Legend: Director's Cut

[Mouseferatu]

Bought Legend on DVD yesterday. The new DVD of Legend, that is. The one that contains both the movie as we all know it, and the original, 30-minutes-longer director's cut with the original Jerry Goldsmith score.

You know what? The shorter version is better.

Some of the stuff added back in was cool. Gave the movie even more of an "out there" feel. But a lot of it was slow, slow, ssllooowwww... Too slow for the pacing of the rest of the movie. And some of the scenes added back in had really cheesy dialogue, even considering that the rest of the film ain't exactly Shakespeare.

But you know what was most disappointing? The score. I'm normally a Goldsmith fan, but this was--well, dull. In all respect, the Tangerine Dream score was much better.

Oh, well. It's worth having if only for the extras and the fact that it's got the original movie on there as well. And it's not like the director's cut is awful. It's worth watching once, if only to say you've seen it. But if you already own the theatrical version on DVD, don't bother spending money on this one.

 

[Furn_Darkside]

I have trouble believing that movie could be made to feel as if it was going any slower...

FD

 

[Sulimo]

Bought Legend on DVD yesterday. The new DVD of Legend, that is. The one that contains both the movie as we all know it, and the original, 30-minutes-longer director's cut with the original Jerry Goldsmith score.

You know what? The shorter version is better.

But you know what was most disappointing? The score. I'm normally a Goldsmith fan, but this was--well, dull. In all respect, the Tangerine Dream score was much better.

Oh, well. It's worth having if only for the extras and the fact that it's got the original movie on there as well. And it's not like the director's cut is awful. It's worth watching once, if only to say you've seen it. But if you already own the theatrical version on DVD, don't bother spending money on this one.

I havent seen the DVD, but the only version I have seen is the non-US cut which is essentially the same as the DVD from what I understand.

I love the Goldmsith score (its one of my fave Goldsmith scores actually), and couldnt imagine seeing it with another score.

Given the comments above, maybe the producers were right creating a US version for you guys.

 

[Limper]

I thank you Rodent of the Dark! You have saved me some bit of money.... I had had such hopes.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Re: Re: Legend: Director's Cut

I havent seen the DVD, but the only version I have seen is the non-US cut which is essentially the same as the DVD from what I understand.

I love the Goldmsith score (its one of my fave Goldsmith scores actually), and couldnt imagine seeing it with another score.

Given the comments above, maybe the producers were right creating a US version for you guys.

Well, I suppose it could just be a question of what you're used to. Maybe if I'd seen the original first I'd like it better.

*Shrug* I just think that the additional scenes don't add much to the movie. I don't mind slow scenes if they're worthwhile, but these didn't seem to be.

 

[Mouseferatu]

Some additional thoughts...

First off, the director's cut, as I understand it, is not the same as the European theatrical release. The European theatrical release was cut a bit less than the US release, but they were both cut.

A lot of the stuff they added back in is good, don't get me wrong. Unfortunately, a lot more of it was just kinda slow and unnecessary.

Regarding the score, in most cases, I'm a firm believer in classical scores for fantasy movies. (I think the techno score is the only thing preventing Ladyhawke from being an all-time fantasy classic.) In this instance, though, the Tangerine Dream soundtrack accomplished two things that the Goldsmith score--IMHO, of course--did not.

First, it conveyed a sense of eerie, otherworldliness that is very appropriate, even essential, to a movie like Legend. Second, in greatly enhanced several dramatic scenes--the finding of the injured unicorn, the dance with the black dress, the emergence of Darkness from the mirror--that I felt fell kinda flat in the original Goldsmith floor.

But hey, again, this is just the way I see--and hear--it.

 

[Droogie]

Mouse, I'm in total agreement.

I've been waiting for years to hear the original Goldsmith score in this movie. I was able to get it on cd several years ago, and I thought it was pretty good. Have to admit when I heard it in the film I was a bit disappointed. I once hated the Tangerine Dream score. Not anymore.

The shorter cut seemed to have a better narrative flow to it. Tho some of the added scenes are beautiful (Lily singing to the unicorn I quite liked), they mostly turn the film into a bumpy road.