THE CROW
A Film Review by Tak
Copyright 1994 Mark Takacs
Miramax/Dimension Films /rated R Starring: Brandon Lee Ernie Hudson Michael Wincott Classification: Dark Tragedy Tak Rating: see once as a matinee
One-Line-Summary
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A man returns from the grave to avenge himself and his fiance.
Tak Plot Summary ---------------- Eric (Brandon Lee) and his fiance, Shelly, are brutally killed the night before their wedding. A year later, Eric rises from the grave as an invincible avenger who sets out to kill all those involved in shattering his life and happiness.
Tak Thoughts ------------ "One day you are going to lose everything you have. Nothing will prepare you for that day. Not faith... Not religion... Nothing. When someone you love dies, you will know emptiness... you will know what it is to be completely and utterly alone. You will never forget and never ever forgive. For some things there is no forgiveness... absolutely none." - John Bergan Introduction to THE CROW trade paperback
If you want an unbiased review of THE CROW (movie), you'll have to go elsewhere. I'm afraid I can't help but compare the movie to the original comic series by James O'Barr from which it was adapted. Yep, you guessed it. The original was better.
THE CROW (comic series) is an incredible work. Not your typical comic book. It contains beautiful illustrations and poignant poem and song excerpts. Not your typical story, either. It's a heartbreaking story of lost love and a shattered life. I've read it dozens of times and it never fails to move me. The chapter titles give a feeling for the tone: PAIN, FEAR, IRONY, DESPAIR, DEATH.
THE CROW (movie) failed me here. It was certainly dark and gloomy. Detroit looked like Gotham city, the soundtrack was great (go buy it) and there were hardly any bright colors. But I didn't feel it. Nor did I feel like any great atrocity was committed.
Brandon Lee, however, was great. He's believable as a good person involved in an atrocity. He tries to pull off the pain and agony felt in the story, literally writhing with pain at times. Although right from the story, this agonizing didn't play well on the screen, actually provoking giggles from younger audience members.
I read that James O'Barr became good friends with Brandon Lee during the filming. So it's hard to imagine him being angry, outraged or unaware of the changes. I hope the decisions were out of O'Barr's hands. You'd think a comic book would be perfect for movie adaptations -- they've got the story, and even a storyboard. But they still changed, added, and cut things. Substantial things.
o Originally, the atrocity was random and senseless. Now it's because Shelly took a stand against an eviction.
o Originally, the little girl was a pitiful victim of a druggie
mom. Now she's a spunky Terminator II John O'Conner.
o Originally, Erik had no powers other than being already dead. Now he's gets "Crow-Vision", vulcan mind-meld powers, and a talisman (the crow) that powers his prolonged mobility.
o Originally, Eric tracked his murderers, and interrogated street scum for clues, with the crow as an invisible cameo. Now he receives supernatural guidance from the ever-present crow.
o Originally the villain just evil, a leader of a gang who
stopped along a road, killed Eric, then raped and killed his
fiance. Now the villain is much more business-like and has a
kooky/kinky sister who spouts mystic nonsense and worships
eyeballs.
o Originally, police involvement is almost background. Now two minor police characters are combined into a sidekick/co-star.
o And we get lots of Hollywood-isms. Car chases, wry police humor, rooftop sword fights, and a politically correct and sanitized story. "These things [cigarettes] will kill you." The dialog with the druggie FunBoy is missing, and the "crown of thorns" morphine scene is reversed and sanitized. Dammit.
But just so I don't end on a bad note, the shoot-out (combined from two scenes in the original) where Eric confronts and takes out a whole room full of "foot soldiers" was awesome. It's extremely well choreographed and exciting to watch.
Tak Rating: ----------- As a translation of O'Barr's THE CROW, the movie has some serious failings. THE CROW (movie) introduces Hollywood-isms, new plot elements, and can't portray the sheer tragedy, atrocity and pain. I won't tell you to not go see it, I couldn't bear to do that, especially if you haven't read it. Just be aware that THE CROW story is orders of magnitude better than THE CROW (movie).
avoid at all costs see several times (w/friends) as matinee x wait for videotape see once at full price watch it on cable see it several times - full and/or matinee X see once as a matinee see many times at full price
----- Mark Takacs "Fear is for the enemy. mtakacs@netcom.com Fear and bullets." THE CROW, James O'Barr (Watch for my CROW shrine, appearing on WWW soon, bug me about it...) -----
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