Jack and the fairies splitting up in teams is longer (and thus explaining Gump's crystal ball in the "Darkness Fails" sequence);
An alternate scene where Lily sits down to dine with Darkness;
An extension of the "Darkness Fails" scene (Jack and the fairies running down the alley towards Darkness' cave and additional lines not used in any previous version);
Darkness falling into the abyss is seen (this was seen in U.S. theatres but not in the UK);
Jack picking up the alicorn and Gump explaining Jack's significance in his mission;
Jack finding the ring in the lake is extended slightly;
An alternate ending that suggests the entire film was a dream. This scene is where Jack finds Lily still asleep, giving her the ring, and the spell being broken, but when Lily wakes up she gives the ring right back to Jack and declares he belongs in the forest, and Lily promises to "come back tomorrow". Lily then sings "Reunited" (a reprise of "My True Love's Eyes"), and Jack and Lily go their separate ways. The film ends with Jack going off into the sunset alone, with the fairies looking on as the credits roll (previous versions have had both Jack and Lily going into the sunset); Jerry Goldsmith's original score is reinstated.
I've read a lot of opposing views here and there are valid views on both sides. I guess it boils down to what your imagination can be hopefully transfered to film for you enjoyment.
I've seen my fair share of fantasy films in my life and Legend probably reached to that part of me quicker than any film of that genre than has been done before and since. Lord of the Rings surpasses it on many levels...but Legeng still has the ability after all these years to make me think of pure fantasy, and that's what I believe this film is about. Good vs evil is what most films are about, but Legend is what fairies and goblins and a mystical forests are!
Visually I doubt you can find much better even 20 odd years later! Good vs evil in a setting that is set in a purer forum. Character development here are not too strong, but they're not meant to be. They are strong enough to portray love vs evil vs good and bad, and they do it well in the context of the story. Tom Cruise did a good Job as the Nieve and yet courageous Jack, Lily was a the prize of his longing and it came across as undeniable. Mia Sara as lily is the stuff of youthful longing.
Tim Curry played the spoiler and he did it to the point of stealing all of the film. He is the stuff of fantasy. The costume was spectacular, and his portrayal of the character was commanding...And over the top cause that what he does well!
I enjoyed the directors cut film more as it is longer and tells the story just a little better, but I enjoyed Tangarines Dream's score more as it captured the mood of fantasy ( for me) as set in a mystical place! Jerry Goldsmith had some very good moments, but TD for me layed out a fairytale with my eyes closed better.
But at the end you either see this for the pure fantasy it is about or you see it as something deeper that it doesn't pretend to be. It's much purer in it's view on good vs evil and to my taste it hits on every level of that platform. And not to mention it's ability to make for a great dream filled with hope and danger.
Pure fantasy...and should be viewed with that intent.
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I've read a lot of opposing views here and there are valid views on both sides. I guess it boils down to what your imagination can be hopefully transfered to film for you enjoyment.
I've seen my fair share of fantasy films in my life and Legend probably reached to that part of me quicker than any film of that genre than has been done before and since. Lord of the Rings surpasses it on many levels...but Legeng still has the ability after all these years to make me think of pure fantasy, and that's what I believe this film is about. Good vs evil is what most films are about, but Legend is what fairies and goblins and a mystical forests are!
Visually I doubt you can find much better even 20 odd years later! Good vs evil in a setting that is set in a purer forum. Character development here are not too strong, but they're not meant to be. They are strong enough to portray love vs evil vs good and bad, and they do it well in the context of the story. Tom Cruise did a good Job as the Nieve and yet courageous Jack, Lily was a the prize of his longing and it came across as undeniable. Mia Sara as lily is the stuff of youthful longing.
Tim Curry played the spoiler and he did it to the point of stealing all of the film. He is the stuff of fantasy. The costume was spectacular, and his portrayal of the character was commanding...And over the top cause that what he does well!
I enjoyed the directors cut film more as it is longer and tells the story just a little better, but I enjoyed Tangarines Dream's score more as it captured the mood of fantasy ( for me) as set in a mystical place! Jerry Goldsmith had some very good moments, but TD for me layed out a fairytale with my eyes closed better.
But at the end you either see this for the pure fantasy it is about or you see it as something deeper that it doesn't pretend to be. It's much purer in it's view on good vs evil and to my taste it hits on every level of that platform. And not to mention it's ability to make for a great dream filled with hope and danger.
Pure fantasy...and should be viewed with that intent.