The Phantom

Staying with the same theme I started yesterday with The Shadow, I thought I would take a look back at another crime fighter that came from the pulp era, 1996's The Phantom.

Billy Zane takes on the title role as the masked avenger, aka Kit Walker. Aided by his skull ring, Kit is an unstoppable force against crime. A billionaire business tycoon named Xander Drax, Treat Williams, has designs on taking over the world, like bad guy billionaires always do. It's up to Kit to make sure that this doesn't happen.

The Phantom is a fun throwback. Zane, who I've always thought would make a good Superman, is perfectly cast. And Williams hams it up, in a good way, as the evil Xander. Kristy Swanson, who's Kit's love interest, proves to be more than just eye candy. As is Catherine Zeta Jones who plays Williams' hench woman.

The idea for a Phantom movie had circulated around Hollywood for decades. Originally Sergio Leone was going to direct. When that fell thru, Joe Dante took over, which didn't happen either. Dante envisioned a more campy Phantom film and thought that this version was too serious. I think it's pretty tongue in cheek. Then Joel Schumacher was attached. Luckily that didn't happen or the Phantom's suit would have nipples. Australian director Simon Wincer, who did the great Harley Davidson And The Marlboro Man, was who the producers finally settled on.

Here's the one problem I've always had with this character. He lives in the jungles and wears a purple suit. Wouldn't you think that he would be pretty able to spot? At least this movie is entertaining enough to suspend my disbelief for a couple of hours.

Overall, The Phantom is a fun, Saturday matinee style flick,

It's available on dvd and blu ray.