Exciting version of the popular comic books and broadcasting tale about the immortal crusader called ¨The Shadow¨ with very watchable FX and lots of fun . Several visual designs provide the highlights for those in the mood for a journey back to the radio past or a quick superhero adventure . As our stalwart hero , a billionaire playboy named Lamont Cranston (Alec Baldwin) is a master of illusion and defender of justice thanks to his alter ego . Aided by companion Margo Lane (Penelope Anne Miller) and a Cabman (Peter Boyle) he battles super-criminal named Shiwan Khan (John Lone) . He discovers his destiny and a old legacy as a superhero called The Shadow , the invisible man who walks , a seemingly relentless crime fighter . A mask and raincoat he finds himself battling his nemesis , the deadliest descendant of Ghengis Khan . He's helped by an attractive woman and both of whom travel to dangerous streets N.Y. to thwart a nasty criminal . Khan is a cold and megalomaniac killer who murders cruelty his victims, he wants to take a power to dominate the world , he is supported by a particular ally , a smarmy villain (Tim Curry) and his hoodlums . The hero and villain have equal powers , yet the heroine can be hypnotised by one and no other . The picture charges into a tale of a hero who turned from evil in Tibet and reemerged in New York City as a superhero holding extraordinary power to fight in that most wretched lair if iniquity . As in 30's New York City, the Shadow battles his enemy who is building an atomic bomb. But the caped crusader is trapped inside a locked chamber being helped by his girlfriend .

The Shadow is shown in this highly stylized big screen adaptation of the 30's radio show , the once starred by Orson Welles . Film gets exotic locations , derring-do adventures ,rip roaring , action-packed , tongue in check , it's a cinematic roller coaster pretty entertaining and with well made set pieces action , including numerous and elaborate FX . This exciting picture provides splendid production design by Joseph Nemec , while done more dynamically elsewhere , are fun and outstanding . This is an ambitious fantasy adventure with breathtaking special effects ; it has some well-staged scenes whose effectiveness owes much to Russell Mulcahy's strong pictorial sense . Older kids , teenagers may find the proceedings a bit hokey and paying little attention to logic , but everyone seems to be having a good time . The picture is a crossover among comic-strip hero , superhero feats , Saturday matinée serials and old-fashioned thirties movies . As this runs like an old Republic serial of the thirties or Forties on a multi-million dollar budget . Its arresting visuals , lavish realization and crude energy put filmmaker Russell Mulcahy on the map . Much of the dialogue springs as if balloons from the printed page and the interpretation is appropriately rudimentary . The picture has great loads of action , special effects abundant , glamorous cinematography by Stephen Burum and spectacular Jerry Goldsmith's musical score , including an enjoyable leitmotif .

The motion picture includes an interesting script by prestigious David Koepp and was rightly directed by Russell Mulcahy . Russell for some time worked in Britain as a filmmaker of video clips , but returned to his native country , Australia , to make his first fictional movie , ¨Razorback¨ . He was able to get the backing for what proved to be his greatest success ¨Highlander¨ . It led to two sequels , the first of which was realized by himself titled ¨Quickening¨ . He subsequently directed ¨Resurrection¨with Charlie Sheen and ¨Talos the mummy¨ , among others . Despite major stars and big budgets with which to work have not fulfilled their potential and he seemed less commanding with players than with action . The flick will appeal to adventure fans and comic-books enthusiastic . Rating : Good and amusing. Well worth seeing.

Misunderstood is an understatement. Some critics (the esteemed Roger Ebert included) understood both the direction and aim of this film, while others, and many movie goers completely missed the point.

This film is meant to be a visualization of a 1930's pulp novel - that is, its point is to provide that stereotypical "campy" atmosphere of the old Shadow radio plays, novels, and even films of that era. This is in many ways the "stereotypical" super-hero film. We have a mad scientist, a fiendishly evil conquerer(there's some retro terminology) a super-hero who is not a perfect being, but a flawed man, and of course, an atomic bomb.

People forget that it is the Shadow, and other early pulp-fiction characters that set these "stereotypes" in the first place - therefore how can one call this show a "rip-off" when it set the standards of this genre so long ago? If the Shadow character had been invented in the 1990's, yes, this film could be said to be a humongous rip-off of Batman, Spider-man, and pretty much any other heroic character. But as it is, the Shadow in its entirety predates ALL of these characters and clichés. Batman himself was even based on the Shadow by the creators own admission.

The long and short is, if you look at this from the perspective of contemporary modern film, you'll be disappointed. If however you look at this as a visual interpretation of classic 1930's adventure escapism, you'll enjoy it greatly. Your perspective is critical here, and I urge you to remember that this is the original caped crusader. He shouldn't be brushed off simply because his movie came out later!

8.5/10

The rating is too low. This film is actually very good indeed, with great special effects and acting. New York looks beautiful, and the special effects makes the film well worth watching. The film's length is just right, and the period in which it's set is fairly accurate, and the Jerry Goldsmith score was superb. I must say I was confused at the beginning, but that's me, I did think the story was the weakest aspect of the film, perhaps the director was focusing on visual detail and almost forgot the story. (I need to see this movie again.)But the climax was very rousing. The performances were very good, if overshadowed slightly by the special effects. Alec Baldwin is very good, and the way they made him invisible was a masterstroke. John Lone is also superb, as is the beautiful Penelope Ann Miller. I couldn't take my eyes off her in that dress, I thought Christmas had come early. Peter Boyle is great with the humour. Tim Curry is the most entertaining of the small roles. He overdoes the sliminess sometimes, but that's Tim Curry, but that isn't a bad thing, his overdoing the role made him entertaining. The only performer who struggled was the usually excellent Ian McKellan who looked uncomfortable in this film. But this is coming from a schoolgirl who really enjoyed this movie, and this movie deserves an 8/10. Bethany Cox