The Shadow vs The Rocketeer vs The Phantom

[Hunter Rider]

Between 1991 and 1996 three classic pulp comic book heroes hit the big screen, they weren't box office successes but their charm has seen them maintain a cult following of sorts in the 2 decades since.

I've been watching a series of retrospective videos recently and the 3 movies were covered, I've put the videos below and I thought we could use this thread to dicsscuss the films and vote on which we thought was the best, and remember liking one the most doesn't mean you didn't enjoy the other 2.

VS
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[Fincher]

The Shadow and The Rocketeer are pretty comparable, overall, but despite Jennifer Connelly being insanely gorgeous in The Rocketeer, I have to go with The Shadow. The Phantom is garbage.

 

[Deck Rickard]

Yeah, I could go back and forth between The Shadow and The Rocketeer but TR wins out for me. Overall, I feel that it was a just a better movie and didn't have the silliness that TS had (i.e., a guy dressed in full Mongol armor casually walking down the street in NYC and no one batting an eye). Both are enjoyable films though.

The Phantom is TRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH though. Easily one of the worst superhero movies I've ever seen. The Nostalgia Critic review makes it almost worth it though, lol.

 

[Mandon Knight]

Oliver Harper is a retro-reviewer (across all his work) genius, saying that to begin with. Been a fan of his for years, his knowledge, passion and insight are always great to listen too. Right, that said, my ranking would be....

1) The Shadow
2) The Rocketeer
3) The Phantom

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

For me it's The Shadow. It felt like a continuation of the world Tim Burton created for Batman. Baldwin was perfectly cast, Lone and Boyle were great too. The only minus for me was the stupid talking dagger! Such a shame the hoped for franchise never took off.


Edit: Felt the urge to post the trailer

 

[Hunter Rider]

Oliver Harper is a retro-reviewer (across all his work) genius, saying that to begin with. Been a fan of his for years, his knowledge, passion and insight are always great to listen too. Right, that said, my ranking would be....

1) The Shadow
2) The Rocketeer
3) The Phantom

I was watching an old MOTU behind the scenes documentary the other day and stumbled onto Oliver Harper's retro review of the film linked off at the side, I watched it and have since watched a number of his videoes, his one on Darkman is particularly good.

As for the topic at hand, I tend to agree with his summation, The Rocketeer is the best all round film, The Shadow has the best set design and production, creating the immersive atmosphere of a heightened reality art deco style 1930's New York, and The Phantom has the best set pieces.

The Shadow I feel starts well but the villain isn't great and his plan goes off the boil as we get to a limp finale, but the first two 3rds of the movie are a great watch, as I say the atmosphere of the film is fantastic. The Rocketeer carry's the lighthearted adventure of Indy and fuses it with some cool aerial action and a selection of interesting characters and a satisfying pulp adventure story that has a great climax.

Unlike the other posters here I do enjoy The Phantom, Billy Zane is hammy and the rest of the cast follow his lead, but there is an oldschool charm about it that reminds me of the Tarzan movies I saw as a kid, and the action hijinks are entertaining.

 

[samsnee]

Rocketeer (The score and Jennifer Connelly puts this thing far ahead)
Shadow (Overall good pulpy movie and Baldwin was well cast)
Phantom (I can't rewatch it. It has none of the charm of the other two)

 

[OutOfBoose]

I always enjoyed the atmosphere of The Shadow. Darkness and strangeness. Baldwin is a far superior lead than Billy Campbell. Plus the narrative has more intrigue. The Rocketeer is inferior in every way but the leading actress. Jennifer Connelly is a goddess. I couldn't finish The Phantom.

 

[Travesty]

Both The Shadow and The Rocketeer are great 90s movies. The Phantom is terrible.

But if I had to choose one, it would be The Shadow. The Rocketeer is still great, though.

 

[Deck Rickard]

I always enjoyed the atmosphere of The Shadow. Darkness and strangeness. Baldwin is a far superior lead than Billy Campbell. Plus the narrative has more intrigue. The Rocketeer is inferior in every way but the leading actress. Jennifer Connelly is a goddess. I couldn't finish The Phantom.

Too bad, you missed this epic conclusion, lol.

 

[OutOfBoose]

Just as "epic" as the rest of the film.

 

[Kane52630]

Darkman.

 

[samsnee]

I mean the Phantom made Catherine Zeta Jones look bland and boring. How do you do that??

 

[Deck Rickard]

I mean the Phantom made Catherine Zeta Jones look bland and boring. How do you do that??

Put her next to Billy Zane. He could suck the charisma out of anyone.

 

[The Shape]

All day.

 

[Filmfreak]

Darkman.

My words exactly.
Can't say I'm a fan of any of the three but if I had to choose I'd vote for The Shadow. Though it's been a long time since I've last watched it.

 

[Teelie]

The Phantom. It's a very awkward superhero movie and it flopped but I still like it for some reason.

Though I would definitely rank Darkman up there.

 

[Thome216]

Haven't seen these movies in years! But, though I did like The Shadow, The Rocketeer was better all around - and not just because of Connelly!

 

[Mysteryman]

I will go with The Shadow, but when I clicked on the title I was hoping it was a crossover event of some kind.
It would certainly make heck of a comic.

 

[samsnee]

I would definitely watch a team-up movie with a bunch of pulp heroes. Too bad they never made that Doc Samson movie.

 

[Travesty]

Too bad they never made sequels to both The Shadow and The Rocketeer.

 

[godisawesome]

The Rocketeer.

It’s still my Grade-A genre throwback for pulp fiction that’s not called Indiana Jones.

 

[Peyton Westlake]

The Rocketeer clearly is better IMO.
The Shadow had the tools to be good, but was lead astray.
And Joe Johnston directed this (Rocketeer) and later on went to direct Captain America : the 1st Avenger.
Another highly underrated movie also IMO.

 

[jolldan]

The Shadow for me (as its the only one I have seen lol)

Just remember thinking he looked so cool

Think it may be time for a remake of this in that Sin City/The Spirit style

 

[Hunter Rider]

Darkman.

Great film and I know Raimi made it because he couldn't get the rights to The Shadow at the time, so he created his own pulp hero.

All day.

Just guessing by the avvy that you're a big fan of The Shadow in general, how faithful would you say it was as an adaption?