Must See Movies: The Crow

28 August 2008

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Based on the comic book of the same name by James O'Barr 1994 film The Crow, which starred Brandon Lee, is this week's must see movie.

Legend goes that crows ferry the dead across to their resting place. However if the death demands revenge then the crows will assist the avenging souls.

On the eve of his wedding, Eric Draven and his fiancee are attacked by criminals, she is viciously assaulted and both are murdered.

Draven, once a loving man, returns to the nightmarish city. With the crow as Charon, Draven steps out of the night as a killer instead of a victim.

Exploiting his undead ability to heal quickly, he delivers murderous justice with both glee and bitterness to each criminal who snuffed out his life on the brink of happiness.

While many comic book movies crash and burn once made and released, with many of the films not respecting the original material, The Crow has gone on to become one of the most successful movies in this genre.

The filmmakers, directed by Alex Proyas, stick to the dark subject matter as Lee delivers a haunting performance as the out for revenge Draven who was robbed of his chance of happiness.

While this does bear all the hallmarks of an action/revenge movie at the heart of this film is a gothic love story that delivers a powerful message that love can overcome all obstacles, in this case even the grave.

However there is an air of darkness that hangs over this film that has nothing to do with production as Brandon lee died whilst filming The Crow and never saw the final version of his breakthrough, starmaking role.

It seemed that the Lee curse was to effect father and son as Lee followed his martial art star father Bruce Lee into an early grave when he was accidentally shot on set.

A malfunction with the gun used in the film cased it to fire a bullet at Lee that hit him in the abdomen and lodged in his spine, he died 31st march 1993.

The Crow was completed with the use of computer-generated imagery and a stunt double. It was met well by the critics and grossed $94 million at the global box office.

The film gained cult status over the years and it still remains one of the best films to have started life as a comic book.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw

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