The Shadow - 1994 - Alec Baldwin

[ReptileOrion]

I saw that this movie was coming on Showtime and I decided to watch it. This my first time seeing it. I was wondering what others on the board thought about the movie?

 

[ReptileOrion]

I just finished watching the movie and I must admit it was pretty bad. The Shadow seems like a decent character it is too bad the movie bombed. I think I actually enjoyed the Phantom more than this film...haha. I do like the character's tagline - "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" The element of stealth and lurking in the shadows were interesting but the movie didn't really play up on those elements. The final fight with Khan was pretty lame. I hate how the main character in some movies finishes the final fight unmasked.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

I just finished watching the movie and I must admit it was pretty bad. The Shadow seems like a decent character it is too bad the movie bombed. I think I actually enjoyed the Phantom more than this film...haha. I do like the character's tagline - "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!" The element of stealth and lurking in the shadows were interesting but the movie didn't really play up on those elements. The final fight with Khan was pretty lame. I hate how the main character in some movies finishes the final fight unmasked.

They finish unmasked so we can see their facial expressions. It wouldn't be especially emotional or inolving if we couldn't.

The Shadow is a wonderful movie. Although it originated as a radio show, it remains one of the best comicbook/superhero movies. It recaptures the sense of 30's and 40's pulp mystery so perfectly that it leaves stuff like The Phantom waaaaaaaaaaay behind. Alec Baldwin and Penelope Ann Miller are bullseye perfect in their performances, Baldwin does Bruce Wayne perfectly (this is the true Wayne from the comics, not Bale or Keaton) and Miller does a spot-on sultry screwball vixen.

With The Shadow, you absolutely have to know about the tone of pulp and radio serials to understand it. That's the problem with it.

 

[Prognosticator]

I remember being REAL pumped up for this as a grade schooler when it came out. (4th or 5th grade maybe?) We rented it when it came out, and BOY was i dissapointed! This movie SUCKED.

 

[Agentsands77]

This movie was pretty darn lame. It's a shame, too, cause the Shadow is a great character.

 

[Darth Rockwell]

I really liked it, though I haven't seen it since it first came out. I have a feeling being older now it would be horrible.

 

[The Shape]

I love The Shadow, just cause he's a badass character. There were some really cool scenes in that movie. I enjoyed it a lot. Baldwin was great.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

They finish unmasked so we can see their facial expressions. It wouldn't be especially emotional or inolving if we couldn't.

The Shadow is a wonderful movie. Although it originated as a radio show, it remains one of the best comicbook/superhero movies. It recaptures the sense of 30's and 40's pulp mystery so perfectly that it leaves stuff like The Phantom waaaaaaaaaaay behind. Alec Baldwin and Penelope Ann Miller are bullseye perfect in their performances, Baldwin does Bruce Wayne perfectly (this is the true Wayne from the comics, not Bale or Keaton) and Miller does a spot-on sultry screwball vixen.

Keaton was bad. But Bale's Bruce Wayne was spot on. Baldwin may have acted like 1940s Bruce Wayne. Buit Begins was adapting the Miller/O'Neil/Sale Bruce which is often depicted as an irresponsible womanizer. The scenes from Begins were spot on in terms of how Wayne is in the comics. In fact if you read Year One his scene with Gordon is adapted into the Hotel Scene.

 

[Two-Face]

I Love this me as well and Baldwin was great as The Shadow.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

This is weird, I recall the last Shadow thread we had was almost 100% positive.....I thought Mr Lamont Cranston had more SHH!-forum backing.

 

[KenK]

I just watched the movie yesterday, I still love it! I don't know why so many people bash it. Kevin's right, Penelope Ann Miller nailed her part, and I though everything also about the film was pretty good. John Lone's beard could have been A LOT better, but other than that, I thought the movie served its purpose well.

 

[Dr.Dude]

Hugely underrated movie.

I remember years ago listening to all the old tapes from the Orson Welles Shadow radio show, and this movie captured the tone of that perfectly.... they even got the "laugh" right.

 

[Swordmaster]

Love the movie, hate the nose

 

[ShaneHelms]

http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showthread.php?t=219495


There was more positive support then. heh.

 

[Bruce_Wayne29]

I love it even though the movie steals alot from other super-hero movies. I thought Baldwinn was great as The Shadow.

 

[The Shape]

It certainly has its flaws, but The Shadow is a great character and idea, and that was shown in the movie. He was pretty badass. Bridge scene, anyone?

He beat the **** out of guys that couldn't see him. Awesome.

 

[ReptileOrion]

Thanks for the posts everyone. I am definitely a fan of the Shadow after seeing the film. After watching the movie I think Baldwin would have made a better Batman than Val Kilmer or George Clooney. I was thinking about that because a year later we were graced with Batman Forever.

Does anyone know what would a great starting point to pick up some of the comics?

 

[WOLVERINE25TH]

I liked both it AND the Phantom. Good movies.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

I thought it was okay, really overall not a huge fan. Somethings don't work well on film, this may be one such thing.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

I thought it was okay, really overall not a huge fan. Somethings don't work well on film, this may be one such thing.

I consider it spot-on. As I say, you have to really understand the 30's style of the radio show and pulps to appreciate it. It's not like The Phantom or even the Rocketeer, it has a unique mysterious flavour.

 

[ReptileOrion]

I consider it spot-on. As I say, you have to really understand the 30's style of the radio show and pulps to appreciate it. It's not like The Phantom or even the Rocketeer, it has a unique mysterious flavour.

I agree....that was one thing I did enjoy about the film was the old school feel.

 

[mister Lennon]

The movie was terrible. I liked alec baldwin as the main character, but penelope ann miller was very bad, and the main villain, john lone, was a joke. The script was stupid, the dialogue was poor and the final fight was too bland and anti-climatic. I only liked the scene with the shadow fighting the criminals in the bridge and the end with the shadow face and the famous quote. The music was good, but overall, the movie sucked. The shadow character needs a better movie to do justice a great character as he is.

 

[Superman]

I loved The Shadow. It's a very underrated live action superhero movie IMO.

 

[Octoberist]

I love the theme music

 

[The Sage]

They finish unmasked so we can see their facial expressions. It wouldn't be especially emotional or inolving if we couldn't.

The Shadow is a wonderful movie. Although it originated as a radio show, it remains one of the best comicbook/superhero movies. It recaptures the sense of 30's and 40's pulp mystery so perfectly that it leaves stuff like The Phantom waaaaaaaaaaay behind. Alec Baldwin and Penelope Ann Miller are bullseye perfect in their performances, Baldwin does Bruce Wayne perfectly (this is the true Wayne from the comics, not Bale or Keaton) and Miller does a spot-on sultry screwball vixen.

With The Shadow, you absolutely have to know about the tone of pulp and radio serials to understand it. That's the problem with it.

I like the movie and definitely Baldwin's performance. Do you really think he nailed Bruce Wayne more than Keaton and Bale?