on reviews from 30 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade "B" on scale of A to F. Brian Lowry of Variety wrote, that despite similarities, the Shadow "lacks the visceral appeal of Batman and won't strike the same chord." Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly gave the film a grade 'D', adding: 'The trouble with setting a special-effects fantasy in the low-tech ’20s is that unless the American-kitsch elements are injected with something approaching Steven Spielberg's speedy bravado, we become all too aware that the actors are simply standing around B-movie sets spouting cardboard dialogue.' (Entertainment Weekly would later place the film on its list of the "21 Worst Comic-Book Movies Ever".) Michael Wilmington, writing for the Chicago Tribune, gave his take on the film: "The Shadow shows what can happen when you overdress pulp. You wind up with something gorgeous and suffocated, bejeweled trash floundering in its over-splendid stuffings." Roger Ebert, writing for the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 3 out of 4 stars, and said: 'If you respond to film noir, if you like dark streets and women with scarlet lips and big fast cars with running boards, the look of this movie will work some kind of magic.' Jack Yeovil of Empire Magazine gave it 3 out 5 and called it "A pleasant, eye-pleasing movie" he further praises the production design and effects, "but the plot never really gels, and for an action fantasy is rather cold". References External links 1994 films 1990s English-language films 1990s action films 1990s superhero films American mystery films American neo-noir films The Shadow films Films based on radio series Films set in the 1930s Films set in New York City Films directed by Russell Mulcahy Films produced by Martin Bregman Universal Pictures films American vigilante films Films about atonement Films about nuclear war and weapons Films with screenplays by David Koepp Films scored by Jerry Goldsmith Films about telepathy Films about hypnosis Films about invisibility 1990s vigilante films 1990s American films Tiger Electronics handheld games