So I picked up Legend (http://imdb.com/title/tt0089469/) Ultimate edition based on some weak memory of it being interesting. Also having picked up Labyrinth and the Dark Crystal I was hoping to have another classic to watch.
This box contained both the Directors Cut and the US Theatrical release.. The box noted that they had different sound tracks, which I thought was odd. We ended up watched the Directors Cut and really enjoyed the movie. Then while watching the special features they where talking about how the sound track had been switched for a more modern sound track only 3 weeks before they had released the US version. So to check this out we put in the original, MAN IS IT BAD! Not only do you have 80s synth beating you over the head in a fantasy movie, the cut of several scenes and the ending, TOTALLY CHANGE THE MOVIE!
Directors cut - WORTH WATCHING
US Theatrical Cut - 80s trash
Yeah, the Director's cut kicks ass (haven't seen it in a while though). Music is a very important element to a lot of movies. A good example of this is Fritz Lang's Metropolis (1927) I have heard at least three accompanying audio tracks for this silent classic; a late 80s early 90s take on it (not bad...not great), a stock classical music version (HORRIBLE-DO NOT WANT) and the actual original orchestration (stunning!). Another good example is the film Ladyhawke. The film itself isn't blockbuster material but one point of contention for fans is the soundtrack and whether or not it adversely harms the film. Now the soundtrack was orchestrated by Alan Parsons (whose music I fiercely love) and if you really, really like Alan Parsons as I do you think the soundtrack rocks, others vehemently disagree. Alan chose to mix his own classical sounding orchestral music with electric guitars and synthesizer and to some the combination is very hard on the ear and distracting from the film. Personally, I think the film itself isn't all that great to begin with and a prog-rock soundtrack was just too mismatched to make people happy.
The best original soundtrack for any movie, to me, has still got to be Star Wars: A New Hope. it is simply masterful and so well fitted to the film. It completely changed how sci-fi movies sounded (don't believe me? Check out the soundtrack to Logan's Run, a film that came out a scant year before).
Music is definitely one of the keystones to a great film!
Quote from: Mr. Analog on February 18, 2007, 02:52:17 PMAlan chose to mix his own classical sounding orchestral music with electric guitars and synthesizer and to some the combination is very hard on the ear and distracting from the film.
Interesting, as the heavy synthesizer in the US Theatrical release really dates the movie for me. If I was watching it the 80s I might have not noticed so much. The alternate sound track in the directors cut (actually the original) has a more timeless quality better suited to a fairy tail for me. Watching the special features although he claims to like both versions, it seems clear that the director really now thinks he should have released what he first had.
Fun part of the movie for me was the names that appear in the cast Tom Cruise, Tim Curry and Robert Picardo. Poor Picardo you would miss him completely in the movie if you didn't know he was in a full prosthetic suit, and in the theatrical release his part is cut so short it isn't even memorable.
Quote from: Lazybones on February 18, 2007, 07:30:48 PM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on February 18, 2007, 02:52:17 PMAlan chose to mix his own classical sounding orchestral music with electric guitars and synthesizer and to some the combination is very hard on the ear and distracting from the film.
Interesting, as the heavy synthesizer in the US Theatrical release really dates the movie for me. If I was watching it the 80s I might have not noticed so much. The alternate sound track in the directors cut (actually the original) has a more timeless quality better suited to a fairy tail for me. Watching the special features although he claims to like both versions, it seems clear that the director really now thinks he should have released what he first had.
Fun part of the movie for me was the names that appear in the cast Tom Cruise, Tim Curry and Robert Picardo. Poor Picardo you would miss him completely in the movie if you didn't know he was in a full prosthetic suit, and in the theatrical release his part is cut so short it isn't even memorable.
Robert Picardo has always (to me) been an underrated actor and his character really stands out more in the Directors cut.
Personally, I don't mind a synth-heavy soundtrack as long as it fits the movie, I can't even imagine
Transformers: The Movie without the talent of Vince DiCotta (yea, I know that's a bad example, still!).
Quote from: Mr. Analog on February 18, 2007, 08:28:57 PM
Personally, I don't mind a synth-heavy soundtrack as long as it fits the movie, I can't even imagine Transformers: The Movie without the talent of Vince DiCotta (yea, I know that's a bad example, still!).
Well transformers is more SciFi than fantasy, having a very electronic sound track is fitting. The synth sound track in Legends US release makes no sense to me. Why go through all the work of making a Ye Old fairy tail fantasy world only to bombard it with the harsh tones of the synth. The at any rate it is nice to know I am not the only one that enjoyed this movie.
Hah, i was reading some of the comments on IMDB and I am surprised how many people LOVE the US sound track and hate the Goldsmith one.
Quote from: Lazybones on February 22, 2007, 11:05:27 AM
Hah, i was reading some of the comments on IMDB and I am surprised how many people LOVE the US sound track and hate the Goldsmith one.
That seems... wrong...
I guess it depends on if you were a fan of the theatrical release.
Quote from: Mr. Analog on February 18, 2007, 02:52:17 PM
Music is a very important element to a lot of movies.
Music is definitely one of the keystones to a great film!
Complete concurrence my friend. For example, 2 words:
Donnie Darko.
Now that's a soundtrack (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246578/soundtrack) that *I* "fiercely love" ;D
(I heard the later DVD release *changed* the opening song as Donnie is biking home (from the incomparably fitting "The Killing Moon" by E&TB)-- I own it, yet haven't gotten around to watching it yet, and to me changing any of the songs would totally ruin the emotional connection I have with that movie, it just flows so well scene-to-scene, song-to-song, prank-to-prank...)