Legend (1985)

Legend (1985) is a fantasy film directed by Ridley Scott, starring a young Tom Cruise.

As a child and teenager, I wasn’t a big fan of this film. However, I needed to see it again and, as an adult, I really enjoyed it.

It has to be said that it’s quite dark!
It’s not as colourful as Gremlins (1984 & 1990),
not light-hearted like Ghostbusters (1984 & 1989),
not from a cartoon toy line like Masters of the Universe (1987),
not with a long, adventure-filled journey à la Krull (1983),
not a treasure hunt à la Goonies (1985), etc. I could go on and on!

You have to have lived through the 80s to understand them.
It’s hard to appreciate the cinema of that era now if you haven’t been immersed in it.

Legend is less masterful and spectacular than Neverending Story (1984), but it’s almost just as entertaining. It’s clearly better than all those Leprechaun, Ghoulies, and Critters films. On the other hand, it doesn’t match the fun of the fabulous The Monster Squad (1987).

And that’s it! With this list, you’ve got almost all my favourite films of the genre at the time and we can, without further ado, add Dark Crystal (1982). Legend certainly joins this list because of its fantastic story, packed with action and enchantment.

The direction is good. After all, do I really need to introduce Ridley Scott? Everyone knows at least one of his films, be it Alien (1979), Blade Runner (1982), Gladiator (2000 & 2024), Thelma & Louise (1991), Hannibal (2001), American Gangster (2007), Black Hawk Down (2001) and the list goes on.

It’s fabulous to see Tim Curry once again in a role that suits him perfectly. He plays a monstrous devil, big and strong, with enormous horns. His voice and the way he speaks are so eloquent. If you haven’t already done so, go and see him in all his exceptional roles: The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), Times Square (1980), Clue – The Movie/Cluedo (1985) and It. But he also graced us with his presence in Congo (1995), Charlie’s Angels (2000), Titanic – TV Series (1996) and of course The Three Musketeers (1993)!

What a pleasure to see Tom Cruise, so young, already so talented and energetic, with his long hair and his real teeth. He remains one of my favourite actors, whatever happens. Can anyone deny his magnificent choice of career, and his incredible acting in films such as A Few Good Men (1992), Interview with the Vampire (1994), Eyes Wide Shut & Magnolia (1999), Vanilla Sky (2001), Minority Report (2002), Last Samurai (2003), Collateral (2004)…

Mia Sara made her biggest impression on me with Queenie (1987). Quite a dramatic film. She was also in the horror film Daughter of Darkness (1990), as well as, of course, in a Brian Henson film, Jim Henson’s Jack and the Beanstalk – The Real Story and alongside Matthew Broderick and Jean-Claude Van Damme in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) and Timecop (1994) respectively.

As for the other actors and actresses (like Billy Barty, Alice Playten, Cork Hubbert), they all do a good job and everyone’s a pleasure to watch, but I don’t know any of them. And I don’t think I’ve seen them anywhere else. But it’s worth noting that David Bennent, who was born in Lausanne, is a Swiss actor. He lives in Germany and France and speaks fluent French and German, as well as English.

This is a sinister fantasy film, as much of it takes place at night, in the snow or in underground passages, some of which are on fire. A vision rather like hell! It seems to me that it probably inspired an episode of the Beauty and the Beast series (1987 – 1990).

Legend is good fun, and quite original, despite its familiar creatures. Here, there are goblins whose outcome is not always very clear. There are also two unicorns, goblins and a temperamental fairy. No dwarves, elves, witches or Cyclops, though!

As a child I was already fascinated by darkness, and to this day he’s probably my favourite character. Tim Curry is fabulous and so seductive. The whole film shows an incredible imagination, which is lacking in many of today’s films.

The story fascinates me a little more than it did then and the set design is incredible. And let’s not forget Robert Picardo as Meg Mucklebones!
It’s theatrically magnificent!!!

Someone wrote: ‘My kids didn’t want it after 30 minutes. Sadly. They are too spoilt technically and the film was too theatrical for them (David Bennet!). BUT I loved the film. The difference between good and evil is perfectly portrayed by the picture and the acting.’

Imagine if Ridley Scott had made this film today (with the same intentions of course), simply with today’s technical possibilities! Who knows what a masterpiece it would have been? In that case, of course, David Bennent wouldn’t have aged either!

Well, at the same time, these sets, the scenography and the masks were at the cutting edge of technology at the time. Everything seemed much more real and authentic than in science fiction films.

In short, it was almost a dream film, one of the best fantasy films I’ve ever seen. I’ll always enjoy watching it, apparently. A must-see!