Darkman II: The Return of Durant
"In the darkest hour theres a light that shines on every human being...but one!"- The ad for the original Darkman said this when the movie had its theatrical release in the late 80's/ early 90's.
THE STORY: In this sequel to Darkman, Arnold Vosloo takes over as the disfigured antihero, from Liam Neeson. I guess Mr. Neeson's price went up, but Larry Drake's didn't since he returns as Darkman's archenemy, the criminal Robert G. Durant.
In his new hideaway beneath the city, Peyton Westlake, AKA Darkman, toils to perfect his liquid skin so he can repair his hideously burnt face. Darkman funds his need for scientific equipment by robbing drug dealers and criminals...no problem there. But when he comes across an article about a scientist named David Brinkman his hopes are perked up. Brinkman has succeeded where Darkman hasn't...in creating synthetic skin that can last for more than 99 minutes. Its not perfect, but its a chance for a normal life. Darkman befriends Brinkman as his true self, Peyton Westlake, and forms a partnership. However, the crimelord, Robert G. Durant, has awakened from a long 800 plus day coma! Durant frees a criminal scientist, Dr. Hathaway to help in his new scheme of building laser weapons for criminals. Durant needs some property owned by Brinkman to fulfill his plot. When Brinkman doesn't sell Durant has him him killed. Darkman, now aware that Durant still lives tries to warn Brinkman's sister, Laurie. Eventually Durant learns that Westlake (Darkman) is after him and sets a trap using Laurie as bait. It almost works, but Durant didn't count on the adrenalin-powered strength that Darkman's rage gives him. Also, Darkman, is to be honest, smarter than the hoods he fights and sets a trap for Durant in his car. When durant tries to escape in it , Darkman kills him. Having at long last killed the man who disfigured him, Darkman returns to the night.
Fans of Xena: Warrior Princess will recognize Laurie as Renee' O' Connor, who plays Xena's sidekick the lovely Gabrielle.
best lines: "REVENGE? That man destroyed my life! He took my face, my hands, MY LIFE!" - Darkman tells reporter Jill Randall why he wants to kill Durant.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?:
1.) Waitaminnit! In Darkman Durant was killed in an exploding helicopter....if you've never seen the movie, let me tell you...there is no way anyone survived that explosion! How the hell is Durant back now, without even a scratch!? Coma my ass! In the first movie his death reduced him to his component atoms!
2.) Where did Durant get these guys? Alluva sudden in this movie he's like a Godfather! In the first movie he was a thug...maybe the best thug in the city, but not like now..he's like the Kingpin of Crime from those old Spider-Man Comics!
3.) Darkman has his own little computerized train? Aw, C'mon!
4.) How does light bend? Dr. Hathaway's prototype laser shoots a beam that bends to the left. I'm not joking. Even Hathaway says "It shoots a little to the left." Hey, Hathaway...you found out how to bend light! You don't need to resort to crime! (I won't even comment on how the government would probably NEVER let someone as intelligent as Hathaway languish in jail. that'd be too X-File like.)
5.) Renee O' Connor's acting sucked when she kicked Peyton out of the building. Also the actress who played Jill really really really annoyed me the way she smoked a cigarette. I hated her character and rejoiced when Durant had her killed. Hollywood, tough female reporters that talk smack went out with Superman!
4.) WHOA! Durant is selling 20 of his laser weapons for five million bucks each without the plutonium power source! And Mr. Perkins agrees!
NUDITY AND SEX: none
HUH?: When Durant's thugs attack Brinkman he picks up a lab device and fires a red hot laser beam at them! Hey, why do they need Hathawaty!? Laser rifles already exist!
If Jill knows about this illegal shipment of plutonium coming into the city, how come the feds don't? Its PLUTONIUM for Heaven's sake!
If Durant is keeping his comeback a secret why does he personally introduce himself to Laurie?
OH. Durant isn't keeping his comeback too secret...with his goons he chases Laurie down a crowded city streets guns ablazin'!
Darkman may be able to disguise himself by making masks with his synthetic skin, but how doess he wear multiple masks? When one masked is ripped off his face he has another under it! Plus, how did he get masks of all of Durant's thugs?
This is adding to much logic into a cheesey movie, but even if Darkman can make his masks look like anyone's face, what about the hair? How does he do that? Or Eye color?
The Tally: I have seen worse movies. My only problem with this flick is that they bought Durant back. I mean, in the first movie it was established that Darkman killed him. Couldn't the writers have made it Durant's brother or son or something that causes the problems? Did they have to have Larry "Dr. Giggles" Drake that badly? Other than that I enjoyed the quirky nonsense of this movie.