REVIEW DATE: 9:29:9:9
Love is, perhaps, one of the most powerful of human emotions. Stronger then super glue, and as pure as the finest LSD (plus it can induce hallucinations without the gut wrenching side effects, and/or withdrawal symptoms), The Crow asks us to believe that love is, in fact, stronger then death itself.
For the movie's 102 minute running time, I don't have one problem with that. As much a dark comedy as it is an action movie, and as much a love story as it is a dark comedy, The Crow transfuses all these elements to create one damn fine superhero movie.
Yep, another damn fine superhero movie. Notice how it came out a full 3 years before Batman and Robin. Even then, good super hero movies graced the screens. Oh, how we've fallen. Aside from Blade, I can't think of one that's attracted this much attention, or this kind of fan base. And that can't all be because star Brandon Lee died while on set. It has to have something to do with the movie's content, right?
Right. So let's get into that content. If nothing else, this movie has some sad stories to tell.
Every October 30th Detroit suffers from an epidemic of arson. This yearly celebration of destruction has earned itself the name "devil's night". On one such night, two lovers, Eric Draven (Lee) and his fiancée, Shelly (Sofia Shinas) die at the hands of a gang of street trash. Both die the day before their wedding. Like thousands of murders across the nation, this one goes unsolved, filed away in a drawer somewhere, tagged, bagged and sealed. It's just another double homicide, right? In a major metropolis like that, what's two more dead people?
A crow, that's what Eric is. No, not in the literal sense, but what else am I suppose to call him? He's not a zombie in the traditional Sam Raimi/George Ramero sense. He's not a vampire, and he sure as hell isn't Superman. So until I can think of something better, crow he shall remain.
One year rolls by. The murder is still unpunished. Eric and Shelly share side by side graves, visited often by their latchkey kid friend, Sarah (Rochelle Davis). Devil's night is about to visit the city again, and it's time for some swift justice.
That night, a gigantic crow lands on Eric's grave. It's not long afterward that Eric himself climbs out, looking none the worse for wear. (I suppose being worm food for a year might do some damage, but what the hell do I know? It didn't effect Ronald Reagan all that much.) The bird immediately guides Eric back to the abandoned shell of his apartment, where get into some heavy-duty flashbacks. As Eric writhes around on the floor, his remembers his death, and Shelly's. Tortured by these memories, he runs the emotional gambit: from sorrow, to pain, to rage. Fueled by that rage, he pains his face, dons all the black clothing he can find, and goes out to cook his murderers a thick slab of Whoop Ass.
Yep, "whoop ass" is the phrase of the day, for it is basically all that occupies the back 3/4ths of this movie. With the crow as his guide, Eric prowls the dark, twisted (the cinematography in this flick kicks ass like Brandon's dad on steroids, by the way) and perpetually rainy streets of Detroit, searching and destroying his killers.
Really, there's something for everyone in The Crow. Based on an excellent graphic novel by J. O'Barr, and written for the screen by David J. Schow, the movie is really a love story. A violent, vengeful love story, for some sins just can not be forgiven. Eric and Shelly were two innocents, who lived happy lives, totally clean souls, yet were cut down by violence like weeds. That just isn't right, and in the universe of The Crow a great cosmic force recognizes that kind of injustice and gives people like Eric a chance to "put the wrong things right". It isn't pretty, but that just adds brass knuckles to the movie's emotional punch.
Brandon Lee gives the best performance of any super hero, hands down. All Michael Keaton did was stand around and look imposing (pretty easy to do when you're wearing a Batman suit). Lee actually gets to do some ACTING! His character is not only sad and tortured; he's quite insane as well. After all, Eric died and woke up in his own grave; he isn't running on all the cylinders. His elevator stops before the top floor. His taco platter came up a bit short. His . . . well, you get the idea. Lee captures that excellently, showing a full range of emotion, from grief to joy to madness and back again.
I don't think I need to remind anyone of my phobia of children actors. I mean, what little underrating scamp hasn't ruined a movie for us all? Well, Rochelle Davis doesn't fall into the annoyance trap, so everyone can breath easy. She is a fine young actress who does show promise. My only complaint about her is that her various narrative speeches sound . . . I don't know; I suppose "scripted" is a good word. Would a pre-teen girl really say that? I ask myself.
Well, most pre-teen girls don't have drug-addicted mothers, or friends who come back from the grave, I find myself answering.
Good point, I withdraw the question.
No need to worry about stereotypical villains spouting idiotic one-liners. Oh no, these dudes are serious assholes of the first degree, who, like assholes in the real world, truly excel at making you despise them. Extra special brownie points go to Top Dollar (Michael Wincott), underworld kingpin, and the one who gave the word to have the Draven's rubbed out. This character bounces between creepiness, and total psychotic joy. A villain to be reckoned with.
Oh hell, the whole cast does great. Even Ernie (Ghostbusters) Hudson as Officer Albrecht. At first causing Token Black Dude alerts to sound in my head, Albrecht breaks out of the pack expertly. His character is the only normal person in the whole movie, and provides a nice counterpoint to the extra strange goings on.
Sometimes poetic, sometimes violent, sometimes funny, always tragic, The Crow is not only a great story but an excellent movie experience. There, plain and simple. When I conclude this sentence, I expect you to be in your care and halfway to the video store, got it?
I knew you wouldn't disappoint.
Gs
THE LAST GREAT SUPERHERO MOVIE.
MOCK O' METER
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