Darkman

d54.pod 9/3/2022 3:39:51PM 8.4

Full Review: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ODe6zr5oNHl6lkcjoOcPB?si=0aad71ce959743a3 I recently rewatched Darkman and there is just so much to like about this movie. In comparison to today's superhero overdose, Darkman just sticks to the basics and tells an incredible emotional and captivating story which is real. No over the top CGI, no storylines forced in by studio producers, not really any characters used just as a device, no cut scenes of blatant Easter Eggs and no political agenda in sight. Comedy is used appropriately and not to undercut the tone of particular scenes and characters. I really miss these kind of movies in today's superhero landscape. I do like the MCU and how they bought these comic book characters to screen, but after watching Darkman (after about 15 years or so) the MCU are doing so much wrong. I loved you could just watch this movie and not have to worry about what is means to the overarching story or where this story and character fit into the larger universe. It also did such a great job of focusing purely on one character and the journey through the pain he has to go through. I love this movie, it's one of those movies which will always stick in my memory. It's a real testament to great film making and knowing what works.

GenerationofSwine 1/12/2023 1:15:01AM 8.4

This is interesting... this is one of those B-Movie gems that is packed full of pro-talent before they really became pro-talent. And that is right down to the Cohens who did uncredited script polishing. This is worth the watch, even if you are one of those people that hates B-movies... wrongly hates. And, it's a comic book movie, it is over the top, it is campy, it packs serious action into a short little plot that still manages to be compelling. The MCU could take lessons on story crafting from this.

kevin2019 3/14/2026 5:34:25AM 8.4

"Darkman" almost seems to be an innovative combination of a superhero movie and Gaston Leroux's classic 1909 novel "The Phantom of the Opera" as it aspires to be so much more than the sum of its parts. It does often achieve an emotional poignancy (especially when it comes to the relationship between Peyton Westlake and Julie Hastings), but it is all too clear their love can never continue no matter how much each one of them wishes it to. Sam Raimi is on superb form in the director's chair as you would expect and he successfully injects the proceedings with his marvellously restless energy and this results in some especially excellent action sequences which have been presented with great imagination by a director with an exceptionally superior visual flare.