Must-see movies are futuristic classics that shouldn’t be missed. Of course, not every must-see is perfect. That’s why we’ve rated them 1-5 on the patented “crunchy goodness” scale. Written by James Rocchi.
Title: Darkman
Date: 1990
Vitals: A brilliant scientist (Liam Neeson) runs afoul of a crime lord — and, after an attempted murder, winds up with psycho-strength and a fake-flesh covering over his burned body he can use to look like anyone else. Darkman’s not pure genius, but if you want to see where Sam Raimi got his learner’s permit for superhero cinema before Spider-Man, this is where it all began. …
Famous Names: Sam Raimi (Director); Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Larry Drake.
Crunchy Goodness: 3
Bang for Your Buck: Neeson’s carnival-induced freak-out, where the sight of a stuffed pink elephant kicks off a 3-D zoom-tour through his short-circuiting brain.
Most Painfully Dated Moment: Larry Drake’s crimelord tortures people with … his cigar cutter. Tres, tres early-’90s.
Sequels: The Neeson-free Darkman II: The Return of Durant and Darkman III: Die, Darkman, Die.
