The Shadow - 1994

I'd never heard of "The Shadow" before a friend of mine suggested I check it out (thanks Jordan!). 1994 was a massive year for movies: "The Lion King", "Pulp Fiction", "Forrest Gump", "The Mask", "Speed", "The Shawshank Redemption", "The Santa Clause" ...the list goes on. Some big names there to compete with but I'm still surprised I never heard of this movie until a week or two ago.

"The Shadow" stars Alec Baldwin (his second film of that year) along with a slew of familiar facing you'll have fun IMDBing later. The story takes place in a 1930's Dick Tracey version of New York City. It's a superhero tale of good against evil - a war that rages internally as well as externally. The Shadow himself is an anti-hero on a quest for redemption; a character that has the class of James Bond with the powers of a Jedi (what a winning combination!). 

On one hand I'm a little disappointed that, in the end, the movie really doesn't do a lot with its themes of darkness (shadow) vs light or the nature of redemption. I felt that the character of the Shadow was set up to have a lot more depth than what ultimately played out on screen. But at the same time a part of me was relieved it didn't take itself too seriously. 

The truth is, I had a great time watching this movie. I was never so pleased to have a bowl of popcorn on my lap! Part of what made the movie so much fun was its uncompromising and delightfully macabre B movie sensibility with full on A movie production values. For 1994 it is still a visual treat!

The secret messages, old cars, swanky night clubs and cool brain-battles thrilled me like a child and the dark sense of humour amused me like an adult.

Ultimately a 3 star movie but your popcorn will never taste so good.