Shang Tsung & 60

I think this might be the most Mr. Sunday Movies video ever made. It has weird culturally specific Australian anecdotes, a Ben from Canada interjection, a movie very few people have seen, a TV show from the sci Fi network with a failed pilot, and a defenders of the earth cutaway. It's truly everything I want from the weekly planet gang

I LOVE when Ben gets to interject and throw in his own 2 cents on something. Go editors!

Ben the editor killed it with his explanation. Great work!

I love how they’ve given the editors so much creative control that Ben can just interject in this video to give his take on this movie. I love you Ben ❤

James called ‘Shang Tsung’ ‘Shao Khan’, everybody get him! Also Ben’s input is always phenomenal

James podcasting shirtless becomes way more funny when you consider the fact that the only person who would see would be Mason

Met Billy Zane at a con earlier this year and had to talk to him about The Phantom, specifically working with Patrick McGoohan in one of his last films. He was incredibly kind and I happily got an autographed Phantom headshot!

The Phantom is also hugely popular in Papua New Guineau, where he's a cultural icon promoting everything from safe sex to literacy after his introduction to the country in the early 1940s, to the point he adorned warriors' shields in the 1970s-1980s Civil War.

I really feel like Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow should be a part of this pulpy series!

We need more Caravan of Garbage episodes that include very specific explanations of Australian cultural stuff - like show bags. I hadn't thought of show bags in years, and hearing Mason talk about them in this was absolutely glorious.

Ben's interjection comments is exactly why I enjoy this movie despite the criticisms. Billy Zane's performance is really good, he's eloquent, and has a presence. I like that it's a period film and you feel it straight away as well as the adventurous nature of it.

Just that bit of James and Mason improving the villains dialogue over the same second of footage looped, had me in stitches. Nice job Ben

Bruce Campbell wrote about his experience trying to get this role in his autobiography. He said that was when he realized he was never going to me a major movie star. He was told through the whole casting process that he was a shoe-in and that they were screentesting Billy Zane as a formality. Then he didn't get the part.

To Ben the Editor: your role for these videos is priceless. Your brilliant video clip references and choices and timing make the comedy of these videos a complete package. You are more than an editor. In my mind you are a producer, and I credit you as such. Thank you!

The Phantom comic was huge in Sweden. There was sweets, sodas and milk branded with the phantom. And the comics also collected stories from Mandrake, Tom Strong, Linda and Valentine and Jerome K Blanche.

Not even 2 minutes and we're already going deep into Aussielore, it's a certified banger

As a Swede I have to tell you Australians that we Swedes have also claimed Fantomen (The Phantom) as our own. We have surströmming canisters ready to be deployed in Melbourne, Sidney and Adelaide. You have been warned.

"He was born in 1872 and died in 1932 which makes him 50." Sorry, it makes him how old, James?

Ben dropping the essay to defend the pulp era hero writing was the best part of this video.

I have always unironically loved this movie and I think Ben perfectly articulated why

As someone who has grown up in Melbourne I am so glad that they have explained the royal Melbourne show to the largely American audiences.

The fact that Billy Zane put on the outfit looked at himself in the mirror and thought "yep, we're making this thing." is hilarious to me.

Billy Zane is perfect in this role. It's a shame that Raimi didn't get to direct it. Would probably be up there with darkman and spiderman.

Phantom, The Shadow, Flash Gordon, and Rocketeer are all part of what I call Wholesome Heroes Movies.They all just feel good to watch and each hero feels morally upright.

As a povo Aussie, I grew up on Phantom comics because I was too poor to afford X-Men or Batman. Phantom was MY GUY. I’ll always rep Phantom hard.

I just imagine Billy Zane seeing Ben's interjection and thinking "See? This guy gets it!'

Ben is right! Its a wonderful amazing movie reminiscent of the 30's done in such a fun way. That vagueness was what made it so good Mr. Sunday, you can over analyze as much as you want, but some things in life are unexplainable and that's ok :D To quote dune, "The mystery of life isnt a problem to solve, but a reality to experience.

i love when Ben jumps in either just a reaction shot or him having a whole take expressed like in this video, good job Ben.

The Phantom was definitely the most purple character in Defenders of the Earth most of the time. What an icon.

Ben got it 100% correct and the broadness and cheesiness of it is why I love it. It captures that old Hollywood feel and just takes pleasure in being a big ridiculous adventure without trying to make the character anything more than he is. It's refreshing to see a superhero movie that recognises that it doesn't need to try and validate adult fans who feel embarrassment for enjoying childish things by making it dark and gritty or deeply psychological. It's a man in a purple lycra suit with a horse called Hero and a wolf called Devil, who fights crime and lives in a cave shaped like a giant skull - just go with it.

