Phantom (1996)

In most forms of entertainment many creative minds strive towards a certain, frequently lucrative goal; kick start a franchise. A lot of fans may think that something like ‘Friday the 13^th’ is a long running franchise but compared to certain costumed crime fighters those dozen or so horror flicks are but a flash in the pan. Several iconic figures have been going strong literally since the thirties; ‘Batman and ‘Superman’ readily comes to mind. One of the most prolific heroes in popular entertainment is one your grandfather most likely read as a child’ The Phantom’. This hero has been entertaining children and adults alike since 1936 in a series of stories that quite literally swept the globe remaining one of the most popular comic heroes in history. Not only has that ‘The Phantom’ conquered most forms of entertainment running the gamut from comic strips in the Sunday funnies to novelizations. Recently there has been an attempt to reignite the franchise with a made for television movie, one in a long line of films versions of this character. Back in 1996 there was an attempt to bring this ageless hero to the screen that was met with mixed reactions. While the film admittedly could have been better it was not completely devoid of fun and actually did make a realistic attempt to capture the trademark elements of the series but for those not previously up on ‘Phantom’ lore it could come across as boring but if you are a diehard fans there is sufficient familiar elements to make this film a viable part of the story. With a story that strides through the centuries like this one there is a ton of back story and mythos son that it would be impossible to cram all but a tiny portion into the space of a single film. This might be a major contributing factor in why many rejected this particular offering.

According to every incarnation of the story ‘The Phantom’ is actually Kit Walker (Billy Zane) he is the 21^st in line to don the trademark purple tights and black mask in order to fight crime. The first Phantom was in 1536 when the initial Christopher Walker watched as a band of pirates murdered everyone on the ship he was traveling on, including his father, he vowed to fight piracy and evil in all its guises and that mantle has been handed down, father to son, ever since. Because all who become the Phantom look the same rumors started that he is immortal or a ghost. The irony inherent in this set up is many have authored contributions to the unending saga since Lee Falk initially created the character. Like the figure of the Phantom each writer who takes up the story adds their own distinctive spin on the characters and situations. All the Phantoms are based in the fictional African nation of Bengalla added by his trusty allies of the local tribe; the Rope People as well has his faithful animal companions, his dog Devil and steed, Hero. From his headquarters in the mysterious Skull Cave he is frequently visited by friend and confidant Guran (Radmar Agana Jao). Naturally, somewhere along the line each young Shadow in training has to go out into the regular world to broaden his education and meet that special someone who can help start the next generation.

In this film a couple of the oldest storylines are melted together. Dastardly thief, Quill (James Remar) is making his getaway with an ancient artifact. To his surprise and dismay the Shadow pops up and almost stops him. Quill is flabbergasted because he knows he killed the Shadow not long ago. Quill still wears his victim’s belt with the skull insignia on the buckle and hole in the back where he stabbed the shadow to death. Unbeknownst to the villain he actually murdered the 20^th Shadow (Patrick McGoohan) resulting in his son, Kit, stepping up to take his place in the ancestral business. Quill stole an ancient carved skull on behalf of his real boss the evil criminal mastermind, Xander Drax (Treat Williams). The skull turns out to one of the infamous ‘Skulls of Touganda’ which. If brought together creates a power that can control the world. One of the aspects of this film that took people out of the moment was the way the ghost of Kit’s father was handled, for new comers of the franchise it came across as just plain silly. For fans well versed in Phantom lore the facts as explained didn’t work out. The ghost was frail and elderly. If he had died as explained, in action, he would have been younger, more robust. In the comics most Phantoms tended to die rather on the young side.

There is a lot of fast paced action that helps make up for some of the decencies in the story and how it is told. A touch of necessary romance is inserted by introducing Kit’s future wife and mother of the yet unborn number 22, Diana Palmer (Kristy Swanson). At the time this movie was made Swanson was carving out a niche in action after making her cinematic mark as the original Buffy the Vampire slayer. Speaking of early careers the sexy bad girl aviatrix Sala was portrayed by Catherine Zeta Jones. Zane does a good job as the ‘Ghost that Walks’, well suited to the intense emotional presentation required here. In keeping with the source material the good guys and villains should be over the top almost to an extreme. Keeping with this is a deliciously evil megalomaniac played by Williams. The high definition version recently released is exception in its video. The jungle never looked so lush and realistic. Not only can you fully appreciate the deep purple of the Phantom’s costume but for the first time the details of the skull markings on are clearly discernable. Like the Phantom, This franchise will certainly live on forever. Even if this is not the best installment of the saga it is fun to watch.

Posted 07/21/2010