Original star Liam Neeson opted out of this sequel to the 1990 comic-book chiller Darkman, and is replaced by The Mummy's Arnold Vosloo as the horrifically charred hero.

But LA Law's Larry Drake is back to reprise his amusing, lip-smacking turn as his enemy, the nasty crime baron Robert G Durant.

Plotwise, it's just more of the same: Darkman's still after a cure for his burnt face, and Durant is out to give him a hard time.

There's plenty of robust action, a fast pace and death-defying stunts, but an unsympathetic Vosloo can't bring out the pathos in the hero's predicament.