The Phantom (1996)

This plain-vanilla version of the old Lee Falk comic strip stars Billy Zane as a 1930s incarnation of the Phantom, an African-based, masked hero whose forefathers have all donned the costume at one time or another. Sworn to crush evil, the Phantom leaves his jungle lair to venture to New York, where he takes on a charming but criminal mastermind (Treat Williams). There's no oomph to this film at all. The very capable director Simon Wincer (Phar Lap) seems to be working with a leaden production and an inferior talent pool behind the camera. The talent in front of the camera do their best, but it isn't enough. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com

well done movie

It is based on the comic strip character. It is well done and produced. They did an excellent job on it. October 4, 2008

The Phantom......Slam Evil!............

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.

August 23, 2008

A worthy to watch film!

The phantom is one of these movies amused movies that makes you laugh and have a good fun, filled of common places and irresistible landscapes. "The ghost who walks" is embodied by Billy Zane who captured the mysterious and at the same time the spirit of the personage with astonishing naturalness. Although the enormous resemblance between him and Val Kilmer, he develops a fine performance. Kristy Swanson is credible like Lily Palmer and Catherine Zeta Jones makes her final launch before being recognized in "The mask of Zorro" two years later.

The rest obeys to the well known formulas. A lot of action, revenge and mystery; greed and ambition will lead us through two continents in hydroplane with a good dose of humour all the way through.

Spectacular hair raising sequence, specially the initial one of the truck on the bridge, which would seem to pay homage to Indiana Jones.

A worthy to watch film with just one flaw. The origin of the legend of the Phantom had to be a little bit described, specially for this emerging generation, whom the personage is a nostalgic resemblance from their parents' cartoons.

August 11, 2008

Everything is skulls for this guy

Better than I thought it would be. The Thailand locations are beautiful. The four leads all give it their best, with a weak script. Would have liked to see these actors, and the characters they played, in a better more fleshed out story. The two animals, the horse and the dog, should have been given enough screen time and "personality quirks" to delight the little ones (and us big people). Same goes with the butler. Some nice flying sequences. Some nice actual New York city street scenes, with bunches of non-CG period automobiles. Would have liked to see the Phantom be a little more mysterious, manly, and more commanding...not a grinning college boy-type in a purple costume. August 8, 2008

The Phantom Review

This product was a fun movie, take it for what it is, as an entertaining movie not meant to have the highest quality acting and screenplay. Good fun and light and entertaining. April 7, 2008

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