Weekly Movie Review: The Crow

[MockBot]

Automatically generated comment thread for Weekly Movie Review: The Crow (http://www.i-mockery.com/weeklies/weekly.php?type=movies&id=88).

[Tadao]

Funny, 2 nights ago I was just thinking about how Brendon was shot by a real gun and how this film isn't so cult that it makes a shit ton of money.

[Muscle_Bomber_Uno]

I remember this movie is where Sting got the idea for his later gimmick in WCW.

[Doctor_Who]

I like this movie, though the sequels mostly suck.

Always wondered by it was Eric that came back from the dead instead of his fiance. She was raped as well as murdered, so doesn't she have an even better reason to seek vengeance? Seemed a little bit sexist that even after she's dead it's her boyfriend's job to take care of business.

[Tadao]

I remember this movie is where Sting got the idea for his later gimmick in WCW.

And another person died from that too.

[Copper]

I recently read that they are planning to "reboot" the franchise by remaking this movie, which is extremely disappointing to me.

Yet another sign that Hollywood has no original ideas any more...

rather than try to ruin something special by diluting the potency of this movie (though they already tried that with the shitty sequels).

But where else can you see Dennis Hopper as a preacher (and I use the term loosely), spouting the immortal line "I now pronounce you a devil and his shorty?"

I like this movie, though the sequels mostly suck.

Always wondered by it was Eric that came back from the dead instead of his fiance. She was raped as well as murdered, so doesn't she have an even better reason to seek vengeance? Seemed a little bit sexist that even after she's dead it's her boyfriend's job to take care of business.

I've heard other Crow stories with female leads. Maybe they just figured they'd have a bigger draw with a male one. Either that, or he has the vengeance aspect of not being able to *prevent* her rape/protect her from them. Or maybe it had something to do with the fact that he died the way he did and she died in the hospital. Who knows?

Also, the soundtrack? Whole heartedly agree! There's something about Eric's guitar playing that just sends shivers through me every time I hear that melody. Recently rewatched the movie and discovered that I did not own the soundtrack (though it was a staple among my group when the movie first came out) and was a little dismayed at not being able to find it very easily. I'm going to have to go hunting...

[Autrach Sejanoz]

And another person died from that too.

Tadao, WTF are you talking about?

Oh, and Protoclown, you made some pretty good points. Personally, I think the best line in the film has to go to Top Dollar:

*SPOILER ALERT!*
Quick impression for you. Caw! Caw! Bang! Fuck, I'm dead!
*END SPOILER ALERT.*

Actually, he had all the best lines in the film, now that I think about it.

[Tadao]

Owen Hart died mocking Sting who was mocking the Crow. That's WTF I'm talking about. :rolleyes

[J. Tithonus Pednaud]

When I saw The Crow, it was my high school graduation weekend. I was hung over really couldn't go home like that so I stumbled into the theater. The theater was completely empty and the projectionist actually came down to see if anyone was in the theater. When he spotted me, he started the movie. I basically watched this movie as a private screening and the entire experience blew my mind and remains my best movie watching experience.

[Dimnos]

The only thing the comic did better than the movie was when he killed T-Bird. That was great in the comic. :)

[Alcibiades]

No matter how many times I see this film I can always barely remember it, which is strange for me. I swear I've seen it about four times now (once within like the last year) but I always seem to half remember it at best. Which isn't a knock against it, it's a good movie, but somehow the vast majority of it always slips my mind.

[HowardC]

On another note, you talking about a remake of this film reminds me of the also unnecessary reboot of Star Trek. I hate to go off on a tangent, but there was absolutely nothing wrong with star trek, so why in the world would you reboot it?

The last 2 or 3 ST films did poorly not because the source material was bad, but because they let Jonathan Frakes have far too much control over the films. I mean, don't get me wrong, he's great when it comes to very specific stories (aka as Borg movies/episodes) but he totally sucks at everything else.

Similar issues plagued the crow sequels btw.... the first sequel was actually quite good, but as crappier and crappier writers/producers/directors were attached to the franchise they became progressively worse.

