It's difficult to know what to say about The Crow. I don't wish to imply that it's by any way a bad film, because it really isn't. However it's one of those pieces that will forever be coloured by it's association with the death of it's star. Whilst this is of course a tragic turn of events it can't be denied that it is also fantastic PR. It does also rather beg the question that, as good as the performance is, would have as much of a shit had been given had he lived? This is something that we'll never know of course, but does anybody really think that Heath Ledger would have got an Oscar for his rendition of the Joker if his he was still alive?
Either way, there is a salient lesson to be learnt here. If anyone ever offers you the role of an iconic comic book character that involves greasepaint and smiley faces, decline. Politely.
Of course, this film has gone on to become rather iconic, and it has to be said deservedly so. It is a quality production all around. I suppose the thing that really struck me when I re watched it was how simplistic it really is. I don't mean that in any particularly derogatory sense, but it is very much a black and white setting. The bad guys are uniformly irredeemable bastards, fully deserving of the impending vengeance about to be dished out. The hero was a nice happy guy with a nice happy girlfriend and a nice happy life (even if they are goths), until the bad guys come in and do their thing. This is helped along by the strong performances of the various gang members, particularly the big bad, who is delightfully despicable.
Visually of course we get some treats from the pre CGI age, with some lovely model work. Whilst it's perhaps interesting to contemplate how it would be done differently in this day age I really can't see that it would be significantly improved upon in anyway. The use of colour is actually subtle enough that I didn't really notice until it was pointed out in the attendant documentary. It's nice to see that level of detail in use in a production, with everything contributing to the overall mood of the piece.
Is it a very good film? Yes. Did it make me want to dig out the graphic novel and read it again? Most certainly. Are the legion of straight to video sequels probably a load of bollocks? I would guess so. However it's worth noting that none of them could be as bad as proposed musical version starring Micheal Jackson that James O'Barr mentions in the extras.
And now you know what's wrong with Hollywood.
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