The first superhero ever, created by Lee Falk in 1936, gets another shot at movie stardom 60 years after achieving fame in comics and serials. Billy Zane stars as Kit Walker, who discovers that he's the 21st in a line of purple-clad African superheroes known as "The Phantom" or, to superstitious Bengalla Island natives, "the Ghost Who Walks." When he's not fighting the evil Singh Brotherhood with his faithful wolf Devil and white horse Hero, the Phantom lives in the hidden Skull Cave. Kit
discovers that Xander Drax (Treat Williams), a slimy industrialist, is plotting to take over the world by uniting the three long lost magical Skulls of Touganda. So he travels to New York, where he finds allies in crusading newspaper publisher Dave (Bill Smitrovich) and his niece, Diana (Kristy Swanson), who's also Kit's ex-girlfriend. Kit and Diana tackle Drax's forces, including the conflicted Sala (Catherine Zeta-Jones), in a quest for the Skulls that brings both sides back to Bengalla for a showdown. The Phantom's mixture of elaborate stunts with liberal doses of tongue-in-cheek humor was characteristic of screenwriter Jeffrey Boam, whose previous films included Innerspace (1987) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
While it hardly stands to vanquish the celluloid incarnations of Superman and Batman, this version of an older cartoon crusader's exploits does have a pleasingly astute sense of its place in the great scheme of things pulp.
Expect this ghost of bad movies past to walk quickly to the back bins of Blockbuster, where it should be filed under a helpful heading, monotonous and juvenile.
If the biggest problem with costumed superheroes is those silly costumes, the venerable comic-book crimefighter known as the Phantom (Billy Zane) has a bigger problem than most.
Our grim avengers of the 21st century could use some reminding that it's okay to smile once in awhile… and that 'fun' should be more than just an afterthought when stories of this ilk are told.
If you cross Indiana Jones with Tarzan and mix in some 'Goonies' type pirate tomfoolery then you pretty much have this fun cheesy boys own adventure. Actually if I think about it some more you could also throw in some camp Batman and Robin from the classic 60's series in certain sequences, it does get alittle bit too
hammy in places I must say hehe. Of course it is suppose to be almost a pantomine type flick with lots of silly lines and caddish villains but it is a touch too childish for me were as other pulp comicbook character adaptations like 'The Shadow' are abit more serious. The Phantom world is a pretty looking universe I must say, the jungle lair, 30's New York and the museum set where one of the skulls is kept are all really well created and have that lovely wooden stylish structured feel with that nice dark noirish colour range (much like The Shadow).Effects are dated now of course and the fights do look rather gentle haha I almost expected 'Kapow!' to flash across the screen when Zane punched a baddie henchman. Its a good fun film which kids will enjoy and is totally set in the period comicbook action genre of oldschool superheroes. The Phantom isn't really a great character to put on film really as he's abit too dated and soft with his natty purple tights, simple black face mask which only covers his eyes and the fact he has a wolf and horse as his sidekicks hehe its so 'awwww'. Didn't really think much of the pirates that make up the bad guys, especially at the end which really turns into Schumacher type affair but it is all taken from the original stories so that's good I suppose, its just the original stories and ideas are very out of time now.Doesn't beat around the bush and gives you exactly what it says on the tin which is a very light hearted period superhero flick with lots of charm, dames, cads and a dashing hero in a tight purple catsuit.
Heeheehee, this movie is foolishness. This might be the simplest superhero movie I've ever seen. The only thing about The Phantom that's not lilac-scented and squeaky clean is the fact that he's got a skull on his ring. I'm still not clear exactly why it's the source of his power. Actually, there's not a heck of a lot
about this story that makes sense. It could have been called Purple vs. Bad Guys and it would have made as much sense. In fact, I can't really remember much about this movie, except that Billy Zane kicks a bunch of people's asses, and he comes from a long line of purple ass-kickers, and it's set in the 30s, and at one poine he needs to defeat the Yakuza. Or the Triads. Or the Black Hand. Or something. It doesn't really matter. This movie is not without its charm, but it is DEFINITELY without its substance.
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