The Phantom
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Movie Reviews of The Phantom
Movie Review: Long-time PHANTOM fans couldn't be happier
Summary: 5 Stars
To really appreciate the 1996 PHANTOM, it helps to know who he is: whereas other costumed heroes depend heavily on at least one super power and are forever in your face about it, the PHANTOM is the only one who relies on good genes, a white Palomino, a pet wolf, a loyal tribe of pygmy poison people (the Bandar), and a personal fortune to get him past bad times and bad people. He also has this stone fox of a girlfriend (Diana Palmer), a skull throne [THE Skull Throne], and the coolest home on the face of the earth, the Skull Cave.Many "super"-type heroes have elements of the PHANTOM's lifestyle: Batman, for instance, ripped off the Skull Cave with his Batcave and his wealth; but unlike the PHANTOM Batman isn't saving the world 24 hours a day. Batman clocks in at sundown, works all night, then sleeps it off the next day. Presumably, too, crime in Gotham City isn't always afoot; Batman, as billionaire socialite alter ego Bruce Wayne, mixes it up with the nation's wealthiest 1% whenever possible. And who built the Batplane, the Bat-o-cycle, the Batmobile, the Batboat, etc? If Batman's got his own pygmies building this stuff for him, let's see 'em! And what kind of "hero" ADOPTS a teenage boy (Robin) and votes Republican?
The PHANTOM, on the other hand, would drop everything to come to the aid of some pygmy whose ox ate too many dung beetles. When the Bandar have a bake sale, the PHANTOM bakes a pie. Diana been away for a month and hasn't had a chance to write? The PHANTOM broods for about two seconds and puts on a hat, sunglasses, and a checkered trenchcoat, leaves town for the States, and breaks heads until he finds her and knows she's OK. Is that love or what?
Batman, as I mentioned, definitely uses his wealth to give him an edge over the bad guys in the application of technology to whatever skills he's otherwise developed, such as detective work (including working undercover and surveillance) and crime scene analysis. Batman applies his wealth to his own defense as well--the miniaturized gas masks, the canisters of chemicals in his utility belt to bail him out of an endless array of tight jams, and the aforementioned Bat-vehicles aren't cheap. And when he's not sleeping, eating, socializing, and home-schooling Dick Grayson, he's MAKING REPAIRS on all these things. Presumably. And what's with the smoking jacket?
The PHANTOM, on the other hand, is wealthy like nobody's business. In his Treasure Room he has, among other things: a goblet cut from a single diamond once owned by Alexander the Great; the Golden Fleece; Excalibur; The Holy Grail; and a specially-designed display case with a single, slightly withered apple inside with two bites taken out of it! I think he has a LITTLE LULU collection in there somewhere too. What impresses me, though, is that with all these chests full of precious stones and jewels and coins and all the rest, this guy is as rich as Scrooge McDuck and you'd never know it.
When he's not out in the world actively opposing bad people on behalf of the innocent, he's doing community service or speaking to schoolkids about the rule of law. And when there is NOTHING to do, he sits on that Skull Throne waiting to spring into action. No fancy weaponry, just a couple of pistols and a right-handed punch hard enough to leave the permanent impression of his skull ring on whatever bad guy's jaw it lands on. No "PHANTOM car/boat/bike/copter/plane" either--just one great big white horse he takes everywhere. Now you know.
Movie Review: The Phantom remains true to the comic strip origins
Summary: 5 Stars
The Phantom is a perfect example of translating the source material literally from comic strip to big screen. I don't think there is a finer example of that application than with this film. That being said, the flip side to this method is the understanding you either "get it" or you don't. The Phantom predates heroes like Batman. So concepts, such as the Skull Cave, may appear like a pale imitation to the Bat Cave when, in fact, it was the Phantom's cave which came first and influenced Bob Kane to create this home for his Batman creation. So having a common knowledge of the hero may help avoid simple misunderstandings about ideas which may appear "stolen" when in fact they were the Phantom's to start with.
So this begs the question - Was this film made strictly for the fans and no one else? Well the answer is both yes and no. Many people are not familiar with the Phantom. However most of the ideas which go into bringing this character to life are already blended into popular heroes as previously stated. It only made sense to stay true to his roots and hope interest would bloom from there. If you stray too far from the source material, then you lose the essence of the character and you end up having a hero no one recognizes. Something the SyFy Channel recently realized when they tried to conceptualize the Phantom into an unrecognizable shadow of his classic form.
