Date: Fri 14-Jun-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Illustration: C

Quick Words:

Now-Playing-Phantom-Zane

Full Text:

(Now Playing column on "The Phantom," 6/14/96)

Now Playing-

Broncos Fans Can Relate To `Phantom'

By Trey Paul Alexander III

As a staunch Denver Broncos fan, I know from personal experience what it is

like to desperately root for something that has little chance of materializing

(all you football fans out there know what I am talking about). That's exactly

how I felt while watching The Phantom , a mildly amusing adventure film

playing at the Crown Cine in Danbury. An agreeable, PG-rated offering, this

latest entry in the super hero cinema sweepstakes will have you breathlessly

awaiting the moment it turns the corner and emerges with its own unique style.

However, aside from occasional flashes of wit, The Phantom fails to truly

distinguish itself and ends up only a notch above mediocrity.

The Phantom follows the 1930s crusade of a tireless hero (Billy Zane) who

patrols the jungle determined to ward off greedy villains seeking to exploit

the treasures of the world. Nicknamed the Phantom, or The Ghost Who Walks,

this intrepid warrior, bedecked in sleek purple tights, is aided in his quest

by a clever wolf, a trusty steed, the supportive indigenous people, and an

effective, widely spread myth claiming he is a 400-year old spectre who cannot

be slayed.

The Phantom is drawn out of his untamed environs and lured to the bright

lights, big city of New York when he discovers a maniacal industrialist,

Xander Drax (Treat Williams), is procuring ancient jungle artifacts which

legend says will wield destructive power when brought together. The Ghost Who

Walks can't let this happen, so he takes his act on the road and goes to any

lengths to prevent a world-threatening catastrophe.

Along the way, a love interest is introduced - do any of these films ever have

a strong female character that isn't a love interest? - in the character of a

spunky young adventuress (Kristy Swanson) who also has a past affiliation with

the Phantom's alter ego, Kit Walker.

My heart goes out to the producers of this film, who have dared to release an

action film that is not seeped in blood, gore, violence or profanity.

Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged that this comic strip adaptation, based

on the 1936 Lee Falk creation which dates back several years before the

stories of either Superman or Batman were concocted, lacks the artistic zest

and panache of the Batman films, Superman: The Movie , Dick Tracy , or other

such big screen versions of crusaders from the funny papers/comic books.

Therefore, it is painfully apparent that in a summer filled with such

technically proficient popcorn pleasers as Twister and Mission: Impossible ,

there is faint hope The Phantom will lure curious moviegoers and become a box

office hit.

One of the problems with this film is you are never quite sure if it is taking

itself totally serious, only slightly serious, or reaching for complete camp.

The movie most definitely has a sense of humor, but it's very difficult to

tell when it's a knowing satire or an unaware ripoff. For example, the opening

scenes feature a grave-robbing baddie (James Remar) who looks suspiciously

like Indiana Jones. When his battle with the Phantom involves a speeding

truck, our hero dangling precariously from a flailing door, and so on, one

wonders if this sequence is meant as homage to Raiders of the Lost Ark or is

simply a pale imitation.

Director Simon Wincer ( Free Willy , Lonesome Dove ) succeeds at keeping his

film running briskly along while remaining fairly entertaining most of the

way, but one cannot help but feel The Phantom lacks that elusive, special

ingredient that allows motion pictures to soar. Maybe this is because the film

appears to throw every trick into the storytelling book at its audience

without ever making us forget the previous films that have pulled off such

stunts, and done them much better.