6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
In 30's New York City, the Shadow battles his nemesis, Shiwan Khan, who is building an atomic bomb.
Starring: Alec Baldwin, John Lone, Penelope Ann Miller, Peter Boyle, Ian McKellenComic book | 100% |
Supernatural | 1% |
Period | Insignificant |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Action | Insignificant |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
French: DTS 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 2.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 0.0 | |
Overall | 2.5 |
Who knows what what joys lurk in the depths of superhero cult classics? The Shadow knows! There's so much fun to be had with director Russell Mulcahy and screenwriter David Koepp's late-camp era adaptation of the 1930s pulp novels and radio drama of the same name that it's almost criminal. Alec Baldwin as a reformed opium kingpin who's transformed into a mystically super-powered New York vigilante? Locked in a battle to the death with the last surviving descendant of Genghis Khan, a calculating telepath hellbent on world domination? With the help of a secret network of everyday working joes who owe their very lives to the wealthy crime fighter? All for the love of a beautiful young woman -- yet another mind-reader -- desperately searching for her father, an elderly, unstable atomic scientist? Count me in. And that's just scratching the surface. The Shadow was a box office flop upon its initial release, the victim of poor reviews and haphazard marketing, and was all but forgotten. Nineteen years later, though, a small but faithful fanbase have managed to keep its memory alive.
Now those same fans have not one but two Blu-ray releases to consider: the first from Universal, available now but hindered by a mediocre transfer and barebones disc; the second a more enticing edition from Shout Factory, which remains shrouded in secrecy yet will reportedly offer a more meticulously mastered video presentation and a proper supplemental package. True believers will no doubt purchase both, no matter how many issues haunt the Universal version. Videophiles and more selective Shadow loyalists will want to wait for news and reviews for the upcoming Shout Factory release, if only to hedge their bets and make a more informed decision.
There's an argument to be made that a 2.0 is far too kind. Universal's 1080p/VC-1 encoded video transfer is an unholy abomination from a bygone era. Built on the back of a DVD-era master, The Shadow's high definition debut looks as if it was prepared for release when HD-DVD still roamed the Earth. It struggles with dull, diluted colors, weak primaries, sickly skintones, severely crushed blacks and countless contrast inconsistencies and inadequacies. And it has nothing to do with age, inherent softness or the filmmakers' intentions either. Artificial sharpening boosts detail but only artificially. (It seems obvious, I know, but it's amazing how often viewers mistake sharpness for genuine clarity.) The result? Edge halos are out in full force, and the most revealing textures remain unnatural. Worse, grain is harsh, chunky and problematic, compression anomalies aren't uncommon, and eyesores of all stripes abound. It isn't as bad as a DVD upscale, thankfully, and it does offer a marginal upgrade over its SD counterpart. But fans hoping for a revitalized, rejuvenated Shadow will have to put their faith in another would-be catalog hero: Shout Factory. Unfortunately, Universal has failed to deliver.
The Shadow's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track is more rewarding, even though the thin, tinny, comicbook nature of the soundscape makes for a less-than-immersive experience. Dialogue is clear and intelligible throughout, without much in the way of prioritization mishaps. A few lines are dragged beneath the chaos when action erupts, but nothing of any consequence. LFE output is decidedly decent too, bringing solid punch and hefty kick to the fight whenever Cranston becomes The Shadow. The rear speakers get a mild workout too, but busy as they get, they aren't very efficient. Directionality suffers and dynamics aren't quite up to snuff, although much of that traces back to the film's original sound design rather than a deficiency in the lossless track. All told, The Shadow's DTS-HD MA mix isn't a disappointment, it just doesn't leave much of a mark.
The Universal release of The Shadow doesn't include any special features. The soon-to-be dated and detailed Shout Factory release will, although the nature and extent of those extras have yet to be revealed.
The Shadow is a mid-90s diamond in the genre rough; one that's much better -- and much more fun -- than its initial critical reception and cult status suggests. How its name isn't mentioned in the same breath as Dick Tracy and The Rocketeer remains a mystery, no matter how flawed it may be. There's no mystery to Universal's Blu-ray release, though. It isn't very good, and its subpar video transfer is to blame. Extras would've been nice, of course, but no amount of extras could make up for such a faulty presentation. I'd recommend holding out until Shout Factory details its upcoming release of The Shadow. The Universal edition simply doesn't cut it, no matter how low its price point falls.
1996
Director's Cut
2003
2020
Extended Cut
2007
1989
2017
1978
Warner Archive Collection
1974-1976
2019
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2003
1992
Director's Cut
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2024
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Vs
2011