As have been pointed out by the walrus below, Fantomen (The Phantom) is ingrained in Swedish comic/pop culture, and his suit is blue with red/black striped trunks, which my ultra-biased mind will claim to be superior to the purple suit. All three of you made me really wanna watch this movie, it looks like a really fun time!

Ben, the constant reshowing of the Unbelievable scene was hilarious. I was dying. 😂😂

Billy Zane opening a door is my new favorit thing. Thanks Ben! Stellar editing

Ben's interruption was incredible. Feel free to do more of those! Phortuitous caught me entirely off guard.

My brother and I watched this movie pretty much every week growing up and we loved it. In my late 20s I started watching Dexter with my now wife and I kept telling her how Dexter’s adoptive dad was from The Phantom and all she could say is what the hell is that?? Great review guys!

Phantrivia! The Phantom often appears on the ceremonial shields of tribal people in Papua New Guinea, because GIs stationed there during WW2 shared their Phantom comics with the locals, and they adopted the symbolism of the character into their culture.

7:26 For some reason, I just love the intentionality that goes into using a Mario coin image with a Sonic ring tone. It's the kind of brief, subversive visual gag that barely takes a quarter of a second, but for me adds so much to the presentation. Ben and/or Laurence, thanks.

The way I SCREAMED “YAAAASSSS” for Ben’s interjection. He’s 100% correct and I always got this as a kid and started verbalizing this during a rewatch in 2020 (the rewatch was because someone called it “trash” actually and I wanted to sharpen my points lol). Underrated film.

I used to watch the animated Phantom series as a kid on Saturday mornings, and I even remember the TV spots announcing the film coming out, sometimes in between the actual Phantom episodes, but oddly enough it wasn't until my first celebrity crush with Catherine Zeta-Jones at age 13 with The Mask of Zorro back in '98 a few years after The Phantom's release that I was catching up with her previous movies and finally got to see it on VHS. I enjoyed it far more as a kid than I do now as an adult, but I still do enjoy some aspects - Billy Zane, Zeta-Jones (of course), Patrick McGoohan, the 30's pulp feel, practical FX and stunts, the fact he has a wolf named Devil for an pet dog and animal sidekick, and the Danny Newman score (got the soundtrack at home), excerpts from it actually used for the teaser trailer for Mask of Zorro. And I actually met Billy Zane himself at Fan-Boy Expo in Knoxville, TN in 2019 - he's a pretty cool character himself, very fun to meet!!! Although some people liked him best as the Phantom, I actually told him that I enjoyed his character in Tales From the Crypt: Demon Knight the best, and he told me that he actually really had a lot of fun playing that role!!! There are those who love actors when they play heroes, but boy those same actors really have a fun time when they let loose playing villains!😊

Billy Zane is terrific in everything he's in. Dude, Ben, that was awesome btw. Hellz yeah!

The obvious throughline for all of these is that they are based on characters that were popular when the execs at the time were kids

I’ve always liked the fact that, while the Phantom was among the earliest superheroes in comics (predating Superman), he was typically depicted as having no genuine superpowers, and mostly relying on his intelligence and physical skills (which he originally honed in Burma, Kandahar, Vestibular, and Bengal). However, early on in its inception, Lee Falk had initially planned for him to have the ability to telepathically control animals, and apparently this was going to be brought into the movie with an early draft involving him manipulating elephants, tigers and even a pod of blue whales during the climax, but this idea was ultimately axed due to budget concerns. It was actually because of this that the director ultimately decided to combine “Kandahar” “Vestibular” and “Blue Whale” to derive the movie’s working title of “Blue Harvest” which was coincidentally _also_ the working title for the 1977 film Star Wars.

It's always great hearing Ben talk about superheroes, whether old or new. Thanks Ben

Billy Zane is great in this movie, the charisma, charm, action start quality, plus not a lot of people can pull off full body purple. I wish they had made more of these, it has a fun Indiana Jones feel.

Man. The 'Ben From Canada' part was great. It's a well written aside that takes the video to another place. We are lucky for that guy.

I remember watching this as a kid and liking it but after hearing James and Maso talk about it I figured it wouldn't be worth going back and watching. Then Ben popped in and made me very interested in giving this movie another viewing. Thanks Ben!

19:04 'What's it on? A burnt VCD?' As someone who burnt his fair share of VCDs back in the day this made me LOL.

James, Mason, thank you for reviewing these movies. There is a disconnect to these movies even when they came out where it's like, 'who actually wants this?" But my Dad was the one who wanted these. The man grew up reading pulp novels and comics and had a real soft spot for these dated comic movies. We weren't close and I didn't know much about him, but after his death, this makes me feel closer to him. Thank you.

