Oh Lordy, stop me now...

[gothicscrybe]

As an author (and one who makes great pains to ensure that there are no plotholes or drops in story continuity in my own works,) I found so much wrong with this movie...but I'll keep it as brief as possible.

Kevin's role in this movie should have been much larger, much more importance put on it and there should have been so much more done in the way of fleshing out the underlying (and seemingly ageless) issues between the brothers.

Remember...while Michael does God's dirty work, so to speak, Gabriel is God's right hand.

You don't sneeze in Heaven without Gabriel knowing and reporting it back to God.

Basically saying, you can't do anything in Heaven without Gabriel's eyes always on you.

With such an important role to play for God, Kevin's role as Gabriel should have been much larger in Legion and his name given the significance it deserves.

I would have loved to see much more (and it would have made for a much smoother movie) of the love between the two brothers, despite Gabriel's brewing anger toward Michael for always being "teacher's pet" so-to-speak and how their relationship suffered because of it.

I would have loved to seen the heart-to-hearts they had, and then the ultimate crumble and death of their love for one another when Gabriel does what he has to do and attempts to stop Michael.

In my opinion, this would have lent so much more believable fodder to the movie rather than...tada, now here's Gabriel to make sure we all die because we deserve to.

Okay, thanks Gabriel, now go away until we need you again.

It was simply too rushed and too forced for Kevin's immense screen presence and his unnerving gaze and expressions (not to mention touching words) to be truly appreciated by those who maybe aren't familiar with him and his ability to bring such power to the screen.

[Julie Ann]

I couldn't agree more. It's like every movie that Kevin has been in he's been highly unused. I think what could have made the movie better was that they could have focused more about Michael and Gabriel's relationship and how Michael disobeys God but still gets all his love and how Gabriel obeys God but is unloved. I think they should have made more scenes between Michael and Gabriel. It was obvious that Paul and Kevin had great chemistry working together.

Did anyone else think that when Paul put his hand on Kevin's cheek and they combined their hands that all that was improvised? I don't know because looking at Kevin's expression it kind of gave off that impression but yet it could show that Gabriel is unsure what to make of Michael's actions. But it went perfectly.

[gothicscrybe]

Mar 17, 2010 14:55:40 GMT -5 Julie Ann said:

I couldn't agree more. It's like every movie that Kevin has been in he's been highly unused. I think what could have made the movie better was that they could have focused more about Michael and Gabriel's relationship and how Michael disobeys God but still gets all his love and how Gabriel obeys God but is unloved. I think they should have made more scenes between Michael and Gabriel. It was obvious that Paul and Kevin had great chemistry working together.

Did anyone else think that when Paul put his hand on Kevin's cheek and they combined their hands that all that was improvised? I don't know because looking at Kevin's expression it kind of gave off that impression but yet it could show that Gabriel is unsure what to make of Michael's actions. But it went perfectly.

I could not agree more, Julie.

Paul Bettany and Kevin Duran's onscreen chemistry was phenomenal and only a fool would have overlooked that in favor of weaker and less substantial characters as Jeep and the girl (I can't even remember her name she was so unimportant to me.)

Kevin's talent in any movie is largely unused and it's not only not fair to him, it's unfair to those of who recognize talent when we see it.

I have worked with enough actors to know that true talent (rather than what the media considers talent) is difficult to find and it's a shame that Kevin is so unappreciated.

I too LOVED the exchange between Michael (Paul Bettany) and Kevin as Gabriel and savored every minute of it because I hoped that it would lead to more exchanges to show, as you put it Julie, how Gabriel has always been the good son and Michael the bad seed and yet God always favored Michael and gave him love, while Gabriel was just his valet so to speak..."Do my work and when I need you again, I'll call you. Yeah, job well done, now go away."

I'm not sure how much of the "conversation" between Gabriel and Michael was improvised, but I too caught the look on Kevin's face when Michael (Paul) put his hand on his cheek and attempted to talk reason into him.

The look in Kevin's eyes was one of pure heartbreak and then the tear (when he realized that there was no "reasoning" with Michael) was simply breathtaking.

It's not difficult to cry on-screen, but the expression in Kevin's eyes as the tear rolled down his cheek, was simply beautiful.

If that was unintentional, and the scene was improvised, I'd love to see the two of them receive the accolades they deserve for pulling it off.

It certainly looked scripted to me it was so well done...but then again, if you're good at ad lib, then this is also an untapped talent that many overlook.

The scene was absolutely majestic and touching.

[Heather Remaly]

I agree. That powerful intimacy between the brother angels, creatures who have served God for every moment of their lives and now find themselves divided by necessity, was heartrending. The sheer acting potency that it took to pull off an emotional exchange without allowing any of the emotions to rise to the surface impressed the heck out of me.

Gabriel never raised his voice, he didn't have to. True power does not have to be flaunted. He was deathly quiet and barely contained, but you could tell from his eyes and his voice how angry and wounded he was by Michael's behavior and by his position as the "Favored One" despite his defiance and his lawlessness.

I wept when Gabriel had to kill his brother. It was an unexpected reaction to a scene so well played as to be Oscar-worthy. Kevin Durand is by far and away the finest actor of our time, and I have no hesitation whatsoever about saying that.

[gothicscrybe]

Mar 18, 2010 18:54:55 GMT -5 @Heather Remaly said:

I agree. That powerful intimacy between the brother angels, creatures who have served God for every moment of their lives and now find themselves divided by necessity, was heartrending. The sheer acting potency that it took to pull off an emotional exchange without allowing any of the emotions to rise to the surface impressed the heck out of me.

Gabriel never raised his voice, he didn't have to. True power does not have to be flaunted. He was deathly quiet and barely contained, but you could tell from his eyes and his voice how angry and wounded he was by Michael's behavior and by his position as the "Favored One" despite his defiance and his lawlessness.

I wept when Gabriel had to kill his brother. It was an unexpected reaction to a scene so well played as to be Oscar-worthy. Kevin Durand is by far and away the finest actor of our time, and I have no hesitation whatsoever about saying that.

Very well said, Heather.