THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 22, 1994 TAG: 9407220062
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E13 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALAN CHANG, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
BAD GUYS HAD better switch occupations, because the father of all super heroes, the Shadow, has arrived and he knows ``what evil lurks in the hearts of men,'' for he was once evil himself.
``The Shadow'' is based on the popular 1930's radio show about the mysterious super hero. Alec Baldwin plays Lamont Cranston, an ex-opium lord in the Himalayas who kills without hesitation. He is magically transformed into a crime-fighting superhero known as the Shadow, and he uses his mind-clouding power to battle crime.
John Lone (``The Last Emperor'') plays the Shadow's arch enemy, Shiwan Khan, who claims to be the last descendent of the conqueror Genghis Khan. Shiwan plans to take over the world. It's up to Shadow to stop him.
Years of planning went into this project, and the result is the successful transfer of an invisible radio show hero into a visible, big-screen movie. But even with the high-tech special effects and a cast of stars, the film is a disappointment.
The loose plot is a disaster and filled with holes. It's as though the audience is responsible for filling in the missing links. For example, what better place to put Cranston's powers in good use against evil than the Big Apple? This transition from Tibet to New York City occurs suddenly, leaving the audience guessing about what happened back in Tibet.
Shadow's powers and vulnerability are poorly defined. And where are the thrills and excitement from the previews? They are there but scattered in a slow-paced plot that muffles the action.
Like many super heroes, the Shadow has a unique costume - a detective hat, a dark cape and a red scarf that covers his mouth. He also has a secret identity, his ``Shadow Mobile'' (apparently a taxi cab), and secret agents Moe Shrevnitz and Dr. Tam. The two agents' roles are so small, however, they might as well not be in the movie.
Most of the characters lack in-depth personalities and are left to stand in the corners with no contributions to the plot.Among them, Margo Lane, played by Penelope Ann Miller (``Carlito's Way'' and ``Kindergarten Cop''); Tim Curry (``Clue'' and ``Rocky Horror Picture Show''); Ian McKellen; and Cranston's uncle, police commissioner Wainwright Barth, played by Jonathan Winters.
The only character with dimension is the Shadow himself. However, even though his looks and voice help his image, Cranston's stoic personality isn't appealing.
There are some attempts to compensate for the disappointments. Screenwriter David Koepp (``Jurassic Park,'' ``Carlito's Way,'' and ``The Paper'') and director Russell Mulcahy (``Highlander'') manage to keep the audience's attention for 112 minutes by adding witty dialogue and dazzling costume and set designs.
But even with the excellent directing and special effects, a movie without an interesting plot is as dry as a corny joke. Let's hope that the producers will forget about making a sequel and let our friend fade away. MEMO: Alan Chang wrote this review as part of the newspapers' eighth annual
Minority Journalism Workshop. ``The Shadow'' is rated PG-13. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Alec Baldwin plays Lamont Cranston and his alter ego, The Shadow, in
the new film.
Alan Chang is a rising junior at Kempsville High.
by CNB