| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Legend
Review of Ridley Scott's film
|
|
Jack, child of the forest, is in love with
princess Lili. One day, in order to share
with her a magical moment, he takes her to a secret place where the two last unicorns
wander. However, Lili violates the code of the forest and touches one of the
sacred animals, thus indirectly and unvoluntarily causing his death. As a result, the world
is taken over by the season of death. If the last unicorn perishes, the sun will never rise
again and the world will be plunged into an endless night, causing ancient demons to rise
again. Darkness kidnaps the last unicorn to offer her in sacrifice and thus resurrect all
his monstruous siblings who died when the sun appeared. Lili is also taken prisoner while
trying to defend the magical creature. Her innocence fascinates Darkness who decides to
attempt to seduce and corrupt her. |
| |
| |
| Visually the most beautiful film ever created. The photography, the lighting, the sets and
the costumes are so enchanting that it brings the imaginary world of fantasy to life with
great realism, while still remaining otherworldly. The forest is wonderful and magical. The music is eerie and unsettling, even weird, which adds to
the dark undertones of the film. The actors are excellent and manage to make all these unearthly beings seem real.
Mia Sara (Lili) is especially brilliant in her part of the young princess grappling with her mixed feelings, with maturity and
temptation and desperately trying to cling on to her childhood dreams, ideals and innocence. |
| |
| |
This is a great fantasy tale, enchanting and magical. Though primarily aimed at
children, the film also addresses more mature themes such as the interplay between evil, hate,
corruption, greed, seduction, lust against good, love, sincerity and innocence, between adulthood and
childhood, between the bestial and human instincts in all people. So the repulsion
Lili feels for Darkness also applies to a part of herself which she refuses to acknowledge: "you lie" she says, "
you're nothing but an animal!" To which Darkness aptly laughs and replies that, "we are all animals". But we are
also spiritual beings and the clash of these two natures is (in my humble opinion) the cause of most of humanity's dilemnas and suffering, for
what is acceptable for one is often not for the other, for the soul yearns for more than what the body desires, but
these desires are real and cannot be easily ignored either.
This basic duality in all things is symbolised in Lili's ring, of which the design, half-black and half-white,
is reminiscent of the ying and yang concept. The symbolic is classical.
For instance, innocent Lili's bridal dress to her love (Jack) is white, long, 'cute', and her
very name, Lili, is reminiscent of the flower lily. White lilies symbolise purity and virtue. Now,
corrupted Lili's bridal dress to lust (Darkness) is black, cut in a very revealing and sexually
suggestive way, and she also loses her name of 'Lili' when she becomes Darkness's bride.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
