Darkman II: The Return of Durant (1995)

Best movie of this year hands down!

As Good As It Gets

A Masterpiece!

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

First of all in this review I would like you to meditate on the title for just a second(Darkman 2: The Return of Durant). If you have seen the first Darkman you would know that Durant dies in a fiery helicopter crash. But in this sequel somehow he survives with only a few barely noticeable scars. I was expecting at least third-degree burns but I let that go and focused on the movie as if the explosion never happened. Arnold Vosloo is the new Darkman and he does a fairly poor job at portraying him. Liam Neeson seemed to be a more powerful Darkman with extreme emotions. Arnold Vosloo seemed shallow and lacked the presence of Liam. Considering it's the second movie, I was expecting more action out of Darkman but there's virtually no action from Darkman till the end of the movie and Darkman has nothing very good to say through the entire movie. The plot was also dull and generic which really made me wanna yawn. Darkman 2: The Return of Durant is just a sorry cash-in sequel and a disgrace to the franchise.

I know that many viewers will disagree with me, but I think Darkman II is a slight improvement from the first. Darkman may have been a more original story, but this film offers more energy and quirky fun. Rather than being kind of Abstract like Raimi was, this story at it's core falls back to an archetypal principle of super heroism, Person vs. Person conflict, good verses evil. The movie which results is not a great one but it's a neat watch.In the first movie, Dr. Westlake defeated his enemy; Crime lord, Robert G. Durant...or did he? Leaving his past behind him, Peyton went off to face the world alone, and that is how the first movie ended. Living in his new hideout deep in the bowels of the subway system, Dr. Westlake continues his research to figure out a way to permanently repair his face. His current formula can only only last him 97 minutes. One day he reads a newspaper article about a rogue scientist who is doing some similar studies. After meeting with him they decide to become partners. This other guy has an office in a vacant building which used to belong to his father, therefore it has sentimental value for him. This old factory has not gone unnoticed by Durant, who has recently woken up from the coma that Westlake put him in. Durant is ready to go back into the weapons dealing business, and he wants to base his operation in this vacant factory. He has his goons bump off the young scientist, spoiling Peyton's hope for a partnership. And that makes him mad. He must fight Durant once more.Replacing Liam Neeson in Westlake's shoes is Arnold Vosloo, (who many will recognize from The Mummy). He is not a skilled actor, but he manages okay here. It is Durant who has the bigger screen presence. He is played with a certain quirkiness to go with his two- dimensional villainous persona.Although hardy an example of good-filmaking, it should not be so quickly dismissed just because it is a strait to video release. If you were not satisfied with what you saw in Darkman, you might find a little more in this one.

I remember back in 1996, when I saw this one, being pretty disappointed. Because this movie lacks the grandeur of the original. It felt like a lesser movie, and in a way it is of course. But re-watching it, learned me to re-appreciate it, and I now even like it more than back then. It is a darn decent sequel, if you ask me. What it lacks are some heavy-weight emotional aspects of the Darkman (provided in the first one because of his love-interest), therefor the revenge-theme is bit thinner here. It also, clearly lacks a budget of the same size as the first one, making it look a little less impressive. Other than that, the movie delivers as far as most of its predecessor's characteristics go. I must add, however, if you were to take the Darkman himself out of this movie, you'd just end up with a pretty mediocre, run-of-the-mill action movie, truly worthy of the direct-to-video status. But, fortunately, he's still in it, and Darkman only still is the sole reason we watch these movies, now don't we? This time (and this might be a disappointment to many), Dr. Peyton Westlake is played by Arnold Vosloo. At the time of my first time viewing, I didn't like this very much. Now, I can only conclude Vosloo does a more than decent job stepping in Neeson's footsteps. A nice touch in the script, was having Peyton set up his laboratory on a new location, underground this time. The writers did a very good thing by bringing back Larry Drake as Durant (he's just so mean! :) and having him team up with a mad scientist/weapons inventor. Good thing too, in the plot, was having Darkman, at one point team up with a fellow scientist (Dr. Brinkman) to try and perfect his liquid skin techniques. When, later in the movie, he finds Dr. Brinkman murdered and his dreams smashed to pieces, all the agony of similar things happening to him once come back... and it's Darkman's Revenge Time again! Sadly, this movie is lacking an enjoyable climax in the end. The ending itself doesn't necessarily hint at a sequel, but it leaves the door open saying: this might turn into an on-going series.

i didn't think this movie was as good as the first one.to me,it didn't distinguish itself from most other revenge movies.it felt like one of the Death Wish films.the theme in the movie was vigilantism.at least that's the impression i got.also,i don't feel the title character evolved from the first one.he has little to do here.Arnold Vosloo takes over the role of Darkman,and does a good job with what he he has,but it isn't much good,when your character is is not very well defined.if only they had went somewhere worthy of the character,this could have been a good movie.as it is,i would say it passes about 90 minutes,and is watchable.but so are many movies.i'd say this was a disappointing follow up to the first film,but that's just me.my vote for Darkman II:The Return of Durant is a 5/10 at best.