The Crow - A Remake?
The Crow is my favorite movie and favorite comic of all time. I’ll just go on the record and say that right-a-way. I was just drawn into the world that James O’Barr created about a tortured soul brought back to life by a crow to put the wrong things right. A brutally violent comic that is at it’s heart is a poetic love story. A story of how love never dies and the pain of loss. It is truly powerful and moving.
Back in 1994, Alex Proyas made a movie based on the comic and starred Brandon Lee (the legendary Bruce Lee’s only son). Lee would portray Eric Draven, a rock musician that is murdered along with his fiance, Shelly on the eve of their wedding (now, this is different then in the comic, but the impact is the same). One year later, Eric returns from the grave to bring vengence to those cut short the love of two that were meant to be together forever.
Of course, the power of the movie is amplified by a simply amazing and memorable performance by Brandon Lee and the unfortunate fact that it would be his last. Lee would be killed tragically in the final days of filming (the last day in fact with firearms) by a malfuctioning prop. Sadly, fact imitates fiction. Brandon was to wed his fiance upon completion of the film. A life - much like his father - that was cut short on the eve of greatness.
Proyas should be commended on his determination to complete the film and let the world enjoy both Brandon’s amazing performance as well as the story of The Crow. I know I for one am thankful, because I don’t think I would have come across the work otherwise.
Now, to the point of this post. I could go on and on about The Crow…doing a frame by frame of the comic or even the movie, and maybe I will one of these days, but for now I’m going to address a newly circulating rumor. Early this month there was an announcement that “Blade” director Stephen Norrington was planning a to helm a remake. WTF?? Now, like I said before, the original movie did take some liberties with the source material, and the comic was by far more violent and intense then the movie, but Lee’s performance was so spot on - intense and moving - that I can’t imagine anyone else even attempting to pull the role off. I mean, this is not a case of the Joker with Nicholson and Ledger. Those were two totally different takes on the role, and I’m sure that there will be more in the future, but Lee IS Draven, regardless of Draven being portrayed in different events - comparing the comic to the movie.
Luckily, though, a source claims that “[It's] very different from the original. A whole new story about a whole new character.” If this is true, I can rest easy. Now, the sequals of The Crow unfortunately have not been great. And of course, these are not really direct sequels - though the second one, “City of Angels” could be said to to be a direct sequel, they haven’t been able to live up to the original. The concept is ripe for interpretation. It’s powerful and moving. So, I’m all about someone visiting the idea of The Crow. Just don’t do a remake. Eric Draven’s story has been told. Leave it be. Let him rest in peace.