So if your a fan of the comic strip or have ever been curious as to the roots of this hero who has survived the many trends of the last 75 years, I would strongly encourage you pick up this movie. It is beautifully shot and well cast based on the characters of the comic strip. Sit back and enjoy the ride. This may be the only time we get to enjoy the Phantom in his purist of forms. Billy Zane made a Phantom the creator Lee Falk was very proud of. That should tell you everything you need to know right there.
Movie Review: "Some say he's just a myth . . .soon . . .they will discover that the phantom . . .is real."
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the most pleasing 'Myth' that I've had the pleasure of watching. 2 years after the underated "THE SHADOW" left it's mark, THE PHANTOM surfaced.
The Phantom is different, and in some ways similiar to the movie that came before it.
This one had a much bigger budget of course. But both movies had the unlucky outcome of only raking in little or half-profit from the theaters.
I think this movie is a classic story. It takes place somewhere around the 1930's where a legend ' the ghost who walks' waits to hear of evil doers than goes out on his trusty white steed to thwart his enemies. Living in the jungle, he also has with him a wolf who, now that I think of it, is named shadow.
In real life, he is Kit walker, a rich playboy who loves city-livin'. It is true that this is the umpteen time that the hero has had an alter ego or dual personalities, like in BATMAN, SUPERMAN, THE SHADOW, ZORRO, and many others. But, what makes this story different is the fact that the myth behind The Phantom is that no matter how many people kill him . . . he keeps come back. Better than he was before.
One man, Xander Drax, plans to harness a group of ancient skull artifacts that are derived from THE PHANTOM'S home in the jungle. What is unexpected is what kind of power will these skulls possess once they are combined.
This movie is a classic rebirth of the serial so many years ago. It pays tribute to the plup comics, like THE SHADOW, and both characters are perfectly different.
But they both depend on putting fear into their enemies.
And they both weild dual pistols. I guess that's why people pair these two movies together.
But, If I had to choose between the two, I would go with this one. It really is a definite good buy with a little touch of film noir.
Enjoy!
Movie Review: a throw-back adventure for both little and grown-up kid's
Summary: 5 Stars
FOR THOSE WHO CAME IN LATE.......A classic character known around the world with appearances in comics and newspapers for over 60 years. Thrown into a high speed adventure far more similar to "Raiders" than "Batman", The Phantom is a throwback to the time when there was no doubt who the good guy was. Mysterious and elusive, our hero fights the good fight at every turn. With villains classically played by a well chosen cast, The Phantom truly has his hands full as he globe trots to stop Xander Drax and his accomplices in their quest for world domination.
Billy Zane does a respectable job of being true to what the older fans would hope for in the character and still blend in enough newness to attract the younger ones that would be unfamiliar with The Phantom's legacy.
The language and violence are just enough to lend a bit of realism yet stop short of becoming a problem for those with smaller kids. My six year old has enjoyed it repeatedly as have I.
So, it is a movie many of us have waited a long time for. It was a plus that The Phantom's creator, Lee Falk lived to see his creation hit the big screen. Watch it, own it. It will help bring that kid out in you that remembers the character from rainy sunday mornings sprawled on the den floor with the funny papers.It will also win new fans for Mr. Falk's gift to us. Fans for the future, because The Phantom is the man who cannot die.......he is... "THE GHOST WHO WALKS ".
randy young
Movie Review: The Phantom......Slam 5 Stars
This action-adventure movie based on Lee Falk's comic strip, The Phantom, has to be one of my all-time favorite movies. Set in the 1930s, the film is loosely based on the first two Phantom stories, "The Singh Brotherhood" and "The Sky Band". The film tells us the story of Kit Walker, the 21st Phantom, and his attempts to prevent the rich madman Xander Drax from obtaining a weapon of doom, the Skulls of Touganda, possession of which will give him the secret to ultimate power and world domination. Directed by Simon Wincer, the film stars Billy Zane, Kristy Swanson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Treat Williams and James Remar. Joe Dante(Gremlins) and Joel Schumacher(Batman Forever) were originally offered directorial duties for the movie but the duties were passed onto Simon Wincer; who-in my opinion-did a wonderful job with the movie. The movie suffered the same fate as two other comic book/pulp adaptations at the time, The Shadow and The Rocketeer, and did not fare very well at the box office It's one of those movies I wish a sequel were made to. It kinda reminded of the Indy Jones movies somehow. I never read the comic strip myself but I found this movie to be a real delight.