With the Star Trek reboot I can't imagine why they would return to the original series instead of using another crew other than for a cheap cash-in. For it's time TOS was very innovative, but looking back, it was practially a joke compared to the newer spin offs and it has endured not for it's serious-ness and social impact, but for pure camp value. Then I hear that the film involves time travel as a plot device to explain to all the fanboys out there how any of this could possibly happen. In other words, they took the "silly" star trek and try to make it serious while still making the most superficial star trek film to date in addition to erasing the history of the original show which paved the way for 40 years of programming and films? And on top of that JJ Abrahams claims he's neither a fan of star trek nor is he familair with the films? Then WTF was he even offered the JOB!!!!???!!!

UGH is all I can say... just UGH.

Hollywood needs to quit raping established pop-culure and gomake new films. NOW!

[captain516]

HowardC, since when is the new Star Trek a reboot? I assumed it was just a prequel, like Batman Begins.

[Tadao]

Oh no, now you done it! You asked a Trekkie why!

[captain516]

Pfffft, what's he gonna do? Choke me with the Vulcan Death Grip?

[Tadao]

Much worse, he's going to type. :(

[Orastella]

I actually liked the second movie a lot, even though it was pretty much just a remake of the first. The movies after that though.... 100% shit.

City of Angels had a cool soundtrack and the acting was not bad. Plus, Vincent Perez is dreamy!

[brokensaint82]

I used to love this movie....but i agree after watchin it now it seems more funny than moody or dark, especially when fun boy shoots the whole through Erics hand and Erics laughs about it, that always cracks me up.....and the flaming crow after he killed t-bird was cool too i always thought

[Mojomajik9]

Loved this flick. It came out when I was a freshman in HS and watching it today brings back a ton of memories. I think the film captured the feel and tone of the early to mid 90s pretty well. Yes, watching it now you see a ton of flaws, but like an old friend, you ignore them. They're just little ones anyway. I always thought Lee would have become a bigger star had he lived. Maybe he would have been in the Matrix and not Keanu.

The soundtrack is amazing and critical to the film. It's one of those flicks which rely heavily on atmosphere and the music sets the mood perfectly. From the Cure, NIN and STP, you can't really get much better. I'm not sure how someone a lot younger will view the film, but if you were a teen in that period and immersed in the grunge, dark rock culture, you'll like it.

[brokensaint82]

well since the wachowskis wanted will smith to be neo they could have put anyonme...maybe a board...it would have had less wooden actin.........................ok yeah that joke was shit but I did like soundtrack as well Rage Against The Machine, STP, The Cure, NIN some good stuff

[Starscream]

@HowardC: The reason they probably hired Abrams for Star Trek was BECAUSE he didn't give a crap about it. You answered the reason why when you talked about how Johnathan Franks handled Star Trek.

This isn't unheard of recently. Comic writer Warren Ellis was given the G.I. Joe property by Hasbro and told he could do just about any thing he wanted with it and the characters. The short cartoon series G.I. Joe: Resolute came from it and it was amazing. Best part is Ellis had no prior knowledge of the Joe Universe having grown up in England with Action man.

As for the Crow, Hollywood needs to let it be. Maybe make another serious sequel without the young John Connor fighting Angel/Agent booth and Tara Reid. Possibly then we'll have another movie worth watching like the first and second films were, but don't "reboot". Both those, albeit somewhat lame by today's standard, are really going to end up going down as the unsung classics of the 90's.

[Nick]

I never really cared for this movie at all. It sucks that Brandon Lee died while making it, though.

[Icculus]

I didn't even bother to read your review or any of the comments (I'll go back and do it in a moment). I am just assuming that you just tell every who doesn't know already that this move is fantastic and a must see and you are right. I guess all these comments are saying how awesome this movie and how "it can't rain all the time".

[Dimnos]

You sir a presumptuous dork.

[Tadao]

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h116/y4j1981/owen2.jpg

[Captain PirateFace]

ever notice that Alex Proyas loves rounded circular windows.
check out his other flicks for proof yo.

[testtube]

The DVD I saw at a friends house had a making-of documentary that talked more about the comic and how its creator came up with the comic after his girlfriend was killed and also about how much he hated the movie (they wanted to turn it into a musical starring Michael Jackson at first). I remember watching the movie with the commentary on and the director and producer I think said it was the first movie with a modern rock soundtrack. Huh?

Other than that I don't think I'll watch this ever again, I saw it when I was 10 maybe I can't remember but I remember Pantera was on the soundtrack covering a Poison Idea song so this movie was instrumental in getting into punk rock.