AlthoughRidley Scottis best known for movie franchises such asBlade RunnerorGladiator,there is one movie by the famed director that deserves a lot more praise. Since the late 1970s, Ridley Scott has helmed some of the most iconic and successful movies in modern Hollywood. FromAlientoThelma and Louise,Scott has created stories that remain in popular culture for decadesafter their release. Yet, not all ofRidley Scott’s moviesare lauded. In fact, one of his earliest movies was severely underrated upon its roll-out, and it continues to be looked over.
In 1985, Ridley Scott directed a movie calledLegend.It was his fourth movie and came directly afterBlade RunnerandAlien.The movie starredTom Cruise as the lead characterJack, a forest-dwelling young man who sets out to save his princess lover and protect the world from being taken over by Darkness. Alongside Cruise,Legend’scast included Tim Curry, Mia Sara, Alice Playten, and Billy Barty.Legendstands out among Scott’s filmography because of its fairy tale rootsand fantastical nature. Arguably, none of Scott’s films have ever been or ended up being as whimsical.
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Why Ridley Scott’s Legend Is Actually A Great Fantasy Movie
Legend Is An Entertaining & Fun Experience
ThoughLegendis often swept under the rug compared to other Ridley Scott movies, it deserves more attention.Legendis an epic fantasy talethat has Scott’s tell-tale visuals and a vast story. From start to finish,Legendis interesting to look at, with beautiful images of unicorns in the sun and grim explorations of the Darkness' underground world. Where others may findLegend’s1980s ambiance to be cheesy, that is part of what makes it such a great watch.Legendis nostalgic, ambitious, and dedicated wholeheartedly to its genre.
Going intoLegend,audiences should not expect a good story or outstanding performances, but they will certainly enjoy themselves.
Overall,Legendis good because it’s fun. Though many criticized itfor plot holes and other glaring issues, the movie itself is definitely entertaining. Quality aside,Legendhas a world that is grand and easy to fall into. The cast’s performances may be over-the-top, but again, that is part of its appeal. It is the type of movie that is so bad that it’s good. Every critique can be flipped on its head and turned into a reason to love it. Going intoLegend,audiences may not expect a good story or outstanding performances, but they will certainly enjoy themselves.
Legend Was Not Popular Upon Release
Critics Disliked Legend’s Story
Despite its entertainment value and impressive visuals,Legendwas mostly panned by critics. On Rotten Tomatoes,Legendhas a 42% critics' score and a 73% audience score. For the most part, critics were upset withLegendbecause of its story. Many felt thatLegend’splot lacked any sort of nuance or creativity, and instead, was an amalgamation of variousother popular fantasy stories. Some hated the movie so much that they accusedLegendof keeping Hollywood away from fantasy films. Essentially, those who dislikedLegendreally hated the project, regardless of its good qualities.
It is important to note as well thatLegenddid very poorly at the box office. On a budget of $25 million, the fantasy film only made $23 million. In this way,Legenddidn’t even come close to breaking even. Perhaps audiences simply weren’t that enticed by Scott’s concept, despite his previous successes withAlienandBlade Runner.Maybe it was clear from the start that the movie wasn’t going to be good. Either way, the majority of critics turned their backs onLegend,and the movie quickly sunk into Hollywood oblivion.
Legend Proves Ridley Scott Should’ve Directed More Fantasy Genre Movies
Ridley Scott Could Redeem Himself After Legend
Ultimately, the rise and fall ofLegendis proof that Scott should have directedmore fantasy movies. Although critics were unhappy with the film, many audiences were impressed by it. They were sufficiently entertained, at the very least. In this way,Scott could have continued making fantasy filmsto redeem himself afterLegend’sfailure. With a stronger script, Scott could have easily made a fantasy movie that catered to both audiences and critics. All itneeded was a more original concept and perhaps more lightheartedness. Nevertheless,Legendproves Scott’s fantasy stories certainly have potential.
Ridley Scott has signed on to direct an action thriller calledBomb,a financial thriller calledBig Dogs,and a film inspired by Cirque du Soleil’sO.
As Ridley Scott comes closer to the release of his new movie,Gladiator 2,audiences are likely eager to hear what the director is going to tackle next. Among Scott’s reported upcoming projects is a Bee Gees biopic. However, there is still hope that Scott could tackle fantasy again. IfGladiator 2does well,there is a chance that Scott could be interested in yet another epic, but in a fantasy setting. Ultimately,Ridley Scott’sLegenddeserves to be appreciated for what it is.
Ridley Scott
Discover the latest news and filmography for Ridley Scott, known for Gladiator and Blade Runner.