I am not ashamed to admit that I saw this movie 8 or 9 times in the theater, I bought the posters (original one-sheets and all others), and I have it on DVD because it is just that awesome. I also love the other movies you mentioned in this catagorie and I would add Doc Savage, the Man of Bronze as another film that just went off the rails but I loved it anyway.

I remember watching this as a kid and LOVING it. But, I remember watching a Billy Zane interview where he hyped an action scene were The Phantom runs over the roofs of some cars. I was like "That's it?" 🤣

Ben the editor is the hero we didn't know we needed in this video.

Billy Zane has the greatest pose ever as he's "sneaking" up stairs in the pirate layer. Makes me laugh so hard every time.

Out of this current run of caravan of garbage, this is the film I’m most familiar with. That was like a walk down memory lane 😂😂😂 incredible work. The Phantom is a 10/10 masterpiece.

"Seaplanes: It can nearly out run a horse! Nearly. That's their slogan." omg I laughed so hard at that.

You guys should (by which I mean "could") check out the Nordic-specific Phantom comic book stories. The art is often great, and the stories are PHENOMENAL. The story "The Siege of Malta" is one I recommend for example, the artist Kari Leppanen has a great inking style for black and white that really pushes the negative space. Looks gorgeous.

The Phantom has a weird amount of popularity in Scandinavia too apparently. I always felt this movie is underappreciated

Love this series of "you know it when you see it" films. The Phantom has such a weird amount of cut through in Australia. I feel like it was on free to air TV all the time in the early 2000s. Would you guys do one of these on The Mask of Zorro? It sort of fits the mould of "modern adaptation of a pulp hero" except it was successful commercially and critically, although never spawned any sequels. The children yearn for Zorro

I saw this in theaters and it was one of my last VHS purchases before the DVD era. My life is enriched by you two. The Australian culture and history knowledge drop was straight up delicious. Finger licking good.

The phantom holds a rather nostalgic connection to my childhood and his books were easily one of the brighter times of my childhood. Now, I was excited to watch the movie and loved it sans all the magic and mysticism. However, as your video made its way to the end, I was disappointed by the sheer 'fun making' of the movie by you guys and just then Ben appeared as the savior and said the perfect words. Thank you good sir Ben! You single-handedly made my day!

After weeks of listening to the "Defenders of the Earth" sting in the Weekly Planet intro, I am shocked to hear more of the theme song. I also had no idea it was a comic book crossover series. My horizons have expanded far beyond my mortal reckoning and I am scared!

I am only here to once again DEMAND the RODNEY CUT

This is one of my favorite Mr.Sundays video I have seen in a while. Everything clicked and it was so funny but also passionate. I loved it, I don't always watch every caravan of garbage but I am sure glad I watched this one.

I must leave a comment only to support Ben as a creator. Love his music, his channel, can tell he puts all of himself into his work, recently binged his vids again and his little interjection feels just like his video essays it was a lovely surprise ben the editor you are a talented man I love you! James give us a “ben the editors thoughts” doesn’t even have to be every movie but you mention his opinion a lot and we love to hear it read these comments brotha

Is 1872-1932 not 60? I feel like I’m going insane

Much like The Shadow and The Rocketeer, despite their short comings, all these flicks including The Phantom were the best things I experienced as a kid. They made me fall in love with the Pulp Hero and explore more of them thereafter. I wish these properties were able to reach a trilogy status.

EDITOR'S NOTES for the WIN!

Everyone should watch these movies before judging. Everyone in the 90s knew these movies weren’t the greatest, but they still bought the VHS because we loved them anyways. For the 90s they were good pulp comic movies

I don't know if it's just the nostalgia of seeing this film as a child, probably one of the million times it seemed to run on Channel 10 after the footy, but I gotta agree with Ben. This film is great. Maybe I'm just a sucker for a globetrotting adventure film or perhaps seeing Catherine Zeta Jones in tight black leather awakened something in me as a young boy.

Grew up in Melbourne and as a kid I always used to read Phantom comics with my grandfather so I grew quite attached to the character. Even if his stories are incredibly simplistic, I still think Phantom both in comic and movie form is really fun.

James and Mason: lol we love the Phantom?? Ben: actually it’s really good in its own way

11:38 That animation of James as the Phantom having kid🤣🤣🤣

I feel like Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow should be in this series of Caravan of Garbage

I'm surprised they didn't add The Spirit directed by Frank Miller I think that fits the whatever the hell theme that connects these movies

I like how the Kniferoscope works like Alien Prequel Facehugger Eggs, in that a completely gullible sap has to insert their entire face into the aforementioned contraption for it to be able to work. Chef's kiss.

