Legend (1985) May 31, 2011

[vidjunkie]

Originally Posted by retablo

One of Goldsmith's best scores. The Tangerine dream score pales in comparison. If the Director's cut contained the scene at the end replacing the unicorn horn, it would easily be the definitive cut.

I agree, is there anything online that details the differences between the 3 cuts?

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by vidjunkie

I agree, is there anything online that details the differences between the 3 cuts?

This compares the U.S. theatrical cut and the Director's Cut:

http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=5828765

[nagysaudio]

So do all Fox releases have the European theatrical cut? Japan, France, UK, etc.?

[Bl@deRu>>er]

Which version has the ending where

[Show spoiler] as the two run off together into the sun, the camera pans up into the sky and you see the lord of darkness laughing?

[al cos.]

American theatrical.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by kdo

Splitting hairs here...

How so?

Not at face value they don't. And even on zoom, you have to get nitpicky.

It's hardly "nitpicky" to point out that green leaves, thanks to contrast boosting, have become black blobs, and that those blobs have become even bigger blobs thanks to the overzealous edge enhancement creating black rings around the black blobs. All of which can be seen quite plainly without zooming. And that's only one example in a transfer full of them.

There is a more filmlike appearance regarding certain aspects of those Euro-cut shots, but they still look "soft" to me in general...Oh well, no worries, it seems we all have our own opinions regarding these differing releases/versions, I doubt there's very little that is going to be said or done to sway us from our stances ...I'm off to other boards...enjoy

They look "soft" because of the way the film was shot. Digital sharpening is the only reason the US Cut appears sharper, and digital sharpening is an optical illusion. It negatively impacts detail while giving the appearance of heightened detail. Which is precisely what every one of those screenshots demonstrates. That's why the "soft"-looking Euro Cut has visible detail that the "sharper" US Cut lacks.

My "stance" is quite simple. The Euro Cut and Director's Cut look like film...the US Cut looks like video.

[kdo]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

My "stance" is quite simple. The Euro Cut and Director's Cut look like film...the US Cut looks like video.

I don't think the US Cut looks like video at all, though I'll agree that certain aspects of the Euro & DC versions do come off as a bit more filmic (not to mention that the Euro Cut clearly got the strongest transfer). Other than that, I don't know what to say except that this is one extremely rare instance in which I apparently prefer a more "processed" look , but that said, I feel it has less to do with the technicalities of the transfer, and more to do with the overall presentation of the US Cut in general (everything from visual appearance to thematic elements to soundtrack).

By all means, please enjoy your slightly stronger (yet softer looking and different color-timed) transfer of the Euro Cut w/ Jerry Goldsmith Score, which sorely lacks the most important aspect of "Legend" altogether :

Bryan Ferry + David Gilmour = *Is Your Love Strong Enough* - YouTube

[retablo]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

This compares the U.S. theatrical cut and the Director's Cut:

http://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=5828765

That comparison is still incomplete, because it doesn't mention the omission of Jack returning the horn to the unicorn at the end and bringing it back to life, which is in the TV but inexplicably not the DC.

Originally Posted by vidjunkie

I agree, is there anything online that details the differences between the 3 cuts?

Which begs the question... you make mashups of Conan and other films.... You should make a true DC and re-insert that unicorn scene at the end. I'd gladly trade for that!

[vidjunkie]

Originally Posted by retablo

That comparison is still incomplete, because it doesn't mention the omission of Jack returning the horn to the unicorn at the end and bringing it back to life, which is in the TV but inexplicably not the DC.



Which begs the question... you make mashups of Conan and other films.... You should make a true DC and re-insert that unicorn scene at the end. I'd gladly trade for that!

I am thinking on this, this is why I would love to see the actual differences between the 3, from what I understand there are small things missing from all 3 that can be used to make 1 full version.

[Jeff B]

Originally Posted by vidjunkie

I agree, is there anything online that details the differences between the 3 cuts?

This site is really good. If you look through all the different sections, you'll find some really detailed information.

[vidjunkie]

Originally Posted by Jeff B

This site is really good. If you look through all the different sections, you'll find some really detailed information.

Thank you for this, I still think it would be cool to have an ultimate cut with all scenes and to have an option to watch with the Tangerine score or Goldsmiths, I will go through the link and see what there is but I still think there are subtle differences between all 3 versions, I do not think that only adding in the Horn being placed back on the Unicorn in the DC is all that is different, but I could be wrong.

[Jeff B]

Originally Posted by vidjunkie

I still think it would be cool to have an ultimate cut with all scenes and to have an option to watch with the Tangerine score or Goldsmiths

Yeah, that would be cool. I like both scores but am used to the Tangerine Dream one.

Are you seriously planning another project? Man, you must be overloaded with Conan and Terminator already.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by nagysaudio

So do all Fox releases have the European theatrical cut? Japan, France, UK, etc.?

yes. although I'm not sure how the UK got the director's cut which I assume is owned by Universal

[vidjunkie]

Originally Posted by Jeff B

Yeah, that would be cool. I like both scores but am used to the Tangerine Dream one.

Are you seriously planning another project? Man, you must be overloaded with Conan and Terminator already.

1 of them is done and the other is getting there, but now I just want to see what is what without having to watch all 3 films through a microscope and take a ton of notes lol, that is why I am searching to see what is online, there has to be all this information already somewhere, I need to check the link that was provided just a few posts back, plus I need to see how the score is on these tracks, if it is separate then something like this could possibly be done, hell I have even seen scenes that are not even on any of the 3 cuts, but they are a little rough, but very, very cool to see.

[Oblivion138]

Originally Posted by vidjunkie

I am thinking on this, this is why I would love to see the actual differences between the 3, from what I understand there are small things missing from all 3 that can be used to make 1 full version.

Just don't add in the stuff from the opening of the US Cut where you see Darkness with the glowing green eyes and claws. It kills the impact of his great character reveal much later in the film.

[vidjunkie]

Originally Posted by Oblivion138

Just don't add in the stuff from the opening of the US Cut where you see Darkness with the glowing green eyes and claws. It kills the impact of his great character reveal much later in the film.

I agree.

[hsox05]

I am assuming that the euro cut can only be had by uk import.

Watching this with my kids right now, the director's cut is insanely inconsistent. At times it looks natural and film-like, then all of a sudden the image will get soft AND have a layer of grain so thick its jumping off the screen. When its right, it's better than the theatrical. When it goes wrong it goes really wrong.

[bigbadwoppet]

Originally Posted by retablo

I'm still waiting for a real directors cut that merges the 2 versions.. there's no excuse why one of the most important (and beautifully shot) moments in the finale of the theatrical — namely, returning the horn to the unicorn and bringing it back to life, thus bringing light back to the world — is missing from the Director's cut. As it plays, the unicorn is suddenly just back alive again, with no mention of what happened... it's a pretty glaring error that marrs an otherwise better cut of the film, but not a definitive cut.

If you take the trouble to listen to Scott's commentary on the DC, the cutting and restoring of the unicorn were never intended to be in the final cut. Those decisions fall on one William Gordean, chosen by Sheinberg to recut the film.
The original international release was a shortened version of the director's cut by 20 minutes but even that longer cut does not include certain scenes for a reason.