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"The Shadow" lurks at 20th Century Fox

JacksonArcher

JacksonArcher

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20th Century Fox has picked up the rights to a new version of the classic pulp comic-book and radio hero The Shadow from Sony Pictures. Sam Raimi is still attached to produce.

Apparently the studio is eying David Slade, director of the acclaimed thriller Hard Candy, the horror film 30 Days of Night (also produced by Raimi), and the upcoming The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

Overall, the duo of Slade/Raimi gets me excited. I loved the 1994 version starring Alec Baldwin. I thought it was underrated and had a wonderful sense of moody atmospherics. However, I wouldn't mind an updated version, especially given today's technology and perhaps a more serious and less "tongue-in-cheek" approach.

Source.
 
the 1994 movie looked good, but the opening sequence ruined the character and the ending was dull. I'd definitely like to see a well-done Shadow movie, and Raimi is probably somebody who can pull it off.
 
I liked the Alec Baldwin movie though I wished for a stronger villain. Baldwin was great in it. Never understood why he didn't become a major movie star between this and Red October.
 
I'm one of those who absolutely adores the 1994 movie but I can also see why it wasn't some people's cup of tea.

Isn't Doc Savage getting a movie too? They should team up!
 
Count me in for another Shadow movie, even the flawed Baldwin movie was a lot of fun.

I doubt the new movie will have nearly as good a score as Jerry Goldsmith's 94' score sadly.:(
 
Excellent! I really liked the 1994 movie too. One of the things I remember the most was how could the surround sound was when the Shadow laughed. It seemed to come from everywhere!
 
JacksonArcher said:
Overall, the duo of Slade/Raimi gets me excited. I loved the 1994 version starring Alec Baldwin. I thought it was underrated and had a wonderful sense of moody atmospherics. However, I wouldn't mind an updated version, especially given today's technology and perhaps a more serious and less "tongue-in-cheek" approach.

Source.
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Agreed absolutely on both counts. I love The Shadow, the Phantom and The Rocketeer, but The Shadow is probably my favourite of the three 30s pulp comic adaptations.

I've only seen Slade's 30 Days but it was an effective chiller/ siege movie. And Raimi is pretty reliable, Spider-man 3 notwithstanding.

I think the source material would probably suit Stan's style of direction more so but as you say, this duo is a good combination. Though I'm still probably more interested in Shane Black's Doc Savage.
 
Count me in. I loved the '94 movie. My only only fear is that they'll try to update it instead of going with a period piece.
 
Nardpuncher said:
Isn't Doc Savage getting a movie too? They should team up!
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When they were both at Sony that was a possibility - in fact it was something Raimi was mulling at one point - but now that they're at different studios it won't happen.

It's interesting that it's moved from Sony to Fox given Raimi's Spider-Man 4 going down the crapper at Sony. I wonder if things ended acrimoniously there and he's taken the property to another studio as a result (it was Raimi, I believe, who acquired the rights and took them to Sony in the first place, so he may have had the option to take them elsewhere).

Recent word on The Shadow is that Raimi thinks the script is in great shape and is good to go. It's reportedly a very dark script, with a lot of gore and nudity. It was thought Raimi might try to squeeze it in as a directing job before Warcraft, but obviously he's chosen to act just as producer and to bring in another director instead (and I think Slade is a choice with potential).
 
Caliburn24 said:
Count me in for another Shadow movie, even the flawed Baldwin movie was a lot of fun.

I doubt the new movie will have nearly as good a score as Jerry Goldsmith's 94' score sadly.:(
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It was Goldsmith's? I knew it was excellent, now I know why.

I liked the 1994 movie too (funny how everybody seems to like it but it was not a commercial success).
 
Everyone seems to like it, I guess I need to rewatch it, I saw this in the theater and don't remember much except being unimpressed and making fun of Baldwin's Shadow laugh all night. Maybe 16 years later I'd see it different.
 
I still haven't seen the 1994 movie, but if they set this one in modern day, I won't be going to see it in theatres. Maybe rent it later, but no way I'm shelling out the price of a theatre ticket to see the Shadow in any other period than the 30s/40s.
 
S. Gomez said:
I still haven't seen the 1994 movie, but if they set this one in modern day, I won't be going to see it in theatres. Maybe rent it later, but no way I'm shelling out the price of a theatre ticket to see the Shadow in any other period than the 30s/40s.
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If you ever rent the 1994 film, you may be annoyed to find that it's pan-and-scan. Universal has never bothered to release a proper widescreen version for R1.
 
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TheSeeker said:
Captaindemotion said:
I love The Shadow, the Phantom and The Rocketeer, but The Shadow is probably my favourite of the three 30s pulp comic adaptations.
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Technically the Rocketeer is not a 30s pulp comic. I agree with you though, it's a great flick!
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Yeah, that was lazy wording on my part. It's set in the 30s and it's based on a comic but I know what you mean, it doesn't originate from a 30s character like the other two.
 
Bad Bishop said:
S. Gomez said:
I still haven't seen the 1994 movie, but if they set this one in modern day, I won't be going to see it in theatres. Maybe rent it later, but no way I'm shelling out the price of a theatre ticket to see the Shadow in any other period than the 30s/40s.
Click to expand...
If you ever rent the 1994 film, you may be annoyed to find that it's pan-and-scan. Universal has never bothered to release a proper widescreen version for R1.
Click to expand...

You'd be well served ordering a copy from the UK (cost me fifteen bucks with shipping) and following the instructions floating around online to switch your DVD player to region free (takes less than five minutes, including finding the right page). Widescreen is the only way to go. Pan and scan needs to be destroyed with fire.
 
Didn't care for the Alec Baldwin version. He was miscast -- didn't have the right voice for the character at all, and his laugh was pathetic. It didn't sound menacing and scary, just hysterical. And the makeup to transform his face was rather silly.

Now, you want to hear a vocal performance that's perfect for the Shadow, check out Kiefer Sutherland as the bad guy in Phone Booth, a role that's almost entirely voiceover. It reminded me a lot of Orson Welles's definitive performance as the Shadow on radio, and featured a really great menacing laugh. I'd like to see (or rather hear) Sutherland get the role.


Out Of My Vulcan Mind said:
Recent word on The Shadow is that Raimi thinks the script is in great shape and is good to go. It's reportedly a very dark script, with a lot of gore
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Boo!

and nudity.
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Yay!
 
^ Maybe all the gore is because Kiefer Sutherland is going to be playing The Shadow?

The power to cloud men's minds - and torture their bodies?!
 
Bad Bishop said:
S. Gomez said:
I still haven't seen the 1994 movie, but if they set this one in modern day, I won't be going to see it in theatres. Maybe rent it later, but no way I'm shelling out the price of a theatre ticket to see the Shadow in any other period than the 30s/40s.
Click to expand...
If you ever rent the 1994 film, you may be annoyed to find that it's pan-and-scan. Universal has never bothered to release a proper widescreen version for R1.
Click to expand...
Yuck. Thanks for the tip.
 
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