Legend (1985)

Featuring lavish sets, elaborate makeup effects, numerous references to European folklore, and ascending new superstar Tom Cruise as the main protagonist, Legend was director Ridley Scott's attempt to transfer the appeal of the fantasy genre from the printed page to the silver screen. It failed to attract much of an audience while in theaters, but Legend gradually acquired a following through home video and frequent broadcasts on basic cable. As such, the film has enjoyed a long cultural afterlife (with Tim Curry's memorably hammy performance as the villain playing no small part in this fact). Ryan is joined by Cheryl, Pete, and Sarah for an in-depth discussion about the original American theatrical cut of Legend. Naturally, since this is one of those movies where multiple versions have gotten an official release, there's some talk about how each one differs in terms of length, tone, editorial direction, and soundtrack. There's also a conversation about how Scott's willingness to water down his storytelling and hack the movie to pieces betrays a lack of trust in his audience.