Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

A waste of 90 minutes of my life

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

Not many of you know this but Alec Baldwin was in a superhero movie. Why haven't you heard of this film? Well as you're about to find out I have no idea. The film is based on The Shadow, A crime-fighter first created in the 1930s. With his twin guns, black cape, psychic powers, black slouch hat and red bandana over his mouth hiding everything but his hooked nose the Shadow is considered the grandfather of the modern superhero and appeared in pulp novels, a radio show (read by none other than Orson Welles!!!), movie serials, comic books and finally this long overdue motion picture. Like many pulp-inspired films from this era (Indiana Jones, Zorro, Flash Gordon, The Rocketeer) 'The Shadow' does a phenomenal job of capturing the pulpy fun flavour of the old serials and radio dramas right down to the Asian megalomaniac villain who doesn't feel like a caricature at all but a real intimidating presence. The actual character traits and powers of the Shadow in this film are a combination of the powers he had in the radio show and the powers he had in the pulp novels which make the movie something all it's own but also a celebration of the shadow's overall legacy. The film is directed by Russell Mulcahy who is known by most fantasy fans as the director of one of the best fantasy films of all time: Highlander. Watching the two films you can actually see slight similarities in the story; a tale of powerful uber-human beings battling it out for the future of humanity while the humans remain oblivious which is a cool aspect to the film. The acting is top notch with everyone bringing in star performances, even Tim Curry and Ian McKeller in enjoyable albeit minor roles. Top points go to Baldwin's portrayal of the Shadow and Penelope Anne Miller as Margo Lane, the Shadow's love interest who is actually one of the best superhero girlfriends not only being important to the plot but actually being useful. The movie also delves into the idea that sometimes heroes are people who know darkness well enough to fight it. This is an idea I really like and Alec Baldwin pulls it off fantastically. The production design of this film is phenomenal, capturing a distinctly pulpy flavour but also capturing the classy side of the 1920s, the music is brilliant, the action is top quality, the camera work is fantastic (it's Russell Mulcahy, what do you expect?) the plot has numerous twists and turns and the end product is a fun yet dark movie and one of the best superhero films of all time. Planned to be the big summer blockbuster the film failed to impress critics and because it had to compete with both 'The Lion King' and 'The Mask' it only made 48,000,000 at the box office worldwide over its 40,000,000 budget and quickly faded into obscurity taking a possible franchise with it, making this one of the most underrated movies ever in my opinion.

Enjoyed the stylish setting, clothes and period details of this well-made film. Alec B. and Penelope M. are at their best here in this period thriller. So much fun, even with an over-the-top plot. Great attention to detail--wish I could visit 1930s NYC and go to the Cobalt Club and wear such swanky gowns... We first saw this when it came out in 1994 and I enjoyed it even more recently. The original radio shows were before our time so I don't know how accurate or faithful it was to the series, but I felt the concept and characters were conveyed in an original, entertaining way. The tension between the leads was believable and subtle, and their chemistry was wonderful. What a treat--a feast for the eyes and still GREAT after 20 years!

May contain spoilers.This movie is simply the best.And here's why?It has great casting like Alec Baldwin,Penelope Ann Miller,John Lone,Peter Boyle,Ian ...The photography,set decoration,great music by Jerry Goldsmith,brilliant director Russell M(Highlander 1,2),scenario by David (Mission:Impossible,Secret Window),etc etc.This is my favorite movie and i must have watched it million times.Opened in cinemas 1994 with classical effects some of them from company fantasy 2(Terminator,Nemesis),this movie follows a man who gets the superhero sets of skills like clouding the men's minds leaving visible only one thing that he can't hide-his shadow.It's the best action adventure since Indiana Jones and it has it all:action,adventure,romance,comedy(especially from Peter Boyle character Mo).This movie is a pure gem.One of those movies you don't wanna miss.-Who Knows What Hides in the Hearts of Men- 10/10

It's after WWI Tibet. Lamont Cranston (Alec Baldwin) is a brutal opium drug-lord known as Ying-Ko. He is kidnapped by the men of holyman Tulku. Tulku teaches him to cloud men's minds except for his shadow. Seven years later, he is back in NYC as a vigilante crime fighter known as The Shadow. Shrevnitz (Peter Boyle) is his cab driving sidekick and police commissioner Wainwright Barth (Jonathan Winters) is his uncle. Cranston falls for socialite Margot Lane (Penelope Ann Miller) but her natural telepathic power threatens to reveal his secret. Her father Reinhardt Lane (Ian McKellen) is an atomic scientist working for the War Department. Shiwan Khan (John Lone), the last descendant of Genghis Khan, is another student of Tulku. He is even more powerful than Lamont. He has resisted the change to good and plans for world domination. He has accumulated a special metal and with a mind-controlled Reinhardt, he is building an atomic bomb.This has a lot of visual style of a comic book late 20s. It's well done with the Chinese motif. The style does overwhelm the movie a bit. I wonder if the movie needs some humor to balance out the darker tones. Baldwin has a couple of snappy lines. I think he could have done more along that line. Also he needs a funny sidekick. The movie is not serious enough to go all dark.