The Shadow (1994)

It feels strange that currently we are amidst a massive Superhero binge. Hollywood has managed to saturate the superhero genre but there was a time once when a Superhero film was a lifetime event. The Shadow belongs to that era- based on the pulp character from the 30s this is a polarizing film. I loved it for the most part especially the low key feel and tone. The casting is good and Alec Baldwin is more than adequate. Say what you will about the guy and his temper, he was a dashing man(and still is) and plays both The shadow and his alias Lamont Cranston quite well. Reviewers thought otherwise and even the box office was tepid but this film has developed a cult following ever since.

May contain spoilers.This movie is simply the best.And here's why?It has great casting like Alec Baldwin,Penelope Ann Miller,John Lone,Peter Boyle,Ian ...The photography,set decoration,great music by Jerry Goldsmith,brilliant director Russell M(Highlander 1,2),scenario by David (Mission:Impossible,Secret Window),etc etc.This is my favorite movie and i must have watched it million times.Opened in cinemas 1994 with classical effects some of them from company fantasy 2(Terminator,Nemesis),this movie follows a man who gets the superhero sets of skills like clouding the men's minds leaving visible only one thing that he can't hide-his shadow.It's the best action adventure since Indiana Jones and it has it all:action,adventure,romance,comedy(especially from Peter Boyle character Mo).This movie is a pure gem.One of those movies you don't wanna miss.-Who Knows What Hides in the Hearts of Men- 10/10

Directed by Russell Mulcahy (Highlander) and written by David Koepp (Jurassic Park, Spider-Man), The Shadow is excellent, and one of the best superhero films.In post-WWI Asia, an American man named Lamont Cranston has become corrupt, now a ruthless and bloodthirsty warlord. Lamont is kidnapped, and is brought to a holy man who teaches him to use the darkness in himself to combat evil, redeeming Lamont. He gains hypnotic powers that allow him to alter what others perceive. When he returns to 1930's New York City, Lamont becomes the Shadow, and fights crime. Those who the Shadow saves become his agents, helping him as informants. Lamont meets Margo Lane, a woman able to read minds. Despite a mutual attraction, Lamont avoids seeing her so she won't discover his secret. The evil Shiwan Khan, Genghis Khan's last descendant arises, and the Shadow must stop him from building an atomic bomb that will destroy the city.Alec Baldwin's performance as the Shadow is spectacular, he nails the character's voice during his intimidation tactics, he's consistently great throughout the film. John Lone as Shiwan Khan is a good villain, he's at his best during his introduction. Penelope Ann Miller, Ian McKellan, and Peter Boyle all do well in their supporting roles, remaining likable and entertaining characters throughout, and Tim Curry is particularly great as the secondary antagonist. The production design is one of the film's greatest strengths, perfectly capturing a 30's noir look. The cinematography is also great, and enhances the production design. It's very easy to immerse yourself into the world this movie creates. Jerry Goldsmith's score is incredible, as far as superhero film scores go I'd rank it among Danny Elfman's Batman and John Williams' Superman. Sinoa also performs a great song, "Some Kind of Mystery".Wildly underrated and entertaining, I highly recommend The Shadow.

Well, this film was on in the background on New Year's Eve 1997 in Copenhagen, when I took a phone call from what at that point I knew would be my future wife, I love old comic books, (although I'm not familiar with this particular character), like any other (relatively) young person in the 80's I've enjoyed a number of director Russell Mulcahy's music videos, heck, I even like the old Coasters hit "The Shadow Knows", so do you know what, I'm not going to be too harsh with my judgement.Yes, there are things not quite right with it, for one thing the title character's powers or their sources are never fully explained, he himself makes only fitful and to be honest rather underwhelming appearances when he does show up, plus most of all, John Lone as the Shadow's nemesis Khan is physically too small and cherubic-looking to impart any kind of old-fashioned dread. One scene where you see him from the back brushing past the NYC hordes in full war-attire had me tittering behind him. The main characters too, have little depth either, with none of the angst which fuels the more popular Batman or Spider Man characters.Better then to concentrate on the backgrounds, which are excellent, recreating the heady days of 1930's New York in all its glory and the special effects which are fine and entertaining. Director Mulcahy gives us some imaginative set-ups especially when his cameras go airborne. Lone apart, his Iead actors serve him well, Alec Baldwin and Penelope Ann Miller, playing their wonderful clothes well enough whilst Jerry Goldsmith's heavyweight score gives the movie some added grandeur.Slightly overlong and with too many gaps between stunts, nevertheless, the film is always good to look at even if the drama on screen occasionally slips shadow-like into the background.