I love the edited Caravan of Garbage with the cutouts and the footage. Awesome job Ben.

I hope this series never ends 😂

Been coming in with a *BASED* commentary of his own!!

I started vibrating with glee when I realized that they were building to a Defenders of the Earth reference. That was a very smooth one that I appreciate very much.

Imagine being very excited about something called The Phantom and then finding out he doesn't even sing or live in a theater basement. Phantom 2040 was lit though.

I saw this in theaters when I was 7.. I remember thinking I liked it but don't remember a single specific scene.. what I do remember is the theater gave out these awesome iron Phantom skull rings that I wore all the time till I lost it.. most satisfaction I ever got from a promotional handout at the movies!

I wonder why this Ben from Canada video was posted on this random Australian channel. Weird.

THANK YOU, BEN! Man, it has been exhausting watching this series of reviews of films that are specifically linked by being "pulpy", and yet they're reviewed and critiqued for not having modern sensibilities where the protagonist is suppose to have inner conflict and the plot should stands up to jaded scrutiny. That's your bad faith more than it is a failing of the films, mates. Seriously, how does Raiders or Wizard of Oz hold up if you try to pick apart the characters' motivations or the integrity of the narrative? They don't. They're not self-conscious of the meta. That's their charm. BEN GETS IT.

I was nattering on about 1973's Doc Savage: Man of Bronze on one of these comment threads earlier, and I've since realized that it may have been the first major motion picture of a comic-book hero in cinema history! Richard Donner's Superman was not until 4 years later. I know it was...campy. But it's poster was totally straight up like a cover of one of his paperback books. The most egregious camp was basically added in post, so to speak - the John Phillip Sousa marching band tune with...lyrics added [GRITS TEETH] as the main theme music; the chugga-chugga choo-choooo locomotive sound FX added over his final slow-motion charge at the main antagonist; both could be removed without anyone the wiser and the camp content would be reduced 75% by these cuts alone. It was produced by George Pal, not Roger Corman - and I contend it was the first main market studio produced superhero film. Not that anyone should watch it. It's too embarrassing.

Never even realized that the made a movie of this until this series but i absolutely stan the phantom comics. Legit love them. There are some amazing runs in the mid 90's and early 2000's that are sooo good

I LOVE this movie! the comic book is amazing too!

That Ben segment was absolutely phenomenal…like so we’ll explained and thought out. Also, I loved coming to the comments and seeing that EVERYONE agreed.

I hope you know that the algorithm is fighting you guys so hard. I've recently started watching you guys and I can't auto load two videos in a row. It's been years since I've switched to unauto-load next video. You guys are just that entertaining. Keep being yourselves.

I can never get enough of Ben’s takes on unloved movies. I am subscribed to his channel but there’s never enough of his content for my taste

Shang Tsung* 11:14

Shout out to Ben for his take. That's how I've felt since seeing the movie as a kid. Out of all of those movies of its kind, and aside from The Rocketeer, there was always something about The Phantom that just felt right in the way it plays out. It doesn't overstay its welcome, though I wish the movie was longer every time I watch it. And it doesn't take itself seriously. The Phantom is just one of those movies that you can just enjoy no matter how paper-thin the plot is.

Best editing on the internet. Great work ben and Laurence.

RIP Treat Williams, forgot he was in this, in fact, forgot most of this movie, but what a great successful businessman/insane murderer

In the comic the color of the suit was originally labelled as Royal Blue instead of purple as a joke between the coloring artists which led to the working title of this film being Blue Harvest.

Thanks Ben The Editor! I LOVED this movie as a kid.

Thing that always got me about the Phantom is that his skull ring didn't cause a scar, in the old comics he had funky jungle ink on the thing that if he punched you with it you'd have an instant tattoo that would never wash off.

I really think at the end of the day, I really just want you to watch sky high because I think you’d enjoy it. THATS RIGHT IM BACK BABY! SKY HIGH FOR CARAVAN OF GARBAGE!!!

This is a unique movie, in that it's not very exciting at all, but it's so quaint and inoffensive, and it feels like it's TRYING. You just can't get mad at it, you want to root for it to cross the finish line. And it DOES, but in like fifth place.

Me instinctively tensing up anytime when I hear James say 'Defenders of the Earth'

Man, I remember seeing ads for this movie when I was a kid and I really wanted to see it. I didn’t sit down to watch it until about 20 years later and by then I was too full of myself to give it a chance. If I’d never heard that interjection from Ben, I’d probably never be able to appreciate it. Now I kinda want to see it again.