I seem to be having a bit of a Tom Hardy moment lately, the other week it was Mad Max: Fury Road and now it’s Legend, I have to say that I’d been looking forward to seeing Legend ever since I first saw some of the teasers a while back and then after reading Tom Hardy’s Biography, Rise of a Legend (which we also recently gave a copy away of in one of our competitions), so I was excited to get to some Hardy playing both Kray brothers in the movie.

Now I admit it has taken me a little while to bring you my review of the film, mainly down to time and the many projects going on, but as am now the official blogger/reviewer for the Scala Cinema in Prestatyn, how could I not resist bringing you my thoughts on the movie after they got the movie in this week.

Legend tells the story of the identical twin gangsters Reggie and Ronnie Kray, two of the most notorious criminals in British history, and their organised crime empire in the East End of London during the 1960s.

The film opens up with The Krays already established and ruling their part of the West End of London and bringing us straight in to their world of gang warfare and violence of is graphically done in parts of the film.

We are taking through the gangster years of Ronnie and Reggie Kray by the narration by Frances Shea (Played by Emily Browning), which is a nice touch as she goes through their years and her relationship with Reggie, of whom she says “it took a lot of love to hate him“.

With its nicely used soundtrack from the music from the time, Legend movies along nicely, add to that the production in visuals and the slight comedic moments from Ronnie Kray, the film certainly didn’t seem like it was a 2 hour film.

But what really made the movie for me was Tom Hardy, not only does Hardy play Ronnie, he also plays Reggie, with some fancy camera work and body doubles, it is all well done. Look out for the fight sequence between the two and a scene when the two brothers are sitting next to each other talking at one of Ronnie’s Parties.

Yes the violence is graphic in parts, the language is very strong throughout, but  Legend is an enjoyable film to watch, I found myself being intrigued by the twins and the relationship they had with other and how it changed through the movie. With a great support cast including Paul Bettany, Emily Browning, Taron Egerton and David Thewliss, Legend is a film that I would certainly like to watch again.

If you are a fan of Tom Hardy and his way of taking a role in a movie to heart, then Legend is certainly a film that you will want to see and if you can get the chance to see it on the big screen then go see it.

Karen Woodham

Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.

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