First off, Happy 2021 to all of my dear readers and let us hope it is a much better year than 2020 was. This new year begins with a new Moviedrome Monday entry covering the first episode of Moviedrome series 6. I have posted a youtube video link below to Moviedrome presenter Alex Cox introducing director Sam Raimi’s 1990 superhero film Darkman. Readers can also read Cox’s intro transcript here. The episode’s original airdate was May 30, 1993 (read here). While Cox’s statement about racism in American films is far from false, I personally believe that he is blowing it out of proportion here regarding not only this film, but David Lynch’s Wild at Heart (from that same year) and Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven (from two years later). Darkman may not be a great film, but it is a ferociously entertaining one. If any of you readers are interested, here is a link to my favorite Sam Raimi films (read here).
Here is a youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Darkman
Here is another youtube video link to Alex Cox’s Moviedrome intro to Darkman
Here is a youtube video link to the film’s original theatrical trailer
Here is a youtube video link to another theatrical trailer for the film
cinematiccoffee 
Given current societal trends and the search for racism in every aspect of life, I wonder how many movies that we enjoyed in the past will be banned.
I personally do not think that Cox nor othesr want them banned (but that is just my observation). As for Cox, I think he was just stating his thoughts on it – as debatably hyperbolic as his opinion on it may seem. As for myself, I think banning things makes little sense because If one is going to make a comparison (regarding movies, books, television etc.) between now and then, one’s point of “look at how far we have come” (concerning trends of the past and present) would make little sense in the long run. That and I totally hate censorship. Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
I thought ‘Darkman’ was underrated at the time, and still is. And I don’t see any notable racism when I watch it.
I was less impressed with ‘Unforgiven’ as a film, and have always thought it is overrated. The stellar cast brought it attention it might otherwise not have received.
Best wishes, Pete.
Happy New Year John! It’s always good to see a new Moviedrome entry here, although I can’t believe you’re already up to series 6. Time sure flies.
I love Darkman,it IS a very underrated film and one I wish would get more love. It also was our introduction to Arnold Vosloo as well,he did the two sequels before becoming a star in The Mummy series in the late 90s. Never saw any incidents of rascism in any of the Darkman trilogy of films….
I admire Darkman as well and yeah, I do not see any kind of racism in it either.
As much as I love Unforgiven, I do think that some of his other 90’s films have surpassed it – in fact, 1990’s White Hunter Black Heart is actually my number one favorite film directed by Clint Eastwood 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
Time sure does fly Paul S 🙂 Anyway, thanks for dropping by and Happy New Year to you as well 🙂
Darkman is a ferociously entertaining superhero film indeed 🙂 While it may not be the Sam Raimi superhero film that I adore (that honor goes to 2004’s Spider-Man 2), Darkman is the one that I admire the most 🙂 I too did not see any incidents of racism in Darkman, though it has been a while since I have seen the direct-to-video sequels, but I think it is doubtful. Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂
It has been a long time since we saw Darkman, but the only thing I remember about it was being slightly disappointed in it. I don’t recall why. Racism never came to mind once, though,. Now I think we’ll have to see it again to try to figure out why that’s even a consideration. It sort of sounds like a case of looking at clouds and thinking you see certain animal shapes, you know? You’ll see a frog, I’ll see a dog, but it’s just clouds. And I should know, because being mixed race, I’m very sensitive about that stuff, lol. At any rate, thanks for the write-up. And happy new year to you!
Racism never came to my mind either regarding Darkman. Anyway, thanks for dropping by 🙂