'90s Fun: The Shadow (1994)

 Wow, this takes me back to my childhood.  I last saw this Film in Theaters (possibly on Cable later too).

This is 1994's The Shadow, a Comic Book Film that is barely mentioned.  After Batman revived the Genre in Cinemas, others were soon to follow.  This one was also aided by Dick Tracy, another Film I have on the DVD pile to revisit.

The Plot involves a man who fights crime using mental powers and just generally acting like a dick.  He drives them crazy and then beats them.  When his arch rival comes to America, can he stop him?  When he meets someone who can match him, what are his chances?

The Film is notably made by Russell Mulcahy, the Director most famous for Highlander.  It Stars Alec Baldwin, an Actor who I like, but sure makes it hard for some people to do the same.

Is this one-and-done a forgotten classic or a '90s relic?  To find out, read on...

A man- Alec Baldwin- is a criminal in, let's just say Asia and make it simple.

He's confronted by a Mystic who teaches him a better way to live.

Seven years later (isn't that how long Bruce Wayne was gone in Batman Begins?), he returns as The Shadow.

He can make himself invisible to the naked eye via telepathy, is sneaky and packs a pair of big, chrome guns.

Yes, watching Aled Baldwin shoot people is a bit awkward to watch now.  Thanks for asking.

A strange artifact arrives at the Museum (ran by the Dad from ALF!) and opens to reveal Shiwan Khan.

He has the same powers as our Hero, so I guess I have to retroactively add this Film to the list of Mirror Image Villains from my Morbius Review.  BRB.

As a bonus, he claims to be the last descendant of Genghis Khan.

According to modern genealogy, he has *does math* 3-5 MILLION of them today.  Oops.

We get a pair of Scenes where Baldwin hangs out with his Dad- Jonathan Winters- who is the Police Commissioner and against The Shadow.

They don't amount to anything in the long run.  Maybe it was a Sequel setup thing.

This does introduce Penelope Ann Miller as the Love Interest though.

The guy he saved in the 2nd Scene agreed to help The Shadow whenever he could be called upon.

He calls in that favor- while the guy thinks that Baldwin is another helper and not The Shadow- to diagram a coin he found left behind by Khan.

It turns out to be bronzium that could be mixed with beryllium, so I guess they can fix the engine from Galaxy Quest.

That or make an atomic bomb.

He romances Miller, but the problem is that she seems to have a latent, untrained mental ability.

He tries to use his powers on her, but it has no effect.

Is this love?

Despite our hero's best efforts, he can't find Khan's lair and he uses his Scientist to make a bomb.

He's so evil that Tim Curry works for him and not the other way around!

There's Tim now...and he just jumped out the window...

He eventually realizes that Khan has used his powers to hide AN ENTIRE BUILDING from everyone in the City.  I just hope that no planes fly by it...

He takes out the goons and ends up in a Hall of Mirrors.

This was apparently going to be a big sequence that would call back to (and show) Lamont's dark past...but an Earthquake wrecked the set before they shot it.

He conquers Chekhov's Living Dagger and sends a shard of glass into Khan's head.

He ends up in a mental hospital and learns that his powers are gone, due to part of his frontal lobe being removed.

Our Hero vows to keep up the fight...but that wasn't ever made.  The End.

An enjoyable Film, even if many parts of it feel familiar.  In many ways, this is like when I finally watched the original 'Ghost in the Shell' and it can seem 'derivative.' 
That's because so many people have copied it over the years- it's not the Film's fault.

That's a similar issue here as The Shadow was a Character created back in 1930.  Batman debuted in 1939.  So just bear that in mind.

The premise is pretty silly when you think about it- an evil Khan plans to nuke NYC- and the Film doesn't lean into it.  It's just a Pulp Story.  There are no jokes about how odd the story is like you would probably get now.

Baldwin is quite enjoyable here, as is pretty much everyone.  The obviously fake beard the villain has is a bit distracting though.  Curry shines in his small role, as does Sir Ian McKellen.  Yes, he's in this (see below).

On its own, the Film is an enjoyable romp.  It's not perfect, but it does have some great people in small, but notable roles.  Here are two examples...

Here's James Hong AND Al Leong- in the same shot, no less!

***

...and yes, that is Ian McKellen too.

Next up, a special look at the Extended Edition of yet another Superhero Film.  Will it be an improvement or not?  Stay tuned...