“People once believed that when someone dies, a crow carries their soul to the land of the dead. But sometimes, something so bad happens that a terrible sadness is carried with it and the soul can’t rest. Then sometimes, just sometimes, the crow can bring that soul back to put the wrong things right.” — The Crow
People also once believed that after a movie finished its run in the theaters, distributors collected the prints and left them to decompose in forgotten vaults. But sometimes, something so wonderful happens that an indelible impression is made and the audience cannot rest until they see it again. Then sometimes, just sometimes, something can bring that movie back to make sure others can see the movie, too.
Once upon a time, I was man’s best hope for eternal happiness
I saw The Crow in the theaters at a time when I had long hair and an unrequited love for a city girl in a desperate situation. While I noticed the thinness of the premise, I was utterly enthralled by the performance of Brandon Lee as Eric Draven, the look of Alex Proyas’ world and the music of The Cure, Nine Inch Nails and Stone Temple Pilots all evoking end-of-the-millennium angst. I know I love it now more than I did then because of nostalgia, but I wanted to see how others felt.
Turns out, we, the Suspenders of Disbelief Club, are not the only friends who get together and watch movies. Shocking, I know. And I had the honor of joining my friends T and Jo in introducing Ricky to the movie The Crow with an invitation to their crew’s viewing of the movie. We assembled at T’s place in a cavernous room with a massive TV to watch the events of the life, or more accurately death, of rocker Eric Draven, who though murdered is back for revenge for himself and the love of his life, Shelly. T and I are already ready.
T stumbled upon the movie on television when he was around 10 years old. The aspiring novelist and student of literature has only grown into a bigger fan simply because he is a self-described Romantic. Jo’s just here to have some fun. He’s seen the movie before, but wasn’t enthralled.
Jo: It’s not my kind of movie.
What is?
Jo: I don’t know.
Jo’s got a wealth of information and understanding about movies. He’s a cinephile, but he’s no snob, ready at a moment’s notice to extol the virtues of radical fight cinema. He’s got a discerning eye and won’t compromise his artistic vision.
He’s a lot like me that way
It comes to Jo in a thunderbolt. Suddenly, he knows why he doesn’t like this movie and it’s so emblematic of fans who can’t help but analyze as they consume vast quantities of their ambrosia.
Jo: The movie is a little too simple. And it reminds me of Spawn because it came out around the same time. It triggers my Spawn rage and I hate Todd MacFarlane with a passion.
This will be a first time viewing for Ricky. He is a fan of comics, anime, action movies. He’s a martial artist in his own right, a college freshman and fan of the Super Mario Bros movie.
Even I don’t-a believe it!
Would Ricky dig it? Well, the movie competes for Ricky’s attention literally with the distractions of a phone and a handheld game as well as a theoretical discussion about Pokémon. He’s here to watch the movie because he respects the opinions of his elder friends, but he’s got his own interests to nurse.
Ricky: Wait! Is that Bruce Lee’s son?
With that recognition came attention and, unfortunately, expectations, the insidious pest that has ruined several prior attempts to introduce new audiences to old movies. On the other hand, a little familiarity can help.
Jo: Ernie Hudson? I like the movie a little more now.
To summarize the movie is easy. Eric Draven comes back from the dead and one by one enact revenge on the murderous culprits in memorable ways. A frightened T-Bird (Daniel Patrick Kelly) goes up in flames in his beloved car when it explodes. Myca (Bai Ling) who craves the eyes of her victims has her own eyes gouged out by the actual crow. Though, having a powerfully built, loyal, gun toting Grange (Tony Todd) shot by a powerfully built, loyal gun-toting Albrecht (Ernie Hudson) felt a little uninspired.
I should have instigated total protonic reversal
To enjoy The Crow, based on the comic by James O’Barr, I think you have to connect with the powerful emotional undercurrent, dig the Gothic atmosphere, desire comeuppance for the truly wicked and appreciate the characters as they are performed. Thinking life sucks sometimes, helps as well.
While the vile villains spout memorable lines every time they’re on screen, so does Eric Draven, whose brutally poetic justice makes it over the high bar, or low bar, set by the despicable criminal acts of characters like Tin Tin, Fun Boy, Skank and Top Dollar. Every one of the scenes in which Eric Draven encounters a villain is filled with witty repartee, clever executions and a little bit of revenge/justice dispensed which is why he stands out among the other killers. He’s justified and he’s cool.
Not as cool as you, Fonz
The movie is oh, so quotable thanks to James O’Barr, David J Schow, John Shirley and the actors who perform the lines. Here are a few random examples out of context. Apply them to your life and find everything becoming more sardonically dramatic.
“Look what you’ve done to my sheets.”
“You’re wasting it.”
“Is that gasoline I smell?”
“One of my crew got himself perished.”
“I’m not Skank. That’s Skank right there. Skank’s dead.”
“Fire it up!”
“And I say, ‘I’m dead and I move.’”
“There ain’t no coming back. This is the really, real world, there ain’t no coming back.”
“He winked at you (tsk) Musicians.”
Why they do stick out in our minds is probably an interesting metric for characterization of personality and, in my case, inherent disorders. However, the fact that T chose the line “…tell them death is coming for them tonight. Tell them Eric Draven sends his regards,” indicates to me his personal relationship with the movie. He wants the hero to dispense justice and get revenge because he believes that is what should happen and, as I’ve discovered, that’s kind of refreshing because sometimes the audience cheers more for the villains. T actually relates to the hero.
Jo engaged with the movie as well, most notably when he brilliantly sums up the mechanism of Myca’s peculiar habits and resulting talents.
Jo: You get otherworldly wisdom from smoking eyeballs.
Or when he was moved to counsel his younger friend after we watch Fun Boy get impaled with a half dozen syringes.
Jo: Ricky, don’t do drugs.
Or to inform him that the setting is Detroit.
Jo: No other city could be this shitty.
Overall, what did Ricky think? Well, despite the distractions, he engaged with the movie. He even tossed off a Highlander reference during the scene in the church. “He can’t hurt her. They’re on holy ground.” But, did he like it?
Ricky: It wasn’t bad.
Hey, it’s a start. He saw a lot of Batman type imagery which made him think of the caped crusader and not The Crow. It appears Nolan’s Batman (Ricky specified) got to him first and that is the measuring stick to which he holds up The Crow. He also expected more martial arts from a Lee. Damn you expectations! Ricky was shocked to learn the tragic circumstances of Brandon Lee’s death while filming the movie and had no idea that doubles were used for some scenes. It just wasn’t something he was looking for which proves he brought new eyes to the viewing. Lucky, Myca’s not still around.
The Crow’s look is easily replicated, see the lackluster sequels,but something about the original’s chemistry (Brandon Lee’s charisma, the visuals and music) represent the universal themes of love and death better than other attempts. At least for me and T.
Well, all in all, no new converts to The Lovers of The Crow Club, yet, but some interesting characters got together to spout memorable lines , with no brutal murders. So, I’d put this in a win column for studying the fans and their relationships with movies. Thought, next time I think I’ll undersell the movie.
The Disbelief Suspenders Club 