With all of this talk of new superhero movies coming out in the next few years, The Avengers, Thor, Green Lantern, I had an urge to watch two superhero movies from the mid-90s that seem to slip under everyone’s radar. In a time where movies are weighed by the actors, effects and extravagant powers of the heroes 1994’s The Shadow and 1996’s The Phantom are a welcome vacation. Each movie is an update of an older comic book hero, and the movies do nothing to embellish the powers these heroes possessed.
The Phantom, aka ‘ghost who walks’, is based on an old African legend. He is a normal guy that is carrying on a family tradition of fighting crime. He has to stop the villain from obtaining the ‘Skulls of Power’ and also rescue the girl. There are no special effects, but the story is easy and you have to love the locations. It has Billy Zane, Kristy Swanson and Catherine Zeta-Jones all having fun on a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
I think Alec Baldwin is hysterical on 30 Rock; however, one of his best roles was as The Shadow. Able to ‘cloud men’s minds’ he can invade your mind to alter your thoughts. Based on an old pulp comic, this story is darker and is set around the same timeframe as The Phantom, but is a great bit of action. Shadow must defeat an old nemesis from obtaining an explosive device before it is unleashed in New York. Besides Mr. Baldwin, we have Penelope Ann Miller, Peter Boyle, Ian McKellen and Tim Curry.
Both movies are great fun, and you can see how these characters could have long ago influenced Batman, Superman, Spiderman and countless other heroes that swing into popular culture. Both movies are tame compared to today’s standards. If you are looking for an escape to a simpler time, seek these out.
The Shadow and The Phantom
by J Frazzetta July 22nd, 2010 |Movie Commentary, Movie Reviews
The Phantom, aka ‘ghost who walks’, is based on an old African legend. He is a normal guy that is carrying on a family tradition of fighting crime. He has to stop the villain from obtaining the ‘Skulls of Power’ and also rescue the girl. There are no special effects, but the story is easy and you have to love the locations. It has Billy Zane, Kristy Swanson and Catherine Zeta-Jones all having fun on a movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
I think Alec Baldwin is hysterical on 30 Rock; however, one of his best roles was as The Shadow. Able to ‘cloud men’s minds’ he can invade your mind to alter your thoughts. Based on an old pulp comic, this story is darker and is set around the same timeframe as The Phantom, but is a great bit of action. Shadow must defeat an old nemesis from obtaining an explosive device before it is unleashed in New York. Besides Mr. Baldwin, we have Penelope Ann Miller, Peter Boyle, Ian McKellen and Tim Curry.
Both movies are great fun, and you can see how these characters could have long ago influenced Batman, Superman, Spiderman and countless other heroes that swing into popular culture. Both movies are tame compared to today’s standards. If you are looking for an escape to a simpler time, seek these out.