Legend

Let’s think back to the films that portray the devil, or hell. Recently we have Dwain Johnson (better known as the Rock) traveling to Mars, and reaching Hell through a failed experiment in the 2005 film Doom. Going back a bit further, and keeping the same genre, we have the film Event Horizons, a film about a research spacecraft opens the portal to a different dimension, and transforms our good friend Sam Neil into a freakishly insane devil character. But let’s go back even further, back to a time when everything was pretty, and sweet: the 1980s. Back before Tom Cruise was insane, rich, or annoying. Back when people actually knew who Tim Curry was. I bring you a review of one of the better 80s ‘hell’ themed films, Legend.

This film is about a man in love, and his desire to save her from absolute evil. The world is being threatened by the lord of darkness, the Devil (played by Tim Curry, if you can find him under all the makeup and prosthetics.) The Devil plans to kill all the unicorns on earth, thus bringing an end to the spirit that keeps us alive. He cuts their horns off, and slaughters them in his underworld. While capturing the last unicorn on earth, his henchmen capture Princess Lily (Mia Sara) and bring her to the underworld. Her lover, Jack, played by a 23 year old Tom Cruise, must enter hell, and befriend a team to help him stop the dark lord from ending the world. They inch their way deeper into his realm, fighting time, as the Devil slowly starts to charm Princess Lily. Her will gives in, and she starts to fall in love with the Devil, becoming his dark bride. She desires to kill the last unicorn, thus ending the world. Jack must fight through goblins and horrible creatures to stop her lust generated by the devil himself.

When I think back to fantasy films that I’ve seen, I think of The Never Ending Story, or Dark Crystal, or dare I say, Labyrinth. But let me be clear. There is something that sets this film apart from the rest. Director Ridley Scott brings together a diverse cast and an imaginative world of beauty and horror. His huge devil creature, mirroring Disney’s Fantasia’s monster from “A Night on Bald Mountain” contrasts the beautiful world he creates up above. It tells the story of a young couple in love, and a passion strong enough to delve deep within the pits of hell. And believe me, this isn’t some weird, quirky Jim Henson monster-fest. Though the trolls and dwarfs that join Jack’s group have that look, the characters themselves actually have dimension. We care if they make it out alive, we care when they’re captures, and we care when they’re injured.

Visually, this film is very strong. And I like that in a film like this. I think it’s important that we believe where we are, and that we can be brought into a world we are unfamiliar with. As viewers, we have to take that initial step into the concept before we can be carried off. And I think this film does it very well. The music accompanying the film was very strong as well, composed by Jerry Goldsmith (be sure to get a copy made after 2002, as the original soundtrack was removed to make the film more kid-friendly.) And most of all, the monster, the Devil, wasn’t ridiculous. Strangely enough, he too was seeking partnership in his lonely world. He was seeking a woman by his side. His character wasn’t just fire and brimstone, as usually depicted. And that, in my mind, brought on an interesting and enjoyable level to the film.

If you’ve not seen this film, and are in the mood for a feel good film about love, and a desire stronger than the powers of hell, I’d suggest this film. It’s clean, beautiful, and horrible all at the same time. The acting is enjoyable, and the story just makes me smile. Again, I wonder where film making has taken us these days. I’m glad that the 80s has moved on, and that film today doesn’t constantly take a ‘beautiful’ stance. But still, there’s something to be said about movies that bring us somewhere we’ve never been, rather than the streets of LA, another cop film, politics, or another Denzel Washington Flick about being pissed off.

Check Legend out. It’s worth the rent, and pays off if you’ve got a girl nearby. 7.25 of 10.