A cult superhero favorite gets a stunning 30th anniversary restoration worthy of its legacy
The Phantom returns in impressive fashion as Kino Lorber celebrates the cult superhero film's 30th anniversary with a standout 4K release.
In 1936, American writer, playwright, theater director, and producer Lee Falk (Mandrake the Magician) created a superhero comic strip called The Phantom. The fact that the strip is still running today is a testament to Falk's gift of storytelling. Over the years, The Phantom has been depicted on both television and in films in live action and animated form. Thirty years ago, The Phantom live action film starring Billy Zane (Titanic) performed moderately at the box office. However, in the three decades since, it has amassed a cult following, giving it longevity in the superhero movie genre. To celebrate the 30th anniversary, Kino Lorber is releasing it for sale in 4K.
Kit Walker (Zane) leads a double life. By day, he is a regular man living in New York and dating Diana Palmer (Kristie Swanson, Buffy the Vampire Slayer). By night (figuratively), he is the descendant of the Bengalla tribe and "The Phantom", a virtuous, mythical being with powers granted to him by the skull ring he wears. In New York, there is a devious businessman named Xander Drax (Treat Williams; Deep Rising) who has discovered that there are three skulls that will grant him unlimited power. In pursuit of the skulls, Dax kidnaps Diana so that The Phantom will follow him.
Zane was well cast as Walker/The Phantom, and he studied the mannerisms of the comic strip character to maintain the continuity from the page to the screen. He also spent months building the right physique for the role. Swanson was ok but she seemed somewhat awkward with Zane. Williams played a great villain while the rest of the cast were lackluster and mediocre. Director Simon Wincer (Free Willy) does a decent job, and the script is merely okay, but nothing spectacular.
The 4K disc is presented in Dolby Vision with a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Frankly, it is one of the best 4K transfers from the original camera negatives that I have ever seen. The video quality is sharp and clean, and the color reproduction is superb. Everything from the skulls and jungles to the costumes and special effects are top-notch, making this the premiere representation of the original film. Kino Lorber rarely disappoints, but this time, I would say they have gone above and beyond to bring a superior visual product to audiences.
The disc includes two audio tracks: the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0. Since I watched the whole film in the 5.0 audio, I can't speak to the 2.0 quality. However, the Master Audio 5.0 is very strong with a healthy balance between dialogue, effects, and the soundtrack. There is little to no noise to distract the viewer, and every sound and word is crisp.
Kino Lorber has included new extras for audiences to enjoy. Generally, many, if not all, of the extras are legacy pieces, so this is also a plus for the Kino Lorber release. The extras include Commentary, Kismet in the Jungle, Slam Evil, Theatrical Trailer, and a reversible cover with vintage poster art for The Phantom.
The Phantom was not a huge box office hit back in 1996, which is uncommon considering how much money super hero films have grossed since the early 2000s, but it has seen a resurgence in more recent years due to a cult like following. Though the script is only decent, this Kino Lorber 4K restoration is excellent in all aspects and makes it worthy of the $30 purchase price.
Since I don't anticipate this title getting a different release for another 30 years or so, this is one that fans of the film will want to pick up before they sell out.
Grade: B-
