ballystyk

Bob Kane himself admitted that he was inspired by "The Shadow" when he created Batman. He just took away the guns and made him more gothic. I really like this film, not only on the basis of the professional reputations of everyone involved but it straight out rocks. The special effects kick serious ass and Jerry Goldsmith wrote a fantastic score obviously in the hopes that a franchise could be developed. Considering that Orson Welles played the character on radio one would have assumed the effort in re-familiarizing the intended audience would have been emphasized. But look what happened to "The Phantom". I pray that J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" will be given the respect it deserves. Not that I'm comparing them but I am old enough to realize what is current and what is not.

In defense of the film;

It had a budget that would make Robert Rodriegez of "El Mariachi" fame go into shock... less that the price of a low budgeted screenplay, and was made with a desire to pay homage to John Carpenter's "Big Trouble In Little China" featuring many of the martial artists appearing in that film with the added intention of showcasing the character of "Medusa" for another feature in the works, before the actress's untimely death, about a "warrior princess" that years later inspired "Xena".

Sincerely The film maker.

I barely remember the show itself except as more serious competition with the first season of "Thriller" which at the time was more detective, pulp, noir kind of material. I distinctly remember the opening credit sequence with the abstract images floating eerily about a stylized shadow of a pursued man with one of the best themes written for television. John (Johnny) Williams rules.