MovieChat Forums > The Phantom (1996) Discussion > This movie was a mess

This movie was a mess

posted 6 years ago by [deleted]
15 replies | jump to latest

...in terms of tone. One minute it tried to be more serious, grown-up drama, and the next minute it was a kids' adventure. This movie couldn't decide what it wanted to be. No wonder it bombed!

[–] Truthtalker (1870) 6 years ago

No, the tone is constant

[–] R_Kane (15828) 6 years ago

Yes, I agree. It’s constant camp, which was the goal. It’s also great fun. As an aside, I wonder how many people realize what a true beauty Kristy Swanson (the One True Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is in this movie. She makes SMG look like a boy. Yum. Plus: Donald Sutherland? Treat Williams? James Remar? Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa? Patrick McGoohan, The Prisoner himself? You’ve got enough testosterone in this thing to start your own sperm-doaner clinic.

The scene where Billy Zane and Kristy ride together on that magnificent white horse on that stunning pure-white Thailand beach alone makes this movie worthwhile.

This movie was a mess . . . of great, fun, camp stuff.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Interesting observations.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

Thank you.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

I think Swanson and SMG are both very attractive, but looks-wise I'd still give the edge to early to mid-90s Swanson.

Zeta-Jones is certainly no slouch in the looks department either.

[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

Interesting.

[–] bigbadwolf666 (4707) 6 years ago

I've always been a fan and enjoy it a great deal.

[–] davodikum (5970) 4 years ago

Donald Sutherland was in this? I've seen this so many times, must have forgotten. Is he the Phantoms dad?

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

I agree.

[–] davodikum (5970) 4 years ago

This movie is my childhood. So I disagree. Kinda. It's a bad movie. But. Enjoyable on so many levels. Plus Kristy boner, zeta-jones in her prime. Microscope eye stabbers. Ghosts who walk. It has it all.

[–] Slim (108) 4 years ago

Agreed it's a good bad movie. It was never going to win Oscars it's was never going to be seen as a shinning example of the art of film and acting but it does wat it set out to do, entertain.

[–] davodikum (5970) 4 years ago

Amen.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Good point.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

Add me to the list of people who enjoyed this...

[–] davodikum (5970) 4 years ago

Yeah! I will.