The Shadow: Celebrating 83 years of crime fighting

83 years ago, the voice of the Shadow was first heard across America on the Detective Story Hour radio program. One year later, he made his first appearance in the pages of his own pulp novel, written by Walter Gibson under the house name of Maxwell Grant. From 1931 until 1949, Gibson penned 282 of the 325 Shadow pulp adventures, crafting the world of this masked man’s war on crime, his enemies, his allies, his adventures. At the same time, the Shadow became famous on the radio once again (the great Orson Welles voiced the character from 1937 until 1938), and in the movie serials. Over the years, the character has continued to delight fans young and old, with his fantastic life of crime fighting in the pages of comic books (currently being published in comics by Dynamite Entertainment), reprints of his pulp novel adventures and his own feature film in 1994, starring Alec Baldwin in the titular role. And all these years later, criminals upon the fictional page, still stop and quake in their shoes when a sinister laugh is heard, foretelling their doom. After all, who knows, what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows. 

'Pacific Rim' Review

Greetings once again, to all those out there who have been wonderful and loyal readers of my blog over the years. Well here I am once again, with another review for you all. I just got home from catching an evening showing of Guillermo del Toro's new summer hit Pacific Rim. And I have got to tell you, I was very impressed.

Right then, on with the review. I won't plan on spoiling the plot in any way for those who have yet to see it, but I can break down the movie into these categories: casting, plot in terms of pacing/writing (without giving it away) and special effects. Ok, everyone ready? Let's go!

So to start out, we have Charlie Hunnam as Raleigh Becket, former Jaeger pilot called back into service to pilot one of the few remaining Jaeger's that has survived the war with the Kaiju. Alongside him we have Idris Elba (many will remember him as Heimdall in Thor) as Becket's commanding officer Stacker Pentecost. Filling the lead female role is Japanese actress Rinko Kikuchi, playing Mako Mori, who works on the Jaeger project alongside Stacker. And filling in a very hilarious role as the one project's resident scientists is Charlie Day of 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' fame, and then there is Ron Perlman as Hannibal Chau, a black market dealer. The rest of the cast was excellent, bringing in many unheard of actors as fellow Jaeger pilots, all in all, del Toro did a great job picking the right people to fill these, brilliant, just absolutely brilliant.

Plot wise, the movie went along at a brisk pace. Details filled in nicely, and the main characters really get fleshed out towards what could be called the second act of the film. It had its amusing moments, but they weren't awkward or forced in any way, they made me laugh because I found them funny, not because I felt I had to find them funny. The fighting sequences are beautifully scripted, like some sort of violent ballet of action.

As for the visual effects, wow just utterly wow. del Toro crafts these Jaeger mechas in a way that is just so fantastic, you wish that these things were real. We (the audience) get a real good look at how the pilot system of these machines works, a dual interface between two pilots, linked by a neural bridge. The monsters, the Kaiju, they are really scary. I mean the digital work on these beasts is outstanding, and even though they are designed to look the same in many ways physically, del Toro makes up for this by showcasing them as having many different "offensive" weapons that are a part of their bodies. I won't say what kind of weapons, because that would be telling now wouldn't it.

All in all, I give this film four out four stars for keeping me captivated the entire time, amazing casting, excellent plot, outstanding visual effects and presenting a film that doesn't pastiche or homage the classic giant monster films of the 20th century, but creates a stand alone piece that showcases a story of utter brilliance and magnificence. I highly recommend that all who read this review, that have not seen this film, to do so. You will sit down, and be treated to two hours of action-packed, mind blowing awesomeness.