I do like superhero movies, and I thoroughly enjoyed Darkman, even in its moments where the story was a little on the ridiculous side and was not always coherent though it did have its innovative and interesting parts. However, the visuals were stunning, very dark and haunting complete with well-crafted effects, and the music and sound are of top notch quality too. The film goes at a fast pace, has good thoughtful dialogue, exciting action and very well done characters especially the title character. Sam Raimi's direction is dead on too, and the acting is great. Liam Neeson is wonderful, Larry Drake is very enjoyable as the main villain and Frances McDormand also convinces though her character isn't as interesting as Neeson and Drake's. All in all, a very good film. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Sam Raimi's inventive, wild action film is a difficult one to define. Part tragedy, part melodrama, part horror, part science fiction and part horror, there is even a broad streak of humour, which, as Raimi fans will no doubt guess, owes much of its inspiration to THE THREE STOOGES. DARKMAN is a highly entertaining film, made all the more remarkable when one considers what has been done with the low budget.

Every penny has been spent on bringing the visual effects to the screen, and they're all present and correct. Much of the SFX is unrealistic looking, which is to be expected from the budget, and back projection figures predominantly. I have no problem with this, however, as all effects are at least passable. There are a number of early and impressive computer graphics too, mainly in the shape of synthetic noses and faces, as well as lots of explosions at the end of the film in an exciting action sequence. Indeed action fans are advised to watch this film alone for the helicopter 'ride' at the end. This sequence is very entertaining, and other shootouts and gun battles add to the action score.

When watching the film, it soon becomes clear that there are many, many inspirations and references to other films, such as PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, DOCTOR X, HOUSE OF WAX, ROBOCOP, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, THE ELEPHANT MAN, BATMAN, many more too. It just adds to the fun as you see these visual references. Speaking of visuals, expect the film to be chock-full of Raimi's trademark wacky stuff, such as POV shots from gun barrels and many bizarre psychedelic sequences.

The cast is a dream come true for the cult fan, featuring just about anybody who knows Raimi and a whole lot more. In fact there was hardly a single person I didn't recognise. The female lead, Frances McDormand, is better known to audiences for her role in the Coen brothers' FARGO, while the evil villain, Larry Drake, has appeared in dreck like DR GIGGLES. Both cope well with their respective roles, with McDormand the more believable of the two, Drake acts more in a comic book way, especially with his special cigar cutter (a great device for some truly wince-inducing sequences). Liam Neeson is the surprise hero, and it's good to see Neeson in a role like this before he was famous and he acts very well, conveying pathos and feeling as well as some choice comic dialogue. I loved the way he had a hoarse throat after the explosion.

The rest of the cast is basically star studded. Bruce Campbell gets to make his expected cameo appearance in a very clever way at the end of the film, while Jenny Agutter also puts in a surprise appearance. Criminals making up Drake's gang include Nicholas Worth and Dan Hicks (INTRUDER),as well as Ted Raimi as a young, mean, sadistic pervert.

DARKMAN may be both clichéd and too over the top, with an out of place melodramatic score, but somehow all the ingredients gel together very well to produce a startling, inventive minor classic of the genre, with lots to watch and look at and many innovative scenes. Better than its origins, definitely. I can only wish Raimi had kept making films like this instead of rubbish like FOR LOVE OF THE GAME; stick to what you're good at, man!

Robert Durant (Larry Drake) is a ruthless gangster who likes to collect the fingers of his enemies. Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson) is a scientist working on a liquid skin but it has a fatal flaw of breaking down in the sunlight after 99 minutes. His lawyer girlfriend Julie Hastings (Frances McDormand) uncovers an incriminating memo from developer Louis Strack Jr. (Colin Friels). Louis sends Durant and his thugs to retrieve the memo. They kill Peyton's assistant, destroy his lab and leave him for dead. Peyton is assumed dead and barely survives as John Doe. His doctor severs his pain nerves. It leaves him with bouts of anger and unnatural power. He reconstitute his lab and creates masks of Durant's gang to cause chaos within the crime family. He recreates his face to reconnect with Julie. He becomes Darkman.

This is a wonderful creation by Sam Raimi. He uses a lot of his horror experience to bring a style and special effects skill to the movie. It certainly is a nice progression for him from Evil Dead to Spider-Man. The only drawback for me is the 99 minutes. It would be even more compelling if the skin would disintegrate with sunlight. It would mean that Darkman would have exist in the dark. It would simplify his identity and make it real cool. He would be Dracula where his face melts in sunlight. The acting is top notch. It's a great entry in the comic-book style movie.