Darkman 2 - The Return of Durant

Starring:Larry Drake, Arnold Vosloo, Kim Delaney, RenÃ©e O'Connor, Lawrence Dane, Jesse Collins, David Ferry, Jack Langedijk, Sten Eirik, Steve Mousseau, James Millington, Phillip Jarrett, Kevin Rushton, Graham Rowatt, Chris Gillett, David Clement, Catherine Swing, Anne Marie Loder, Adam Bramble, Harry Spiegel
Director: Bradford May
Studio: Universal Studios
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Sam Raimi created Darkman with a potential franchise in mind, and his original movie had enough flair to suggest a sequel was warranted. Unfortunately (or perhaps wisely--for Raimi), he handed over the straight-to-video sequel duties to rookie director Bradford May, and nobody bothered to come up with much of a screenplay. As a result, Darkman II plays like a bad pilot for a proposed Darkman TV series, with Arnold Vosloo (best known as a villain in Jean-Claude Van Damme's Hard Target) doing his best to replace Liam Neeson in the title role. Sporting a dastardly scar and delivering lackluster punch lines as he kills his many enemies, Larry Drake returns from the first film as the villainous Durant, who wreaks havoc in his attempt to finance and manufacture the world's most destructive automatic weapons. As he supports the synthetic skin experiments of a like-minded scientist, the scarred hero known as Darkman thwarts Durant's ruthless plot, but the case proves costly for the intrepid crime reporter (Kim Delaney, pre-NYPD Blue) who allies herself with Darkman's efforts. Basically, this by-the-numbers plot serves as a tissue-thin vehicle for lots of explosions and gratuitous violence, and it's all about as inspired as a bad syndicated action show. Of interest only to those who were dazzled by the original Darkman, and even then it's a disappointment. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Sadly,.......2005-03-29

The lack of Liam neeson and raimi's directing is what ruined this movie for me. While Mr. Vasloo is superb in his taking on the burden of the Liam created character and mr. Drake always has appeal, the movie as a whole needed a much better script. It was too predicatble, too phoney.
On the bonus side, they did manage to keep the hapahazard and crazy comments Darkman makes during chases and fight scenes in tact, so that was a plus.

Another great movie!.......2004-07-04

This movie is a fun filled movie that delivers nonstop action and isn't one second boring! Brilliant!

A big surprise!.......2004-07-04

After I saw this movie I realized that it is not so bad as everyone described it to be. Although they changed the person who plays Darkman, this movie is still good and fun to watch more than once. It's a good movie!

Very good!.......2004-07-02

All I can say is that I loved this movie from start to finish because of its splendid acting, cast, script, and everyting else. This movie is must see for all comic book fans because it's just GREAT!

Best direct to video movie ever? perhaps.......2004-06-24

Ok we all know how crappy 99% of direct to video moviesare, and even worse when they are sequels to a big movie, most times they lack the heart along with the budget.

but here we have a movie that is every bit as good as the original, camera work, style, feel for the character is all there, heck we even get some returning cast in Durant, now darkman is played by a different actor (Vosloo from the mummy movies) but since the character always wears fake skin and changes faces like we change shorts it does not matter what face he has, i say he changed his face so people didn't go "hey doctor westlake..ain't you dead?" every time he talks to someone.

we get a solid action movie that does not look like it was shot on a video budget, sure it's not a $100 million looking movie but it does look like soemthing we would see in the theaters.

the movie is not exactly original, it's kind of standard action, but a much more darker hero, something like a punisher or batman one a really bad day, and that's a good thing, too many heroes are not this tragic or badass.

it's not based on a comic book but comic fans should enjoy it, rami came up with the character when he could not get the rights to any other comic or super heroes, it was his superhero..now he does spider-man movies, a big step up huh? he may not direct this one but his style from the first is kept so the rami fans should check it out.

Amazon.com

Darkman
When attorney Julie Hastings (Frances McDormand) uncovers corrupt city real estate dealings, evil thugs attack her scientist boyfriend, Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson). Left for dead after his lab is detonated, he miraculously survives but at a city hospital is unknowingly submitted to radical therapy that numbs his nerves to feeling--but heightens his strength and his emotions. Horribly burned and scarred, he uses synthetic skin to impersonate his would-be murderers and seek retribution for their evil deeds. While the film has an average script, it is overcome by the flashy cinematography of Bill Pope, the bombastic score by Danny Elfman, and the well-choreographed direction of Sam Raimi. The director confidently walks the line between suspense, action, comedy, and romance as he examines a bitter, victimized antihero who risks becoming as monstrous on the inside as he appears on the outside. --Bryan Reesman

Darkman II
Sam Raimi created Darkman with a potential franchise in mind, and his original movie had enough flair to suggest a sequel was warranted. Unfortunately (or perhaps wisely--for Raimi), he handed over the straight-to-video sequel duties to rookie director Bradford May, and nobody bothered to come up with much of a screenplay. As a result, Darkman II plays like a bad pilot for a proposed Darkman TV series, with Arnold Vosloo (The Mummy) doing his best to replace Liam Neeson in the title role. Sporting a dastardly scar and delivering lackluster punch lines as he kills his many enemies, Larry Drake returns from the first film as the villainous Durant, who wreaks havoc in his attempt to finance and manufacture the world's most destructive automatic weapons. As he supports the synthetic skin experiments of a like-minded scientist, the scarred hero known as Darkman thwarts Durant's ruthless plot, but the case proves costly for the intrepid crime reporter (Kim Delaney, pre-NYPD Blue) who allies herself with Darkman's efforts. Basically, this by-the-numbers plot serves as a tissue-thin vehicle for lots of explosions and gratuitous violence, and it's all about as inspired as a bad syndicated action show. Of interest only to those who were dazzled by the original Darkman, and even then it's a disappointment. --Jeff Shannon

Darkman II: The Return of Durant [Region 2]
Average customer rating:

Sadly,

Another great movie!

A big surprise!

Very good!

Best direct to video movie ever? perhaps

Darkman II: The Return of Durant [Region 2]
Starring: Larry Drake , Arnold Vosloo , Kim Delaney , Renée O'Connor , and Lawrence Dane
Director: Bradford May
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Dane, Lawrence | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Delaney, Kim | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Drake, Larry | ( D ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Ferry, David | ( F ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Jarrett, Phillip | ( J ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Vosloo, Arnold | ( V ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
May, Bradford | ( M ) | Directors | Stores | DVD | Video
General | Superheroes | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
Darkman | Superheroes | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video
DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
( D ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00004WZZW

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Sadly,.......2005-03-29

Another great movie!.......2004-07-04

This movie is a fun filled movie that delivers nonstop action and isn't one second boring! Brilliant!

A big surprise!.......2004-07-04

Very good!.......2004-07-02

All I can say is that I loved this movie from start to finish because of its splendid acting, cast, script, and everyting else. This movie is must see for all comic book fans because it's just GREAT!

Best direct to video movie ever? perhaps.......2004-06-24

Ok we all know how crappy 99% of direct to video moviesare, and even worse when they are sequels to a big movie, most times they lack the heart along with the budget.

we get a solid action movie that does not look like it was shot on a video budget, sure it's not a $100 million looking movie but it does look like soemthing we would see in the theaters.

so is closing, i loved it for what it is, and i was glad i didn't hold off becuse it was direct to video..heck if they release part 3 i will check it out.

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