Conference bookie::movies

    Well here's another to add to the list...
    
    It's called "The Phantom" it stars Billy Zane (Dead Calm, Sniper) as
    the Phantom. And Kristy Swanson (The Chase, Buffy: the Vampire Slayer)
    as his love intrest.
    
    	For those off you unfamiliar with the story of "TP" it goes a
    little like this,  "It goes back 400 years when a small boy swore on
    the skull of his fathers murderer that he would devote his life to
    fighting piracy and injustice in all it's forms."  The setting is around
    the 1930's and The Phantom has no super powers to use, he's considered
    to be immortal because he's been around for 400 years.  This is however
    not the case, the son of the original Phantom followed in his fathers
    footsteps, and so did his son and so-on and so-on. He is dressed in a
    purple body suit, with black accents (boots, belt, mask). And of course
    the "Skull Ring".  (created by Lee Falk)  
    
    	It looks alright but may need a twist to atract veiwers, I
    personally won't see it until it comes out on video or if it's given a
    real good review.  Also Billy looks to be in "kick a$$ shape", I read
    in the paper that he had to be, due to some of the action scenes he
    had to do...even though he had three stunt doubles.
                                   

    Seen a few previews on television for this movie.  I must say that
    from what I have seen it looks rather cheesey.  Some guy running around
    in purple tights.....O.K. then.  I think I will wait to see it on
    video.
    
    P
    

    
    <---- I agree. However, you adore Batman, and he's wearing black
    tights. (mind you he has a cape. Maybe The Phantom should have a cape)
    
    Dave
    

    The cape must be what does it.  Superman also wears tights, but that
    cape is what does it (not to mention that groovey trick he can do with
    eyes, you know when he melts things).
    
    P
    

    
    
    then there is the Shadow who doesn't wear tights but has 
    a cool cape! :)))
    Chris
    :)

    Where does Spidey fit in to all of this?

    
    
    no cape, but cool tights and he can shoot web and swing from it.
    
    Way Cool!
    
    Chris
    :)))

    It is so true!!! Spidey is COOL, so cool in fact you forget all about
    the fact he is wearing tights.
    
    P
    

Ahem.  This is "The Phantom" topic... :-)

-- Nina (moderator hat partly on :-) )

    RE: .0 >     I always thought this would make a great comic strip 
    		 character to put on the big screen. This rush is the first 
    		I've seen of an attempt to do so. 
    
    Just for the record, "The Phantom" was used for a 1940's (?) serial
    from Columbia Pictures.  Starred cowboy star (and former Captain
    Marvel) Tom Tyler.  Haven't seen it, but the costume looked right 
    (like Columbia's Superman, unlike their laughable Batman).  
    
    Ron D.

    ..well, well, well..saw this one on Saturday night...GREAT escapism!
    WONDERFUL "forget your troubles for a while" movie, exactly how
    a so-called "comic-book" movie should be!
    Not too over the top, verrry entertaining, wonderful cinematography...
    a lot of this movie was shot on-location in * think* 
    South America somewhere...very lush jungle scenes indeed!
    
    And if your not familiar with the character of "The Phantom",
    it is very well done with respect to character introduction, etc.
    
    
    I loved it, so I'll recommend it!
    
    ***1/2 outta ****
    
    mac

    Re .11 --
    
    Filmed in Thailand.
    

    We caught it Sunday afternoon at a matinee.
    
    It's a great rip-roarin' action flick.  Lots of fun.
    My wife was surprised that I didn't fall asleep during
    the showing.
    
    The villain, Drax, is a quite enjoyable and funny; he
    really *loves* evil and power.
    
    Although the movie has its flaws, they don't detract from it
    all that much.
    
    If you're concerned about taking kids to see it, you might
    be interested in knowing that although there's some violence
    it's neither extreme nor gratutious nor graphic.

    
    
    I was talking to someone today who took three of his kids to see it and
    said the kids loved it.  He also commented on the movie feeling like
    an Indiana Jones in purple tights movie!  I thought that was kind of
    funny but I could see from the previews, what he meant.
    
    Will have to check it out.
    

>    He also commented on the movie feeling like
>    an Indiana Jones in purple tights movie!  

I believe some of the writers/producers are the same as for the
Indiana Jones movies (or some of them), which might account for that
feeling. :-)

Siskel gave "The Phantom" thumbs down, Ebert gave it thumbs up (he
especially loved the look of the film).  FWIW.

-- Nina

Let me say at the outset that I am a fan of The Phantom from back
when he was more widely circulated than now. In fact the comic strip
debuted in 1936, 2 years before Siegel & Shuster's Superman arrived.
As a child in the 50s and 60s, every Sunday I would anticipate the next
installment of The Phantom. I thought he was cool.

Good news for folks like me: this movie is true to the comic strip, 
from the Chronicles in Skull Cave right down to the use of gemstones 
for traveling money. The only thing missing was a shot of some natives 
saying "The Ghost Who Walks...can never die".

So the movie gets great points for style, but as for substance -- well,
let's just say that if you saw Raiders of the Lost Ark you'd be tempted to
say this was a knock-off. Hey, it's set in the 1930s and starts off with
a golden skull being stolen from a cave in a jungle. Lots of action stunts that 
are uniformly well done, but nowadays come off as predictable if not passe'.
Still, Billy Zane does a great job being The Phantom and the dialog has a
fair amount of fun repartee, so the movie has lots to offer if you're willing
to go with it. If you're on the fence about waiting for the video, consider
instead catching a theatre matinee...the aerial footage of the jungle is
spectacular. ('Course if that's not your thing, then nevermind).

  John

I had been a traditional fan of the comic strip during the 50s and 60s.

I went to see the film at the theater, expecting to be highly entertained.

I was very disappointed.