The Phantom (1996) got it right

[Lex Luthor]

Yeah, she plays one of the villains. And is essentially Swanson's main antagonist until a change of heart later on in the film.

 

[rogue trooper]

.....she's the leader of The Sky Band.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

The Phantom was pretty good. Unfortunately, it simply did not have enough people interested in it, and/or didnt hit the right flavor people were going for that summer. I remember going to a 9PM showing during it's opening weekend, and being one of possibly four people watching it.

Everyone else was apparently watching Twister.

Twister, Mission Impossible, The Rock....all proper summer blockbusters (despite the fact Twister is a lame, plot-free CGI showcase, it was a spectacle on the big screen). The Phantom is just far too tame, too nice. The biggest action set-piece is someone jumping off a plane onto a horse.

 

[Lex Luthor]

Twister, Mission Impossible, The Rock....all proper summer blockbusters (despite the fact Twister is a lame, plot-free CGI showcase, it was a spectacle on the big screen). The Phantom is just far too tame, too nice. The biggest action set-piece is someone jumping off a plane onto a horse.

This, BTW, was also during an era where a film could rake in a respectable box office run due, in large part, to previously unseen effects via CGI. Which was really coming into it's own. And also a time where the Superhero genre was losing alot of steam as well despite the previous year's Batman Forever doing well, and to which never quite regained it's footing until X-Men opened up in 2000. And certainly after 2002's Spider-Man.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

This, BTW, was also during an era where a film could rake in a respectable box office run due, in large part, to previously unseen effects via CGI.

Good call. You even had films named after their special effects - Twister, Godzilla, Volcano, etc. People may complain about blockbusters today, but these days they do atleast have proper stories and story arcs. Harry Potter/Lord of the Rings is one big story, Spider-Man/Batman/X-Men take plenty of storylines from the comics, Pirates of the Carribean even had a perhaps overly elaborate storyline.

 

[rogue trooper]

Here's a 1982 Norwegian Phantom commercial.Enjoy:http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=21798490506

 

[The Shadow]

For some reason, I didn't like this movie too much, I think its just because its just weird to have a number different genres mixed into one movie. And I realize thats how the pulps and comics were. The movie just seemed like Indiana Jones meets Treasure Island meets The Shadow or Superman. Its just a weird combo to put into movie form.

 

[DarkSuperman]

I read that they're developing a Phantom tv show for HBO. I can't wait.

 

[rogue trooper]

For some reason, I didn't like this movie too much, I think its just because its just weird to have a number different genres mixed into one movie. And I realize thats how the pulps and comics were. The movie just seemed like Indiana Jones meets Treasure Island meets The Shadow or Superman. Its just a weird combo to put into movie form.

The way I think you can appreciate this movie is the same way you can appreciate the 1980 Flash Gordon. With Flash Gordon you need to forget about the more serious Star Wars in order to enjoy it for the simple, not-too-serious, fun, colorful and stylized space opera that it is. Same with The Phantom. You need to forget about the darker and more serious Batman films and Indiana Jones(Phantom was doing this stuff way before Indy,btw) and just enjoy the film as throwback to a 1940's costumed hero movie serial with a much bigger budget and one that is pleasantly campy as opposed to being disturbingly campy ala Schumacher's Bat films.
I thought that making it a period piece was a smart move because that makes The Phantom look more unique. He gives the feeling that he is the first superhero of his kind.

 

[rogue trooper]

I read that they're developing a Phantom tv show for HBO. I can't wait.

....and in The NY Post it is reported that Paramount wants to do a sequel to the 1996 film.

 

[Symbiotic]

The Phantom is an underrated movie, IMO.

 

[NinjaTurtleFan]

So i was watching this today. I love the pulp vibe. And I realized that this movie got it right in telling a proper superhero story. It glossed over the origin giving the audience the broad strokes and understanding and then started the movie as if it was any other arc. Without having to depict the origin story i think it gave them much more freedom as far as story elements and action scenes.

I see this working really well for certain movies, specifically Super Max or an Iron Fist story.

Yeah, I love this movie too. One of the best movies of my childhood next to "Rocketeer" and "Dick Tracy." I cringe and cower every time I hear someone thinking about remaking it. If anything I would love to see more Phantom movies told with Billy Zane or another actor stepping in. And seeing Catherine-Zeta Jones' character was enough for me to say a few years ago---"SHE IS TALIA AL GHUL!"