DARKMAN 3: DIE, DARK MAN, DIE.

US, 1995, 88 minutes, Colour.
Jeff Fahey, Arnold Voosloo, Darlanne Flugel.
Directed by Brandon May.

Darkman is based on a popular comic strip and was made into a film by Sam Remy in 1990. An effective transition from comic strip to the big screen, it starred Liam Neeson as the scientist whose face was destroyed in an experiment and who then dons a cloak and mask and combats evil. The film also starred Frances McDormand? with Colin Friels as the villain. Remy, of course, had been very successful with his films of The Evil Dead. He had also made such films as The Quick and the Dead, For Love of the Game, The Gift. But he was eminently successful with Spiderman in 2002.

This is the second of the sequels to Dark Man. Jeff Fahey, usually a tough action hero, overacts gleefully as the villain (but with a chance to act as his normal self when Dark Man dons a mask and pretends to be him). Arnold Voosloo is not persuasive as Dark Man. He was more effective as the villain in the two Mummy films. Darlanne Flugel starts off as a sympathetic doctor - but soon turns into an evil doctor and the villainess of the piece. Direction is by Brandon May, director of several of this kind of action adventure films. He also acts as his own director of photography.

1. The popularity of the Dark Man films? The character of Dark Man? The comic strip hero who confronts evil?

2. This film compared with the original and the sequel? Arnold Voosloo as Dark Man - persuasive as Peyton Westlake? As Dark Man? His screen presence, his acting abilities, delivery of his lines, accent?

3. The film as an action adventure based on a comic strip? The importance of the prologue and the explanation of what happened to Peyton Westlake and his becoming Dark Man? The quality of this prologue - not fulfilled by the rest of the film? Dark Man and his secret hideaway, his laboratory, experiments, his trying to find tissue for his face and limbs. His not being able to sustain the skin for a length of time? His hideaway, his vehicle to get him into the hideaway? His superhuman abilities, confrontation with the villains? His also being vulnerable? As a character, as a comic strip character?

4. The tone of the film, colour photography, the dark colours, action at night? The hideaways? The special effects for the explosions, the confrontation with the villains?

5. Peter Rooker as the ruthless drug baron, his ambitions, his henchmen, confrontation with the Asians? Lack of scruple? His disregard of his wife and child? His henchmen and loyalty? His using Bridget, his sexual relationship with her? Her getting the formulae for him? His using his henchmen, the final confrontation with Dark Man? His abandoning his wife and child?

6. Angela, her relationship with Peter Rooker, their child? Dark Man impersonating her husband, her being mystified at is behaviour? The danger for their daughter in the finale? The rescue by Dark Man and her love for him? His inability to stay with her?

7. Bridget, the sympathetic doctor treating Peyton Westlake, her pursuit of him? Persuasiveness, the operation? Her betrayal, relationship with Rooker? Her chaining Westlake up, the control? Her being abandoned by Rooker and her death?

8. The political background, the District Attorney, the elections, Mitchell, the threats to Rooker? The elections - the celebration and Dark Man rescuing Mitchell?

9. Popular ingredients for a brief action adventure based on a comic strip?