We in Britain have yet to get the HBO animated
version, but until that turns up, this live-action adaptation, though toned
down, will give you the general flavour. Spawn is a dead Government
assassin, now press-ganged into Hell's army and with a role to play in
triggering Armageddon, unless he can hold on to some of his humanity. It's
vaguely 'Crow'-like, as Spawn seeks revenge on those who killed him, with a
heavily Gothic feel (he spends a lot of time brooding around a church), and
a LOT of computer graphic effects -- of variable success, Spawn's cape is
spiffy, but the final battle in Hell...oh, dear. Leguizamo is almost
unrecognisable as a Satanic mentor, but stands out despite his handicaps,
and Nicol Williamson seems to think he's still in Excalibur. Pity they
killed off the femme fatale after half an hour though. A lot of cool bits
never quite gel into anything totally worthwhile - best to wait for the
animation, which is grimmer, tougher and harder-edged, then come back to
this for a different take on the story.
C+
