The ‘Legend’ Director’s Cut Is Perfect for ‘Lord of the Rings’ Fans

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While Tom Cruise isn’t known for dark fantasy films now, he took on the genre earlier in his career. In 1985, he starred in Legend, a movie directed by Ridley Scott – a director who likely attracted Cruise to the project. Unfortunately, the film wasn’t a commercial success, earning only $23.5 million despite costing $25 million to make. Critics were sharply divided, but the movie did receive award nominations, including an Oscar for Best Makeup & Hairstyling.

It’s not surprising that Tom Cruise and Ridley Scott weren’t happy with how the film was initially received. Cruise avoided discussing it for years, and Scott frequently criticized the studio’s involvement. Fortunately, the movie has gained a following over time. The 2002 release of the Director’s Cut – which added around 20 minutes – helped Legend become a beloved cult classic. This longer version is more focused and enjoyable, and it significantly improves scenes, especially the ending, making it more attractive to fantasy enthusiasts. Ultimately, though, the film’s style and ideas will probably appeal most to those who enjoy The Lord of the Rings.

An Innocent Mistake Almost Ruins the World in ‘Legend’


Universal Pictures

The film Legend opens by introducing Princess Lili (Mia Sara), a spirited noblewoman who often escapes the boredom of court life to explore a magical forest. She frequently meets her love, Jack (Tom Cruise), and they profess their affection for each other. Meanwhile, the evil Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry) is determined to cover the world in eternal darkness, and to do so, he needs to destroy the two unicorns that protect the Light. He sends his goblin followers, Blix (Alice Playten) and Pox (Peter O’Farrell), to find and eliminate these magical creatures. These opening scenes are remarkably well done and difficult to fault.

Jack, hoping to win Lili’s affection, reveals the forest’s biggest secret: where the unicorns live. Lili, thrilled, reaches out and touches one of the unicorns – something that’s strictly forbidden. This simple act gives Blix the chance to shoot the unicorn with a poisoned dart. The goblins quickly cut off the unicorn’s horn, and suddenly, the world is plunged into a devastating, endless winter. Lili, frightened, flees the scene, while Jack, who dove into a pond to get Lili’s lost ring, finds himself frozen and trapped in the ice.

While filming The Duellists in France, Ridley Scott started thinking about making a fantasy movie. This came about after his planned film, Tristan and Isolde, fell through. He worried a fantasy film wouldn’t appeal to a wide audience, so he decided to make Alien first. He then began early work on Dune, which was later finished by David Lynch.

Scott finally signed on to the project after a long wait. He researched by reading many traditional fairy tales. Believing it would be simpler to write a completely new story than to adapt one, he hired novelist William Hjortsberg to write the screenplay. Fortunately, Hjortsberg had previous experience writing scripts for films that hadn’t been made, and he was able to use that existing work as a foundation for Legend.

‘Legend’ Feels Like a Tolkien Story


Universal Pictures

Ridley Scott’s director’s cut of Legend strongly resembles the immersive worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings. With its vibrant visuals, classic fantasy characters, and a magical connection to nature, the film feels like it could exist within Middle-earth, offering a joyful and mythical experience.

Both works treat nature as something holy, and the magical forest in Scott’s film echoes the ancient forests of Tolkien’s stories, like the Age of the Trees and the home of Tom Bombadil. The unicorns in the film play a role similar to the Great Eagles and Ents in Tolkien’s world. The story about the corruption of Light also feels reminiscent of common themes in The Lord of the Rings, which explore how easily goodness can be broken and how even small acts of wrongdoing can allow evil to spread and disrupt peace (think of characters like Gollum, Saruman, and the power of the One Ring).

Jack’s journey to save the world feels a bit familiar, echoing elements from the stories of both Frodo and Aragorn. However, fans of the memorable villains and creatures in Peter Jackson’s films will likely be captivated by the new Lord of Darkness and his goblin army.

One of Legend’s greatest strengths is its incredible practical effects, makeup, and cinematography – director Ridley Scott is known for excelling in this area. The film is visually stunning, with characters and settings that feel both otherworldly and surprisingly realistic, like a world just beyond our own. This immersive atmosphere is largely thanks to the beautiful photography and dreamlike quality, and cinematographer Alex Thomson, who also created a similarly unsettling mood in the film Demolition Man.

The movie Legend also features a ring as a central plot device, much like in The Lord of the Rings. A significant part of the film focuses on Jack’s quest to find a ring for Lili, who says only the person who finds it can marry her. This is reminiscent of the plot in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films, where Sauron is determined to reclaim the One Ring.

‘Legend’ Is Far From Tom Cruise’s Best Performance, But Tim Curry’s Brilliance Compensates


Universal Pictures

It’s surprising to say, but Tom Cruise gives what might be the film’s least convincing performance. He usually commands the screen with confidence, but here he feels strangely unclear – which is unfortunate, given how important his character is to the plot. It’s possible he seemed less focused without the opportunity for his signature running scenes.

Look, this Tom Cruise performance didn’t exactly wow the critics, and I think that colored their whole view of the film. They seemed to be waiting for the same exuberant energy he brought to early roles like Risky Business and Taps, but he’s dialed back here, more restrained. Honestly, I get the sense Cruise himself wasn’t thrilled with the movie or his performance, but it’s fascinating to think that just a year later, Top Gun would explode onto the scene and completely change his career trajectory, turning him into a massive star. It makes you wonder if they’d look at this film differently now.

Tom Cruise isn’t to blame for the film’s weaknesses. The script doesn’t give his character, Jack, much to do beyond showing love for Lili and being concerned about a global crisis. He doesn’t have much opportunity to showcase his talents outside of the action scenes.

Tim Curry is a saving grace in this film. He fully commits to playing the terrifying, eight-foot-tall villain, and his incredible performance—enhanced by a complete prosthetic suit—makes you genuinely fear his character and root for his defeat. From his hooves and claws to his deep, booming voice, he convincingly embodies the devil. It’s remarkable that he’s the most memorable part of the movie, especially since he doesn’t appear until the final act.

Ultimately, it’s Stephen Curry’s captivating performance and the beautiful, evocative writing that truly resonate with viewers, not just the familiar horror elements. His portrayal of Darkness strongly resembles his iconic Hexxus from FernGully: The Last Rainforest; in both roles, he makes the character immediately engaging, delivering wonderfully expressive lines with his distinct voice. Mia Sara also deserves praise for perfectly balancing wonder and cleverness in her performance.

Even though it might not always be obvious, Tom Cruise consistently puts in a lot of effort on set, famously performing his own stunts. The DVD commentary for the Director’s Cut reveals he did all his own diving and swimming, even in waters containing alligators just 25 feet away! That’s the Tom Cruise we all know and admire – a true legend.

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2025-12-08 01:20