The Shadow poster & wallpaper

Alec Baldwin, John Lone, Penelope Ann Miller

In 30's New York City, the Shadow battles his nemesis, Shiwan Khan, who is building an atomic bomb.

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42% liked it

9,445 ratings

PG-13, 108 min.

Directed by: Russell Mulcahy

Release Date: July 1, 1994

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DVD Release Date: November 1, 1998

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Flixster Reviews (932)

  • hypathio7
    July 16, 2009
    hypathio7
    As a way of introduction, I compared a couple crime fighters who were known to wear black. Batman was first created in 1939 in a comic book and definitely has some characteristics borrowed from The Shadow. The Shadow started off earlier in 1930 as a radio narrator to some myste...( read more)ry stories. Then by 1931, the character became the star of his own radio show, mostly written by pulp writer Walter Gibson, and for a time voiced by Orson Welles. By 1937 The Shadow developed to become what most people recognize today with the phrase, "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? Heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh! The Shadow knows ... " The radio show continued into the 50's, but the character was developed further primarily through pulp fiction novels. Zorro predates both of these dark cape and cowl crime fighters since he originally appeared in pulp fiction adventures in 1919. While there aren't a lot of similarities, there are enough to consider their common bond.

    The story in this movie is quite similar to Nolan's Batman Begins, but I think Nolan has a much better handle on the idea of a darkly tortured hero. Baldwin does a good job once he returns to New York and becomes The Shadow. It's pretty embarrassing though that becoming The Shadow supernaturally transforms him. When he puts on his costume, all of a sudden his nose becomes very large and pointed and his eyebrows become very bushy. Technically The Shadow clouds people's minds and does not have the power of invisibility, but the way the effects come off in the visual media it seems like The Shadow is a combination of Batman and the Invisible Man. The movie makes some jokes about radio product placement that I didn't get during the movie. Most of the dialog is pretty silly, but some is enjoyable. It's quaint how all of The Shadow's operations are pre-computer era. There are mail tubes, gears and pulleys, and a small TV type screen. Some of the gadgets like the red signal rings seem like complete fantasy though. Curry is way over the top. He's too hammy for me. Lone shows he can't cover up a strange speech impediment he has, and is overacting most of the time too. Miller is alright, but just when you think her character is going to become stronger she fades into the standard pulp noir female role. Boyle and McKellen give solid supporting performances. Fun adventure, but nothing special.
  • LitelBluHli
    December 23, 2008
    LitelBluHli
    "Only the shadow knows...muahahaha" LOL! Wow, I was about 10 when I saw this.
  • DrZeek
    March 29, 2008
    DrZeek
    Tulku: You know what evil lurks in the hearts of men, for you have seen that evil in your own heart. Every man pays a price for redemption; this is yours.
    Lamont Cranston: I'm not lookin' for redemption!
    Tulku: You have no choice: you *will* be redeemed, because I will teach you ...( read more)to use your black shadow to fight evil.

    One of the original superhero characters. Particularly important in leading to the creation of Batman. The Shadow is a movie that was unfortunately a big screen debut made after the Batman movie, causing obvious comparison. But its still a good one. Cool effects, great production value, Tim Curry and Gandolf, plus Alec Baldwin in one of his coolest role.

    The original Shadow existed in the form of radio shows and pulp novels. The character was one who dressed in a hat and cloak, carrying the ability to cloud men's minds (jedi mind tricks essentially).

    Here the Shadow is Lamont Cranston, played by Baldwin. He is a crime fighter existing in 1930s New York, battling various criminals.

    Things change when a decedent of Genghis Kahn comes in to town, with the plan for world domination (I hate it when that happens). His plan is simple, use a new type of bomb to destroy the city, and eventually become a new conqueror. Ambitious, but simple.

    Dr. Roy Tam: I guess you would call it an implosive-explosive sub-molecular device.
    Lamont Cranston: Or an Atomic Bomb.
    Dr. Roy Tam: Hey, that's catchy.

    The Shadow, using his various connections through men whose lives he has saved, figures out Kahn's plan and must hurry to stop him.

    He also runs into some supporting characters played by Peter Boyle, Ian McKellan, Penelope Ann Miller, and Tim Curry.

    I enjoy this movie because it is one I grew up watching mainly. It's a lot of fun, has a great look to it. Uses a lot of special effects to make the character work. Has a score by Jerry Goldsmith that works. The dialog is very comic book styled. And it has some humor in what it is doing.

    This is an entertaining crime fighter flick.

    Shiwan Khan: In three days, the entire world will hear my roar, and willingly fall subject to the lost empire of Shan Kahn. That is a lovely tie, by the way. May I ask where you acquire it
    Lamont Cranston: Brooks Brothers.
    Shiwan Khan: Is that mid-town.
    Lamont Cranston: 45th and Madison. You are a barbarian.
    Shiwan Khan: Thank you. We both are.
  • Showrogan
    March 13, 2008
    Showrogan
    Eh, I wasn't bad but it wasn't that good either...I'm not a fan of Penelope Ann Miller, can't really stand seeing her act...so yea, for this movie, she wasn't dramatic and she wasn't funny...kinda spolied the part
  • AgentLexi2132
    February 3, 2008
    AgentLexi2132
    Pending Review...

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  • jonnycrumley
    September 30, 2009
    jonnycrumley
    It's an OK movie, with some nice touches.
  • ElCochran90
    September 16, 2009
    ElCochran90
    One of the worst "hero" films I watched. It was ok in some parts though. Avoid please...

    39/100
  • samanthaseaotter
    August 15, 2009
    samanthaseaotter
    Not too great but not too bad. Alec Baldwin made a good superhero and was quite yummy at this time.
  • stallonefan1
    August 13, 2009
    stallonefan1
    The Shadow is one under appreciated masterpiece! It is one of the truest comic strip action films ive seen.Alec Baldwin is perfectly cast as Lamont Cranston who leads a double life as The Shadow fighting crime in the early 1900's and ends up facing a worthy opponent in Shiwan Kha...( read more)n,last decendant of Genghis Khan who intends on conquering the World.Great cast,costumes,sets and a total fun action movie.Give it a look people its worth it.
  • teamssuck
    August 8, 2009
    teamssuck
    Loved this recreation of the old radio serial character, The Shadow. Alec Baldwin gets his character perfectly. Shame this didn't lead to any sequels.

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  • moonrivers
    November 30, 2008
    moonrivers
    this film is much better than given credit for and should've had a sequel, f'cryinoutloud. a great might-have-been and perhaps one of baldwin's better movies. and curry's over-the-top blubbering meltdown is undoubtably a classic movie moment!
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