The Shadow (1994) Review

By Mario Efrain DeLeon Cortes Alcerro

Director: Russell Mulcahy (Highlander fame). Actors: Alec Baldwin, John Lone

A movie from the 90s, dedicated to the legendary hero from the pulp era, who inspired the creation of Batman. His name is the Shadow, the original Knight of Darkness, Walter Gibson (Maxwell Grant)'s magnum opus.
Cinematography: Moderate but with memorable moments. The color that dominated the bridge scene, was perfect, it fits well with the atmosphere, preparing  the arrival of the Shadow, for the first in cinematic history, since the 40s. Some transitions of certain scenes, were timed perfectly for a comedic incident. An example of that, is Shiwan Khan, the villain of the movie, mind controlled a foul mouth sailor into falling from the Empire State Building, the camera, showed from a distant the sailor falling, and then panned slowly to the streets where Lamont Cranston told a joke related to falling.

I laughed out loud, what a devilish joke from the camera man; I am no different from Khan.

Music: Iconic. Jerry Goldsmith, never disappoints. Although, there are themes, that doesnt match up with some scenes. In the beginning of the movie, they put the Shadow theme, too early during the Tibet scenes. From the poppy fields to Ying Ko 's (Lamont Cranston) lair, the music should play some oriental songs to correspond the adequate area. Also, when Lamont Cranston, enter the Sacred Temple, then again the Shadow theme repeated. In that moment, the composer, should have created a sort of theme mixed with the Tantric Choirs and Instruments of Tibetan Monks with a subtle wink of the Shadow theme.

Shiwan Khan (Left) and Lamont Cranston (Right) in Chinatown

Characters: Lamont Cranston, Margo Lane and Shiwan Khan are the only memorable ones in the movies, the rest are irrelevant. Margo Lane's role as a Damsel in distress, was short lived, thanks to the Shadow's hypnotic powers. She even saved the Shadow, from drowning in the Berylliumsphere, just like the radio show; the only difference, Margo's telepathy received Cranston's distress message, instead of a high power radio.

The contrast between Shiwan Khan the Golden Master and the Shadow, was brilliant. The villain knows of Cranston's past as the Butcher of Lhasa, who runned the entire drug trade in Asia, an artist of mass murder, no different from Genghis Khan. Aside the motive in destroying New York with atomic fire, Khan respects the Shadow, and implores him to join his villanous side, like brothers.
Those reflections imbedded in complexity, were shown in two awesome scenes. The first time they met, inside the Shadow's Sanctum and their brief dinner in a chinese restaurant, where Khan, although dressed like a gentleman, ate like a barbarian with his bare hands.

The Shadow/Lamont breaking Khan's Mirrors of Illusion

Moral of the Story: its simple, never bare a heart that is a bitter fruit, that feeling will entice you in commiting sins like crimes. Because justice will come out of the shadows, and sentence you to death. That is the major difference of the Shadow, from many superheroes, like Batman and the Punisher. The Shadow is an elemental force, who enjoys killing the wicked and protects the innocent from harm. Shiwan Khan, thought the Shadow was too weak, to defeat him. But Lamont was able to control his darkness, emptied his mind, enabling him to control the dagger and basically with his creativity, lobotomized the villain's frontal lobe with a friggin piece of glass, so he can never use his dark powers.
If the Shadow, started to kill without care, then Khan won. But its the opposite, Lamont/the Shadow won, capable to continue his campaign against evil, with a new love, Margo and he didnt let the past dictate his life and identity.

Conclusion: The movie despite its flaws, was fun. I enjoyed it a lot, a tribute and hybrid, of the radio show and the pulps.  This film, came out while the Lion King and Forrest Gump were dominant, thats the reason it failed at the box office. But once it came to DVD and VHS, the movie, gained a cult following, introducing people about the Shadow, and still attracting many individuals till this very day.

Film score: 8 out of 10

I leave this video, and tell me, after this scene, you will watch Shadow related content, guarranteed.